Ixia (hat)

Ixia Hat by Maloraé Designs

What is Being Made

The Ixia hat is an intermediate-level knitted hat available in three sizes: 42 cm (16"), 49 cm (19"), and 58 cm (22.5") circumference. This design features stranded colorwork, combining a main color with a contrasting color to create a patterned fabric throughout the crown and body of the hat.

Craft and Primary Technique

This project is created entirely through knitting, making it suitable for knitters with intermediate skill level. The hat employs stranded colorwork (also known as jacquard knitting), a technique where two colors of yarn are carried across the fabric and worked together to create a multi-colored design. This method requires careful tension management and color dominance control to achieve even, professional-looking results.

Stitches and Construction Methods

The Ixia hat is constructed using fundamental knitting stitches and specialized techniques:

• Stockinette stitch forms the primary fabric structure, providing a smooth, classic knitted surface
• Tubular cast-on creates an invisible, seamless beginning—a professional finishing technique that produces a polished edge ideal for hat construction
• Knit two together (K2tog) decreases are used to shape the crown as the hat tapers toward the top
• Stranded colorwork integrates the main color and contrasting color throughout, with attention to thread crossing techniques to prevent loose floats on the inside of the fabric

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Ixia hat is designed to be knitted with sport weight yarn, a lightweight option that produces a refined, fitted garment. The pattern specifies yardage requirements for each size:

• Main Color (MC): 105 meters (115 yards) for sizes 42 and 49 cm; 120 meters (135 yards) for size 58 cm
• Contrasting Color (CC): 100 meters (110 yards) for sizes 42 and 49 cm; 120 meters (135 yards) for size 58 cm
• Yarn should have a yardage of approximately 300 meters (328 yards) per 100 grams

The pattern references specific yarn choices used in the designer's sample: Terminasport from Arco Iris Yarns in the Atlantis colorway for the main color, and Abri Sport from La Pelote Vagabonde in the A dos de Mésange colorway for the contrasting color. Knitters may substitute any sport weight yarn meeting the yardage specifications.

Needles required: 4 mm (US size 6) needles for the body of the hat, and 3.5 mm (US size 4) needles for the ribbing. A stitch marker is also needed to track the beginning of rounds.

Gauge and Finishing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 24 stitches and 30 rows per 10 cm (4 inches) when working stockinette stitch on 4 mm (US 6) needles after blocking. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for the hat to fit properly across all three sizes.