Hat "Sage"

Hat "Sage" by Yelena Chen

What is Being Made

Hat "Sage" is a handknitted baby and children's hat designed by Yelena Chen. This downloadable knitting pattern offers three finished sizes to accommodate different ages and head circumferences: 9-12 months (18"-19" head circumference), 2 years and up (19"-20.5" head circumference), and child-adult sizing (21"-23" head circumference). The hat features a finished height of 6.5" for the smallest size, with proportionally larger heights of 7.5" and 8" for the larger sizes.

Knitting Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting pattern employs several fundamental and intermediate techniques. The hat is constructed using circular knitting, worked in the round from the bottom up to create a seamless construction. The pattern begins with a ribbed border worked on smaller needles, which is then transitioned to stockinette stitch on larger needles for the body. Crown shaping is achieved through decreases worked with double-pointed needles, a standard technique for tapering the top of a hat. The pattern also incorporates cable needle work, indicating the presence of cable stitches as a design element.

Stitches Used

The primary stitches featured in Hat "Sage" include:

• Ribbing (k1, p1): Used for the border section to create elasticity and a fitted edge. This alternating knit and purl pattern is worked at the cast-on edge using smaller needles.
• Stockinette stitch: Forms the main body of the hat, created by knitting all stitches on right-side rounds and purling all stitches on wrong-side rounds (or knitting every round when working in the round).
• Cable stitches: Incorporated as a decorative element, worked with a cable needle to create textured, twisted columns in the fabric.
• Decreases: Used during crown shaping to taper the hat to a finished point.

Materials and Gauge

Hat "Sage" is designed to be knitted with worsted and aran weight yarns. The pattern specifies Lion Brand Vanna's Choice 100% acrylic yarn in worsted weight (#4 medium, 10 ply), though any comparable worsted or aran weight yarn may be substituted. Only one ball of yarn is required to complete any of the three sizes.

The recommended needles include US #7 (4.5 mm) circular needles measuring 16" in length for the ribbed border section, and US #9 (5.5 mm) circular needles of the same length for the main body. A set of US #9 (5.5 mm) double-pointed needles (4 or 5 needles) is required for crown shaping. Additional notions include a cable needle for cable stitch work, a stitch marker to denote the beginning of each round, and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 4 stitches per 1 inch in stockinette stitch, which should be verified before beginning the project to ensure proper finished sizing.