Meringue slouch

Meringue Slouch Hat by Tori Gurbisz

What is Being Made

The Meringue Slouch is a women's slouchy hat designed by Tori Gurbisz that combines a structured ribbed band with an airy, voluminous crown. The hat is inspired by the appearance of light and fluffy meringue, featuring decorative eyelets in the band that are laced through with ribbon for added visual charm. Sized to fit an average woman's head (20 to 22 inches), the finished band measures approximately 17 inches around when unstretched. This is a one-size design that knits up quickly, making it an ideal project for crafters seeking fast results.

Techniques Used

This knitting pattern employs several fundamental techniques suitable for beginners. The construction begins with a ribbed cuff worked in a knit-purl combination to create elasticity and structure at the base of the hat. Eyelet lacing is incorporated through yarn-over and knit-two-together decreases, creating decorative holes through which ribbon can be threaded for embellishment. The pattern includes increases using the kfb (knit front and back) method to shape the crown and create the slouchy silhouette. The hat is worked in the round using circular needles or double-pointed needles, which is a standard approach for hat construction that eliminates the need for seaming.

Stitches Used

• Knit (k) – the fundamental stitch forming the base fabric
• Purl (p) – used in ribbing and transition rows
• Knit-purl ribbing (k1, p1) – creates the elastic, fitted band
• Yarn over (yo) – creates eyelets for decorative lacing
• Knit two together (k2tog) – a decrease stitch paired with yarn overs to form eyelet holes
• Kfb (knit front and back) – an increase stitch used to expand stitches for the crown shaping
• Stockinette stitch – the primary fabric in the main body of the hat

Materials and Gauge

This pattern is worked in chunky weight yarn, which allows the hat to knit up quickly and creates the desired light, airy appearance. The project uses two sets of needles: US 9/5.5 mm needles (16-inch circular or double-pointed needles) for the ribbed band, and US 10.5/6.5 mm needles (16-inch circular or double-pointed needles) for the main body. The gauge is 12 stitches and 15 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch, which should be checked before beginning to ensure proper fit. The pattern begins with a cast-on of 54 stitches, which is increased to 108 stitches in the setup section to create the slouchy crown. Ribbon is required as a finishing embellishment to be threaded through the eyelets in the band.