Evergreen Hat

Evergreen Hat by Loraine Birchall

What is Being Made

The Evergreen Hat is a cabled beanie hat designed by Loraine Birchall for Woolly Madly Deeply Ltd. This downloadable knitting pattern offers two distinct versions: a classic beanie and a folded brim variation. Both versions are suitable for intermediate knitters seeking a stylish, textured hat project with decorative cable detailing.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several key knitting techniques to create its distinctive appearance. Cable knitting forms the primary decorative element throughout the body of the hat, requiring the use of a cable needle to create twisted, rope-like textures. The pattern incorporates ribbing for the lower edge, which provides elasticity and helps the hat maintain its shape around the head. The construction uses a combination of different needle sizes to achieve proper tension and structure: smaller needles for the ribbed sections and larger needles for the cable pattern body. Finishing techniques include weaving in ends with a tapestry needle and attaching a pompom as a decorative crown element.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Evergreen Hat utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined into specialized stitch patterns. Ribbing stitches create the fitted lower section, typically alternating knit and purl stitches to produce vertical columns that stretch and recover. The main body features cable stitches, which involve crossing groups of stitches over one another using a cable needle to create the signature twisted, three-dimensional texture characteristic of cable knit designs. The pattern maintains consistent stitch counts throughout to ensure proper shaping and fit.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Evergreen Hat pattern is designed for DK weight yarn, a medium-weight yarn that provides good stitch definition for cable work. The pattern specifies Lanas Stop York Merino as the recommended yarn, though similar DK weight yarns can be substituted. Yardage requirements vary by version: the beanie version requires 180–200 yards, while the folded brim version requires 260–300 yards, accommodating different head sizes within the 18–23 inch range.

Needles and Notions Required

• Ribbing needles: 4mm/US6 size for the elastic lower sections
• Body needles: 5mm/US8 size for the cable pattern sections
• Cable needle: Essential for executing cable stitches
• Tapestry needle: For weaving in yarn ends and securing the pompom
• Pompom maker: Optional tool for creating a finished pompom crown (can be made by hand if preferred)

Gauge and Tension

Proper gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished hat size. The pattern specifies a tension of 20 stitches by 32 rows equals 4 inches (10 centimeters) in the cable pattern when worked on the larger needles with a lightly stretched tension. Achieving this gauge ensures the hat will fit properly within the intended 18–23 inch head circumference range. Knitters should swatch the cable pattern before beginning the project to verify their personal tension matches the pattern requirements.

Pattern Information

This is Pattern Version 1.0, released in October 2015 by Loraine Birchall for Woolly Madly Deeply Ltd. The pattern is provided as a downloadable PDF document and is protected by copyright. The intermediate difficulty level indicates this project is suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle cable techniques and multi-needle construction.