Applegate Hat in Berroco Millefiori Light & Ultra Wool Fine - Downloadable PDF

Applegate Hat Knitting Pattern by Brenda York – Berroco Millefiori Light & Ultra Wool Fine

The Applegate Hat is an intermediate-level knitted colorwork hat designed by Brenda York and published by Berroco. This downloadable PDF pattern produces a classic, well-proportioned beanie measuring approximately 20 inches in circumference and 10 inches in height — a versatile fit suitable for most adult heads. The design pairs two distinct Berroco yarns to create a striking two-color stranded colorwork pattern worked seamlessly in the round.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a knitted hat worked entirely in the round, from the ribbed brim up through a colorwork body and into a shaped crown. The construction is straightforward and well-suited to knitters who are comfortable with circular needles, basic colorwork techniques, and decreasing for crown shaping. The hat features a neat twisted-rib brim, a section of stockinette stitch, a charted colorwork panel, and a final stockinette section before the crown is worked on double-pointed needles.

Yarns and Materials Used

Two Berroco yarns are used in this pattern, each playing a distinct role in the design:

• Berroco Millefiori Light – 1 ball in #6859 Viola (Main Color / MC), a 100-gram skein. Millefiori Light is a sport-weight yarn known for its subtle color variation and soft texture, which adds visual depth to the colorwork chart.
• Berroco Ultra Wool Fine – 1 ball in #5301 Cream (Contrast Color / CC), a 100-gram skein. Ultra Wool Fine is a 4-ply / fingering-to-sport weight yarn prized for its smooth, consistent stitch definition — ideal for clean colorwork motifs and crisp ribbing.

Together, these two yarns create a beautiful tonal contrast between the Viola and Cream colorways, making the charted motif pop against the background.

Needles and Notions

• 16-inch circular needles in sizes US 5 (3.75 mm) and US 7 (4.50 mm), or size needed to obtain gauge
• One set of double-pointed needles (dpns) in size US 7 (4.50 mm) for crown shaping
• One stitch marker to mark the beginning of each round
• A tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Gauge

Gauge is worked over the colorwork chart on the larger needles: 26 stitches and 28 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Because colorwork gauge can differ significantly from plain stockinette gauge, knitters are strongly encouraged to swatch in the two-color chart pattern specifically before casting on. Achieving the correct gauge ensures the hat fits as intended at 20 inches around.

Techniques and Construction

Brim: Twisted Rib

The hat begins with 132 stitches cast on using the Contrast Color (Cream) on the smaller circular needle. The brim is worked in a twisted rib — specifically a k1tbl, p1 rib repeated around — for approximately 1 inch. Knitting through the back loop (tbl) on the knit stitches creates a slightly tighter, more elastic, and visually refined rib compared to standard k1, p1 ribbing. This is a popular technique for hat brims as it helps the brim hug the head snugly without rolling.

Stockinette Transition

After the brim, knitters switch to the larger circular needle and work 4 rounds of plain stockinette stitch (knit every round) in the Contrast Color before introducing the Main Color. This transition section smooths the shift from ribbing to colorwork and establishes the correct gauge for the chart.

Colorwork Chart: Stranded Knitting

The centerpiece of the Applegate Hat is its