Voyager Hat in Rowan Big Wool - D161 - Downloadable PDF

Voyager Hat in Rowan Big Wool – Knitting Pattern by Sarah Hatton (D161)

The Voyager Hat is a beautifully structured, super-chunky knitted hat designed by Sarah Hatton for Rowan. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty and delivers a satisfying, quick knit thanks to the generous weight of the yarn and large needle size. The finished hat combines two classic knitting textures — a tactile moss stitch brim and a smooth stocking stitch body — creating a design that is both visually appealing and wonderfully warm.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a knitted hat worked flat on straight needles and seamed. The construction begins at the brim and works upward through the body before shaping the crown with a series of neat decrease rows. The result is a well-proportioned, cosy hat with a structured silhouette suited to cold-weather wear.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Rowan Big Wool, a super-chunky weight yarn. The pattern sample is shown in Blue Velvet 026.
• Needles: 1 pair of 10mm (US 15) straight knitting needles.

Techniques Used

• Flat knitting: The hat is worked back and forth in rows on a single pair of straight needles rather than in the round, making it accessible to knitters who prefer working flat.
• Seaming: Once complete, the fabric is joined to form the hat shape.
• Crown shaping: A series of carefully spaced decrease rows reduces the stitch count progressively, creating a smooth, rounded crown without unwanted bunching or puckering.

Stitches Used

• Moss stitch (seed stitch): The hat opens with a moss stitch brim, established by alternating knit and purl stitches across the row (knit 1, purl 1, repeat) and continuing this texture for approximately 10cm / 4 inches. Moss stitch creates a firm, non-curling fabric that sits neatly at the brim and adds a lovely tactile contrast to the body of the hat.
• Stocking stitch: Above the brim, the pattern transitions into classic stocking stitch — one row knit, one row purl — which continues until the hat reaches 17cm / 7 inches in total length. Stocking stitch produces a smooth, stretchy fabric ideal for the main body of a hat.
• Knit 2 together (k2tog): Used throughout the crown shaping rows to reduce stitches on right-side rows. This is a simple right-leaning decrease worked by inserting the needle through two stitches simultaneously and knitting them as one.
• Purl 2 together (p2tog): Used on one of the crown shaping rows to continue reducing stitch count on a wrong-side (purl) row, maintaining the smooth stocking stitch appearance on the right side.

Construction and Crown Shaping Detail

The hat is cast on with 41 stitches. After the moss stitch brim and stocking stitch body are complete, the crown is shaped through multiple decrease rows. Stitches are reduced in stages — from 41 down to 36, then 31, then 26, and finally to 21 stitches — using evenly spaced k2tog and p2tog decreases. This gradual reduction ensures the crown lies flat and smooth, giving the finished hat a professional, polished appearance.

Pattern Format and Skill Level

The Voyager Hat pattern by Sarah Hatton is sold as a downloadable PDF, making it instantly accessible after purchase. It is classified as intermediate level, making it an excellent choice for knitters who are comfortable with basic stitches and ready to practise simple shaping techniques. The use of Rowan Big Wool on 10mm needles means the project works up quickly, offering a rewarding and achievable make even for those stepping up from beginner projects.