Rionnag Hat

Rionnag Hat by Kerry Bullock-Ozkan

What is Being Made

The Rionnag Hat is a knitted hat designed by Kerry Bullock-Ozkan, available in three sizes: Child/Youth, Adult Medium, and Adult Large. The finished hat measures approximately 17 inches (43 cm), 20¼ inches (51.5 cm), or 23½ inches (59.5 cm) in circumference, with a height of 9¼ inches (22 cm). This is an advanced-level knitting project suitable for experienced knitters seeking a sophisticated colorwork design.

Techniques Used

The Rionnag Hat is worked in the round, a fundamental technique for seamless hat construction that creates a continuous tube of fabric. The pattern incorporates stranded colorwork, a traditional fair isle technique where multiple yarn colors are carried across the fabric to create intricate patterned sections. The crown is shaped using strategic decreases to form the fitted top of the hat. The pattern notes emphasize the importance of swatching in the round in both stockinette stitch and stranded pattern to ensure proper gauge and fabric characteristics before beginning the project.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch — the primary stitch structure, created by knitting on the right side and purling on the wrong side (or in the round, knitting every round)
• Stranded pattern stitches — colorwork stitches created by carrying unused yarn colors across the back of the work while knitting with the active color
• Knit two together (k2tog) — a right-leaning decrease used to shape the crown, as shown in the pattern where decreases are worked at regular intervals (every 10 stitches, then every 9 stitches, etc.) to gradually reduce the stitch count

Materials: Yarn, Needles, and Notions

Yarn: The pattern calls for fingering weight yarn in four colors. The sample shown uses Tukuwool Fingering, a blend of 75% Finnish Landrace and 25% Texel wool with a yardage of 213 yards per 50 grams. Yardage requirements vary by size: Main Color (MC) requires 105–145 yards depending on size, Contrast Color 1 (CC1) requires 40–60 yards, Contrast Color 2 (CC2) requires 10 yards, and Contrast Color 3 (CC3) requires 25–40 yards. The sample colorway features Humu (MC), Tyyni (CC1), Kimo (CC2), and Aava (CC3).

Needles: US #2 (2.75mm) 16-inch circular needles are used for the main body of the hat, with US #2 (2.75mm) double-pointed needles for the crown shaping when stitches become too few for circular needles. Knitters should adjust needle size as necessary to achieve the correct gauge.

Gauge: 28 stitches and 35 rounds equal 4 inches (10 cm) in both stockinette stitch and stranded pattern when blocked. Achieving proper gauge is critical for correct finished dimensions.

Notions: A tapestry needle is required for weaving in yarn ends, and at least one stitch marker is needed to mark the beginning of rounds.