Kabead hat

Kabead Hat by Tracey Lee

What is Being Made

The Kabead hat is a warm and decorative knitted hat designed by Tracey Lee, perfect for cooler weather and social occasions. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a finished hat with an approximate circumference of 50cm (20 inches) for size M or 61cm (24 inches) for size L, with a length of approximately 18-25cm (7.5-10 inches). The hat features a distinctive design that combines practical warmth with aesthetic appeal through integrated lace detailing.

Construction Technique

The Kabead hat is worked from the crown downward in the round, allowing the shaping to flow seamlessly throughout the garment. This top-down construction method provides natural shaping as stitches are decreased from the crown, transitioning smoothly into the lace detail on the hat body. The pattern concludes with an asymmetric rib band at the lower edge, which provides both stretch and a polished finish.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques Used

This intermediate-level pattern incorporates several fundamental and decorative knitting stitches:

• Knit (K) – The basic knit stitch forms the foundation of the fabric
• Purl (P) – Used in combination with knit stitches for textural variation and ribbing
• Knit 2 Together (K2tog) – A right-leaning decrease used for crown shaping
• Slip, Slip, Knit (SSK) – A left-leaning decrease created by slipping stitches knitwise, returning to the left needle, and knitting through the back loop
• Yarn Over (YO) – Creates the decorative lace detail on the hat body; worked as a simple yarn over with no additional wrapping when transitioning between knit and purl stitches
• Make 1 (M1) – An increase worked using the backwards loop method

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Kabead hat is knitted with worsted weight yarn, a medium-weight yarn that provides excellent stitch definition for both the lace detail and the ribbed band. The pattern is worked in the round using circular needles or double-pointed needles appropriate for worsted weight yarn. A stitch marker is essential for tracking the beginning of each round throughout the pattern. The worsted weight yarn ensures the finished hat will be warm and durable while maintaining the clarity of the lace pattern detail.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate difficulty, the Kabead hat is suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to work with shaping techniques and lace patterns. The combination of decreases for crown shaping, yarn overs for lace detail, and ribbed finishing techniques provides a good progression in knitting skills without being overly complex.