Pinecone Toque

Pinecone Toque by Jenise Hope

What Is Being Made

The Pinecone Toque is a knitted winter hat designed by Jenise Hope, inspired by the natural spiral structure of pinecone scales. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a classic toque (close-fitting knit cap) with a finished circumference of 18 inches around and a height of 8½ inches, sized to fit head circumferences of approximately 18 to 22 inches. The design features stranded colorwork patterning that mimics the geometric arrangement of pinecone scales spiraling around the crown of the hat.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs stranded colorwork knitting, a technique in which two or more colors of yarn are carried simultaneously throughout the knitting process. The colorwork is worked in the round, meaning the hat is constructed circularly rather than flat, which creates a seamless finished garment. The pattern uses the Magic Loop method or double-pointed needles for working small circumferences in the round. The finished piece is blocked to set the gauge and even out the colorwork stitches, ensuring a polished, professional appearance.

Stitches Used

The Pinecone Toque is constructed primarily using knit stitches in a stranded colorwork pattern. The stitch pattern repeats across rounds, with color changes creating the visual pinecone scale effect. Pattern rounds show repeating sequences such as [K3M, k4C] and [K1M, k4B, k2C], where letters indicate yarn colors (M for Mongoose, C for Camel Heather, B for Bark). This creates a structured, geometric pattern that spirals around the hat, with the color changes forming the characteristic pinecone scale appearance.

Materials

The pattern calls for Knit Picks Palette yarn, a 100% Peruvian Highland Wool in a 4-ply weight. Three colors are required, with one 50-gram ball (231 yards) of each: Bark (colorway 23737), Camel Heather (colorway 24241), and Mongoose (colorway 25084). Knitting needles are US 3 (3.25mm), available in either double-pointed or 36-inch circular needle format for Magic Loop construction. Additional notions include a yarn needle for weaving in ends and stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats. The recommended gauge is 28 stitches and 29 rows per 4 inches in stranded colorwork, knit in the round and blocked.

Pattern Details

The designer, Jenise Hope, notes that the Pinecone Toque was inspired by observing the natural spiral arrangement of pinecone scales in a tree guide illustration. The pattern demonstrates how spiraling geometric designs can be translated into knitted colorwork. The repeating color sequences throughout the rounds create the visual illusion of scales spiraling upward around the crown, making this an engaging project for knitters interested in both colorwork technique and nature-inspired design.