Candy Corn Slouchy Hat in Red Heart Baby Hugs Medium - LW5409 - Downloadable PDF

Candy Corn Slouchy Hat – LW5409 – Free Knitting Pattern by Red Heart

The Candy Corn Slouchy Hat (LW5409) is a fun, seasonally inspired knitted hat designed by Jodi Lewanda and published by Red Heart as a free downloadable PDF pattern. The finished hat captures the classic three-color look of a candy corn — worked in bold stripes of yellow, orange, and white — in a relaxed, slouchy silhouette that suits adults and older children alike. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty and is knitted entirely in the round, making it a satisfying project for knitters who are comfortable with circular and double-pointed needles and basic shaping techniques.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a single slouchy knitted hat available in three sizes: Small, Medium, and Large, with finished circumferences of approximately 16 (18, 20) inches [40.5 (46, 51) cm] at the bottom edge. The generous height and gently tapered crown give the hat its characteristic slouchy drape. The candy corn color theme is achieved through strategic color changes between the three yarn shades, creating distinct horizontal bands reminiscent of the beloved Halloween treat.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: RED HEART® Baby Hugs™ Medium — one ball each of 4201 Sunny (A), 4001 Orangie (B), and 4255 Frosting (C). This is a worsted weight yarn, making it ideal for achieving the recommended gauge and giving the finished hat a soft, comfortable feel.
• Circular Knitting Needle: Susan Bates® circular needle, 5mm [US 8], 16 inches [40 cm] long
• Double Pointed Needles: One set of Susan Bates® double pointed needles, 5mm [US 8], used as the stitch count decreases during crown shaping
• Notions: Stitch markers and a yarn needle for finishing

Gauge

The pattern calls for a gauge of 18 stitches and 24 rounds = 4 inches [10 cm] in Stockinette stitch. Checking gauge before beginning is strongly recommended, as it directly affects the finished circumference and fit of the hat.

Techniques Used

• Knitting in the round — The hat is worked entirely in continuous rounds on a circular needle, with a stitch marker placed at the beginning of each round. There are no seams to sew.
• Transitioning to double pointed needles — As the crown decreases reduce the stitch count, knitters switch from the circular needle to a set of double pointed needles, dividing stitches evenly across the needles to continue working in the round comfortably.
• Color changes and jogless stripe technique — To minimize the visible "jog" that typically appears when changing colors in the round, the pattern instructs knitters to work the first round of each new color to the marker, then slip the marker and slip the first stitch of the next round purlwise before continuing. This creates a neater, more seamless color transition between the candy corn stripes.
• Increasing — After the ribbed brim, stitches are increased evenly across one round to establish the fuller body of the slouchy hat.
• Crown shaping with paired decreases — The crown is shaped through a series of decrease rounds, systematically reducing stitches using k2tog (knit two together) paired with plain knit rounds. The decrease sequence progresses from wider intervals (k8, k2tog) down to (k2tog) worked all the way around, then a final reduction to just 4 stitches before the yarn is cut and drawn through the remaining loops to close the top.

Stitches Used

• K1, P1 Ribbing — Used for the brim section, this classic one-by-one rib creates a stretchy, neat edge that helps the hat stay in place.
• Stockinette Stitch (in the round) — The body of the hat is worked by knitting every round, which produces