Button Flap Hat in Plymouth Homestead - F554

Button Flap Hat in Plymouth Homestead – Pattern F554 Summary

This free downloadable knitting pattern from Plymouth Yarn Design Studio (pattern number F554) guides knitters through creating a stylish Button Flap Hat sized for ladies, with an approximate finished measurement of 21 inches in circumference and 8 inches in height. The design features a distinctive textured fabric created with the Plait Stitch, finished with a practical and decorative button flap closure. It is offered free with yarn purchase, making it an excellent project for knitters looking to showcase Plymouth Yarn's Homestead yarn.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a ladies' knitted hat with a button flap detail. The hat is constructed by knitting a flat rectangular panel in the Plait Stitch pattern, then seaming the long edges together to form the body of the hat. The crown is shaped by joining the cast-on edge to the bound-off edge, creating a seamless, structured crown. A large button serves as both a functional and decorative element, completing the flap design. The result is a cozy, textured hat with a handcrafted, artisan aesthetic well suited to cooler seasons.

Yarn and Materials Used

• Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Homestead – 2 skeins of 100g each are required to complete the hat.
• Needles: US size 7 (4.5mm) straight or circular needles, plus US size 7 double-pointed needles (dpns) for finishing or crown work.
• Notions: 1 large button, tapestry needle for seaming.

Plymouth Yarn Homestead is a worsted-weight yarn designed to knit up at a comfortable, accessible gauge. Its construction lends itself beautifully to textured stitch patterns like the Plait Stitch used in this design, helping the cable-like crossover effect stand out clearly in the finished fabric.

Gauge

The pattern calls for a gauge of 16 stitches over 4 inches worked in Plait Stitch on a US size 7 (4.5mm) needle. Achieving the correct gauge is important for reaching the intended finished dimensions of 21 inches around and 8 inches in height. Knitters are encouraged to swatch and adjust needle size as needed.

Techniques Used

• Flat knitting: The hat body is worked back and forth in rows on straight or circular needles, rather than in the round, before being seamed.
• Seaming: The long Plait Stitch panel is joined by sewing the cast-on edge to the bound-off edge using a tapestry needle, forming the hat's cylindrical structure.
• Double-pointed needle work: US size 7 dpns are included in the materials, suggesting their use during crown finishing or gathering.
• Binding off in pattern: Knitters are instructed to bind off while maintaining the Plait Stitch pattern, ensuring a clean and consistent edge.
• Button attachment: A large button is sewn on as a finishing detail to complete the flap design.

Stitches Used

• Plait Stitch – This is the primary stitch pattern used throughout the hat body. It is worked over a multiple of 3 stitches plus 2, and creates a woven, braided texture through a clever crossover technique on right-side rows. The two-row repeat is as follows:

• Row 1 (Wrong Side): *Purl 2, knit 1; repeat from *, ending with purl 2.
• Row 2 (Right Side): *Skip the first stitch, knit the second stitch and pass it over the first stitch, then knit the first stitch, purl 1; repeat from * to the last 2 stitches, then skip the first stitch, knit the second stitch and pass it over the first stitch, knit the first stitch.

The Plait Stitch produces a fabric that resembles a woven or plaited braid, giving the hat