Companion Hat in Viking Of Norway Alpaca Storm - UK-2307-4(2) - Downloadable PDF

Companion Hat in Viking Garn Alpaca Storm – Pattern Summary (UK-2307-4)

The Companion Hat is a beautifully simple yet refined knitted hat designed by Turid Stapnes and published by Viking of Norway. Worked entirely in the round, this pattern produces a classic, close-fitting ribbed hat with a neat, shaped crown. It is available as a downloadable PDF and is rated as an intermediate knitting project, making it an excellent choice for knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques and ready to refine their skills with structured crown shaping.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a knitted ribbed hat in three sizes: small, medium, and large. The finished hat features a deep ribbed body that transitions seamlessly into a carefully decreased crown. The design is understated and versatile, making it a practical everyday accessory as well as a satisfying knitting project. The name Companion reflects its wearable, go-anywhere character.

Yarn and Materials

The hat is knitted in Viking Garn Alpaca Storm, a luxuriously soft DK-weight yarn with a fibre composition of 40% Superfine Alpaca, 40% Merino Wool, and 20% Nylon. This blend combines the exceptional softness and warmth of superfine alpaca with the elasticity and stitch definition of merino wool, while the nylon content adds durability and helps the hat hold its shape over time. The yarn comes in 50 g skeins, and the pattern calls for the colourway Sand no. 506.

• Small: 2 skeins of Alpaca Storm in Sand no. 506
• Medium: 2 skeins of Alpaca Storm in Sand no. 506
• Large: 3 skeins of Alpaca Storm in Sand no. 506

Needles and Tension

Two needle sizes are required for this pattern:

• 3 mm needles – used for the cast-on and the initial section of ribbing to create a firm, neat brim
• 4 mm needles – used for the main body of the hat and crown shaping

The recommended tension is 22 stitches in stocking stitch on 4 mm needles measuring approximately 10 cm (4 inches) across. Achieving the correct tension is essential to ensure the hat fits as intended across all three sizes, so knitters are encouraged to swatch before casting on.

Techniques Used

The Companion Hat is worked in the round from the brim upward, which means no seaming is required. The construction is straightforward and methodical, making it a great project for knitters looking to practise circular knitting and crown shaping. Key techniques include:

• Casting on in the round – the hat begins with 96, 112, or 128 stitches depending on the chosen size
• Knitting in the round – the entire hat is worked as a tube, avoiding any flat seams
• Ribbing – the foundational technique throughout the hat body
• Crown shaping through decreases – a structured series of decrease rounds gradually reduces the stitch count to close the top of the hat neatly
• Switching needle sizes mid-project – moving from 3 mm to 4 mm needles at a specific point in the brim to adjust fabric density

Stitches Used

The pattern relies primarily on a small set of classic knitting stitches, making the fabric highly textured and elastic:

• Knit (k) – the fundamental knit stitch, used throughout
• Purl (p) – worked in combination with knit stitches to create the ribbed fabric
• K2, P2 ribbing – the primary stitch pattern used for both the brim and the body of the hat; this two-by-two rib creates a stretchy, structured fabric that hugs the head comfortably
• Purl two together (p2tog