Enceladus Hat

Enceladus Half Brioche Hat by Didi's Laboratory

What Is Being Made

The Enceladus Hat is a warm, cozy knitted hat designed by Didi's Laboratory and named after one of Saturn's moons. This downloadable knitting pattern offers six sizes ranging from newborn to large adult, with head circumferences from 35cm (13.5 inches) to 60cm (23.5 inches). The hat features a distinctive folded brim that provides a neat finish while ensuring excellent warmth retention for winter wear. An optional pompom can be added to the crown for an extra splash of color.

Techniques and Construction

The Enceladus Hat is constructed using the half brioche stitch, a specialized knitting technique that creates a thick, textured, and highly elastic fabric. Half brioche is achieved by working yarn overs and knit stitches in a specific pattern that produces the characteristic raised, dimensional texture. This stitch is worked in the round using circular needles, with the pattern requiring a folded brim construction that adds both visual interest and structural integrity to the finished hat. The technique creates a reversible appearance and exceptional stretch, making the hat comfortable and forgiving across different head sizes.

Stitches Used

• Half brioche stitch as the primary stitch pattern
• Knit stitches
• Yarn overs
• Decreases for crown shaping

Materials and Gauge

The Enceladus Hat is worked in DK to worsted weight yarn, with the designer sample created in Rowan Cashmere Tweed in the colorway Granite. The pattern recommends tweedy yarns with flecks of color to showcase the textured half brioche stitch effectively. Knitters will need 3.5mm (US 4) circular needles and double-pointed needles (DPNs) for working the crown decreases. The gauge is 24 stitches by 40 rows over 10 x 10 cm (4 x 4 inches) in half brioche stitch, measured unstretched. Additional notions include waste yarn for provisional cast-on or stitch holding, a beginning-of-round marker, three additional stitch markers for pattern tracking, and optional pompom trim.

Yarn Yardage by Size

• Newborn (35cm/13.5"): 90 meters or 98 yards
• Baby (40cm/15.5"): 110 meters or 120 yards
• Toddler (45cm/17.5"): 135 meters or 148 yards
• Child (50cm/19.5"): 160 meters or 175 yards
• Small adult (55cm/21.5"): 190 meters or 208 yards
• Large adult (60cm/23.5"): 220 meters or 240 yards

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty. While the half brioche stitch creates a visually striking result, it requires familiarity with yarn overs, decreases, and working in the round. Knitters should be comfortable reading stitch patterns and managing multiple stitch markers to successfully complete the Enceladus Hat.