Tucks

Tucks Hat by Justyna Lorkowska

Project Overview

Tucks is a downloadable knitting pattern for a beginner-friendly hat designed by Justyna Lorkowska. This one-size hat fits head circumferences of 54-56 cm (21-22 inches) and measures approximately 26 cm (10.25 inches) from brim to top. The pattern showcases brioche knitting techniques combined with color work, making it an accessible introduction to this elegant stitch structure for knitters new to the technique.

What Is Being Made

Tucks is a knitted hat that features brioche stitch as its primary decorative element. The hat is worked in the round from the brim upward, creating a seamless, tubular construction. The brioche technique creates a textured, dimensional fabric with characteristic raised stitches that give the hat visual depth and sophisticated texture.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Brioche Knitting: The pattern utilizes brioche knit (brk) and brioche purl (brp) stitches as core techniques. Brioche knitting involves slipping stitches with yarn overs in one round, then knitting or purling those slipped stitches together with their yarn overs in the following round, creating the characteristic lifted, dimensional appearance.
• Two-Color Colorwork: The design incorporates main color (MC) and contrast color (CC) throughout the pattern, allowing for visual interest and color blocking within the brioche structure.
• Circular Knitting: The hat is constructed in the round (rnd) from the beginning of the round (BOR), eliminating the need for seaming and creating a seamless finish.
• Decreases: The pattern includes slip, slip, knit (ssk) decreases for shaping, particularly useful for crown decreases as the hat tapers toward the top.

Stitches Used

• Brioche knit (brk)
• Brioche purl (brp)
• Knit (k)
• Purl (p)
• Slip stitch (sl)
• Slip 1 yarn over (sl1yo)
• Slip, slip, knit (ssk) for decreasing

Materials Required

The pattern calls for 1 skein each in 2 colors of sport weight yarn, totaling approximately 2 skeins for the finished hat. The sample was knitted using Arroyo by Malabrigo in the Pleiades colorway for the main color (100% merino wool; 306 meters/335 yards per 100 grams) and Bouncy Sport by Martin's Lab for the contrast color (100% merino wool; 300 meters/325 yards per 100 grams). Both yarns are sport weight, making them ideal for creating the delicate, refined brioche texture. Appropriate circular needles in a size suitable for sport weight yarn are required, though the specific needle size is referenced within the full pattern documentation.

Difficulty Level

Tucks is rated as a beginner-friendly pattern, making it an excellent choice for knitters who are new to brioche techniques or looking to expand their stitch repertoire. The straightforward construction and clear abbreviations support knitters at the beginning of their journey while introducing them to the elegant brioche stitch family.