Novemberist Hat

Novemberist Hat by Vanessa Smith

What Is Being Made

The Novemberist Hat is a warm, stylish knitted hat designed by Vanessa Smith as part of a coordinating hat and mitt set. This intermediate-level knitting project features a doubly thick construction throughout, making it an excellent choice for cold-weather wear. The hat is available in two sizes: Small with a finished circumference of 16¾ inches (42.5 cm) and Medium with a finished circumference of 19¼ inches (49 cm).

Design Features and Construction

The Novemberist Hat showcases striking visual appeal through its use of two high-contrast colorways. The design incorporates a turned hem, which creates a polished, finished edge and contributes to the hat's double thickness. This structural feature not only enhances durability but also provides extra warmth and comfort during wear.

Stitches and Techniques

The primary stitch pattern used in this design is a chevron stitch, which is achieved through stranded knitting. Stranded knitting, also known as fair isle knitting, involves carrying two colors of yarn across the back of the work and knitting with each color as needed to create the pattern. This technique produces the characteristic high-contrast colorway effect while simultaneously building fabric thickness, as the carried strands add structure and insulation to the finished hat.

The base construction uses stockinette stitch for the main body sections. The hat is worked in the round, which is the traditional method for creating seamless, tubular garments like hats and mittens.

Materials Required

This project uses DK weight yarn, a medium-weight yarn that works well for creating garments with good stitch definition and drape. Approximately 187 yards (171 meters) of yarn total is needed, divided between two colors:

• 95 yards (87 meters) in main color
• 92 yards (84 meters) in contrasting color

The needle and hook requirements include:

• US 6 (4 mm) circular needle, 16 inches (40 cm) for main knitting
• Spare US 6 (4 mm) or smaller circular needle, 16 inches (40 cm), for holding stitches
• Appropriate needle(s) of the same size for knitting small circumferences in the round, depending on your preferred method (such as double-pointed needles or a shorter circular needle)
• Size G (4 mm) crochet hook for creating a provisional cast on

Gauge and Fit

The pattern specifies a gauge of 20 stitches and 32 rounds in stockinette stitch over a 4-inch (10 cm) square. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for obtaining the proper finished measurements and ensuring the hat fits as designed. Knitters are advised to adjust needle size if necessary to match this gauge before beginning the project.

Skill Level

The Novemberist Hat is rated as an intermediate difficulty project. This classification reflects the skills required to work stranded knitting colorwork, manage multiple yarn colors simultaneously, and execute the turned hem construction. Knitters should be comfortable with circular knitting and have some experience with fair isle or stranded knitting techniques before attempting this design.