Going Home

Going Home Knit Hat by Samantha Guerin

What is Being Made

Going Home is a knitted adult hat designed by Samantha Guerin. This close-fitting beanie features a finished circumference of 17 inches and is intended to fit adult head sizes between 21 and 23 inches, with 4 to 6 inches of negative ease for a snug, tailored fit. The hat showcases decorative cable and bobble stitch details that add visual interest and texture to the finished piece.

Craft and Techniques

This project uses knitting as the primary construction method. The hat is worked in the round, which creates a seamless, tubular fabric ideal for hat construction. The pattern incorporates basic cable techniques and bobble stitches, making it suitable for knitters with beginner-level experience who have mastered fundamental knitting skills. The use of cables and bobbles adds structural interest and three-dimensional texture to the design.

Stitches and Abbreviations Used

The Going Home pattern employs the following stitches and techniques:

• Knit (k) – the fundamental knit stitch
• Purl (p) – the fundamental purl stitch
• Knit 2 together (k2tog) – a right-leaning decrease that reduces stitch count by one
• Purl 2 together (p2tog) – a purl-based decrease
• Purl 2 together through back loops (p2tog tbl) – a left-leaning purl decrease
• Left cable cross (LC) – created by slipping 2 stitches to a cable needle and holding in front, purling 1 stitch, then knitting 2 stitches from the cable needle
• Right cable cross (RC) – created by slipping 1 stitch to a cable needle and holding in back, knitting 2 stitches, then purling 1 stitch from the cable needle
• Bobbles – textured stitch elements that create dimensional bumps on the fabric

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Going Home hat is worked using aran weight yarn, which provides a medium gauge suitable for creating a warm, structured hat. The pattern requires approximately 150 yards of aran weight yarn. The original sample shown in the pattern was created using Once Upon A Corgi's "Cecil" yarn, a 100% superwash Bluefaced Leicester (BFL) fiber that offers durability and easy care through machine washing.

Two sets of needles are required to complete this project. The primary needles are US 7 / 4.5 mm needles, used in a 16-inch circular needle format and double-pointed needles (DPN's) for working the decreases, or alternatively, a longer circular needle for working using the magic loop method. A second needle size, US 5 / 3.75 mm (two sizes smaller than the primary needles), is also needed for specific sections of the pattern. A yarn needle is required for weaving in ends and finishing the hat.

Pattern Details

The pattern includes a "Beginning of Round" (BOR) marker to track progress when working in the round. The combination of cable crosses and bobbles creates a textured, visually interesting hat that works well for both everyday wear and as a handmade gift. The negative ease construction ensures the hat stays securely on the wearer's head without slipping.