Autumn Striped Hat

Autumn Striped Hat by Joan Laws

What is Being Made

The Autumn Striped Hat is a classic knitted beanie designed in three sizes to fit children, adults, and large adults. This intermediate-level project features a striped colorway using harvest-inspired hues and is worked seamlessly in the round using circular needles. The finished hat measures 20 inches (50cm) for child size, 22 inches (55cm) for adult size, and 24 inches (60cm) for large adult size.

Techniques Used

This knitting project employs fundamental circular knitting techniques, working in continuous rounds to create a seamless construction. The pattern begins with a ribbed cuff worked on smaller needles, then transitions to larger needles for the main body of the hat. The striped design is achieved through color changes at regular intervals throughout the pattern. Stitch markers are used to indicate the beginning of each round and maintain pattern alignment, with five markers required for this project.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (k): The primary stitch forming the fabric of the hat
• Purl stitch (p): Used in combination with knit stitches to create the ribbed cuff
• Ribbing (k2, p2): A stretchy, textured cuff that provides structure and helps the hat stay in place

Materials and Gauge

The Autumn Striped Hat is designed to be worked with worsted weight yarn, specifically using Berroco Touché, a blend of 50% cotton and 50% rayon that provides breathability and drape. The pattern requires three skeins total—one skein each in color A (Harvest red #7941), color B (Pumpkin #7970), and color C (Sage green #7923)—with each skein containing 89 yards (82 meters). The project uses size US4 (3.5mm) circular needles for the ribbed cuff and size US6 (4.0mm) circular needles for the main body, with two size US6 needles recommended for dividing stitches as they become too tight on a single needle. The gauge is 20 stitches over 4 inches (10cm) when worked on the larger needles, which is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements.