Abi Hat in Rowan Big Wool - Downloadable PDF

Abi Hat by Quail Studio – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Abi Hat is a stylish, super-chunky knitted hat designed by Quail Studio for Rowan, released in 2020. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern is rated intermediate in skill level and is knitted in a single, one-size construction. It makes an excellent project for knitters who are comfortable with basic rib techniques and are ready to explore more textured stitch patterns, including cable work.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a single knitted hat worked flat on straight needles. The design features a ribbed brim that is cleverly reversed mid-way through to create a neat, structured fold or turnback effect, giving the hat a polished, finished appearance. Above the brim, the hat transitions into a charted cable and texture pattern, adding visual interest and depth to the crown area.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: Rowan Big Wool, a super-chunky weight yarn, used in 2 x 100g balls. The photographed sample uses the colourway Biscotti 082, a warm, neutral tone that showcases the textured stitchwork beautifully.
• Needles: Two pairs of straight needles are required — 9mm (UK 00 / US 13) for the ribbed brim section and 10mm (UK 000 / US 15) for the main patterned body of the hat.
• Additional Tools: A cable needle is required for working the cable pattern from the chart.

Techniques Used

• Flat knitting on straight needles throughout
• Ribbing — the brim is worked in a 2x2 rib (knit 2, purl 2) for a total of approximately 20 rows, with a deliberate reversal of the right side mid-way to create a folded brim effect
• Needle size changes — switching from 9mm to 10mm needles after the brim to allow the main pattern to drape and sit correctly
• Decreasing — a simple single decrease at each end of the final rib row shapes the transition into the body of the hat, reducing from 50 stitches to 48 stitches
• Chart reading — the main body of the hat is worked from a 24-row chart, requiring the knitter to follow a written grid of symbols for pattern accuracy
• Cable knitting — a cable needle is used to create the textured cable motifs that define the hat's character above the brim

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) and Purl (P) — the fundamental building blocks used throughout
• 2x2 Rib — worked as K2, P2 on right-side rows and P2, K2 on wrong-side rows, forming the stretchy, structured brim
• Cable stitches — worked using a cable needle as directed by the 24-row chart, creating the signature textured pattern of the Abi Hat

Pattern Details and Construction Notes

The hat begins by casting on 50 stitches using 9mm needles. The 2x2 rib is established immediately and worked for 11 rows, after which the right side of the fabric is deliberately reversed by restarting the rib sequence — a thoughtful design detail that ensures the brim folds back neatly with the correct face of the fabric showing. A further 11 rows of rib are worked in this reversed orientation, ending with a one-stitch decrease at each end to arrive at 48 stitches.

The knitter then switches to 10mm needles and begins working from chart row 1, completing all 24 rows of the chart to form the main body of the hat. The use of a larger needle size at this stage is a common technique in super-chunky knitting to maintain appropriate fabric tension and