1253 Taklamakan - Hat Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Peru

1253 Taklamakan Hat Knitting Pattern for Women by Susan Baron

The 1253 Taklamakan is a women's colorwork hat knitting pattern designed by Susan Baron and published by Valley Yarns. This cozy, eye-catching hat is worked in a stranded colorwork plaid motif that brings a playful, stylish touch to cold-weather outfits. Knit in the luxuriously soft Valley Yarns Peru, the finished hat is described as soft and squishy — everything you want in a winter accessory. The pattern is rated Adventurous Beginner, making it an ideal next step for knitters who have mastered basic hat construction and are ready to explore two-color stranded knitting.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a classic pull-on winter hat sized for adults in two options: Small and Large. The sample shown is size Large. Finished measurements include a circumference of 20 inches (Small) or 22 inches (Large), with a height of 8 inches for both sizes. The hat features a snug ribbed brim, a colorwork body worked in a repeating plaid chart, and a shaped crown for a neat, fitted finish.

Construction and Techniques

The hat is constructed bottom-up and worked entirely in the round, meaning there are no seams to sew at the end. This seamless, circular construction is ideal for colorwork because the right side always faces the knitter, making it easy to read the chart and manage two yarn colors. Key techniques used in this pattern include:

• Stranded colorwork — The body of the hat features a repeating 10-stitch plaid chart worked in two colors simultaneously. In stranded knitting, the unused yarn is carried loosely across the back of the work, creating a double layer of fabric that adds warmth and structure.
• Working in the round — Both a 16-inch circular needle and double-pointed needles (dpns) are used. The circular needle handles the brim and body, while dpns are recommended for the crown decreases as the stitch count reduces.
• Old Norwegian Cast-On — The pattern specifically calls for this stretchy cast-on method for the ribbed brim, ensuring the edge has enough give to fit comfortably over the head. A video tutorial link is referenced in the original pattern.
• Ribbing — A 1×1 rib (knit 1, purl 1) is worked for approximately 1¾ inches on a smaller needle to create a snug, elastic brim band.
• M1 increases — After the ribbing, stitches are increased evenly using Make 1 (M1) increases before beginning the colorwork section. This allows the ribbing to fit more snugly while giving the body of the hat the stitch count needed for the colorwork repeat.
• Crown decrease shaping — The top of the hat is shaped with decrease rounds that taper the fabric to a tidy close at the crown.

Stitches Used

• Knit 1, Purl 1 Ribbing — used for the brim band
• Stockinette stitch — the base stitch of the colorwork body, worked in the round (all knit stitches)
• Stranded colorwork — following the 10-stitch Plaid chart repeated across the body of the hat
• Make 1 (M1) increases — worked in the transition round between ribbing and body
• Decrease stitches — worked in the crown shaping section

Colorwork Chart Details

The body of the hat is worked from a Plaid colorwork chart with a 10-stitch repeat. After the increase round, the chart is worked 10 times around for the Small size and 11 times around for the Large size. The chart is worked for a total of three repetitions of the 10-row sequence (Rounds 1–10 repeated, ending on Round 9), bringing the hat to approximately 7 inches from the cast-on edge before crown shaping begins. Stitch markers placed between each chart repeat are recommended to help track the colorwork pattern.

Materials and Yarn

The pattern is designed specifically for Valley Yarns Peru,