Jazz Age Hat

Jazz Age Hat by Shannon Squire

What Is Being Made

The Jazz Age Hat is a knitted beanie designed by Shannon Squire that combines vintage-inspired styling with modern knitting techniques. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a fitted hat available in two sizes: Small (approximately 17" circumference) and Medium/Large (approximately 19" circumference). The finished hat measures 8 to 8.5" tall from cast-on edge to crown, and the fabric stretches considerably for a comfortable fit. This design is suitable for knitters at the advanced beginner skill level.

Techniques Used

The Jazz Age Hat employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its distinctive appearance and structure. The pattern utilizes knitting in the round, which creates a seamless, tubular fabric ideal for hat construction. Garter stitch forms a prominent textural element throughout much of the design, creating horizontal ridges that give the hat its characteristic vintage aesthetic. The pattern also incorporates stockinette stitch in specific sections for contrast and variation. Cable work is featured in the design, requiring the use of a cable needle to create twisted stitch patterns. The brim is worked on needles one size smaller than the main body, a technique that creates a tighter, more defined edge. Blocking is essential to achieving accurate gauge measurements and final dimensions.

Stitches Used

The stitch abbreviations employed in this pattern include fundamental knitting stitches: k for knit stitch, p for purl stitch, and cn for cable needle techniques. The pattern uses pm (place marker) and m (marker) instructions to track pattern repeats and shaping points as you knit in the round. These markers help maintain pattern alignment and indicate where increases or decreases occur.

Materials

The Jazz Age Hat requires 175 yards of worsted-weight yarn. Shannon Squire used Knitted Wit Worsted Superwash Merino in the colorway Ghostly for the sample shown. The pattern calls for US8/5mm needles for knitting the main body in the round, with a smaller needle—one size down—for the brim ribbing. A cable needle is necessary for executing cable stitches, along with a stitch marker for tracking rounds and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends. Gauge is critical: the pattern specifies 16 stitches over 4 inches in garter stitch and 20 stitches over 4 inches in stockinette stitch, both measured after blocking.