Hat in Plymouth Yarn Impulse - 2724 - Downloadable PDF

Knit a Cozy Slouchy Hat with Plymouth Yarn Impulse – Pattern No. 2724

This free, downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Plymouth Yarn Company guides knitters through creating a relaxed, stylish slouchy hat sized to fit the average woman's head. Designed by the Plymouth Design Studio and released in 2014, Pattern No. 2724 is an ideal project for beginner knitters looking to build confidence with in-the-round knitting while producing a finished accessory that looks polished and on-trend. The hat features a stretchy ribbed brim, a smooth stockinette body, and a playful pom pom finish — all worked up quickly thanks to the super chunky weight of the featured yarn.

Finished Measurements and Fit

The hat has an approximate finished circumference of 18¾ inches, but because it is worked in a stretchy construction, it will comfortably stretch to fit heads approximately 3 to 4 inches larger than that measurement. This generous stretch makes it a wonderfully adaptable one-size design that suits a wide range of wearers.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Impulse — just 1 ball (55g) is needed, and the ball conveniently comes with a pom pom already attached, making finishing effortless
• Needles: US Size 10½ (6.5mm) 16-inch circular needle for the body of the hat, plus US Size 10½ (6.5mm) double-pointed needles (DPNs) for working the crown decreases as stitch counts become too small for the circular needle
• Notions: One stitch marker to mark the beginning of each round

Yarn Weight and Gauge

Plymouth Yarn Impulse is a super chunky weight yarn, which means this hat knits up rapidly — perfect for beginners who want to see quick results. The pattern calls for a gauge of 12 stitches over 4 inches in stockinette stitch on US Size 10½ needles. Checking gauge before beginning ensures the hat will achieve the correct circumference and a comfortable, slouchy drape.

Techniques and Construction

The hat is worked entirely in the round from the brim upward, which means there are no seams to sew at the end — a beginner-friendly feature that results in a clean, professional finish. Construction begins with a long-tail cast-on of 56 stitches onto the circular needle, after which stitches are joined to work in the round with care taken not to twist.

• Brim: The first section is worked in 2x2 ribbing — a simple alternating pattern of knit 2, purl 2 — repeated for 5 rounds total. This ribbing creates a naturally elastic, snug-fitting brim that keeps the hat securely in place on the head.
• Body: After the ribbing, the hat transitions into stockinette stitch, achieved in the round by knitting every stitch of every round. This section continues until the hat measures 8 inches from the cast-on edge, building the characteristic slouchy volume of the design.
• Crown Shaping: The crown is shaped through a series of six decrease rounds using the k2tog (knit two together) decrease, which leans the fabric neatly to the right and creates smooth, even shaping. Decrease rounds are interspersed with plain knit rounds to allow the shaping to develop gradually. Stitches reduce from 56 down to 42, then 28, then 14, and finally to just 7 remaining stitches. At this point, knitters switch from the circular needle to double-pointed needles to manage the small stitch count comfortably.
• Finishing: The yarn tail is drawn through the remaining 7 stitches, pulled tightly, and fastened off to close the crown. The included pom pom is then attached to the top of the hat, and all ends are woven in for a tidy finish.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (k