Muriel Hat in Rowan Big Wool - RTP003-0011-ENPFRP - Downloadable PDF

Muriel Hat in Rowan Big Wool – Crochet Pattern by Emma Wright

The Muriel Hat is a stylish, super-chunky crochet hat designed by Emma Wright for Rowan. Released as a downloadable PDF pattern, this design is aimed at intermediate crochet makers looking for a satisfying, quick project with beautiful textural detail. The finished hat is sized to fit an average adult woman's head, with a circumference of approximately 52cm, making it a versatile and practical accessory for cooler seasons.

What Is Being Made

The Muriel Hat is a close-fitting, textured beanie-style hat worked in the round from the brim upward. Its standout feature is a richly tactile woven basket stitch body, which gives the hat a bold, architectural look perfectly suited to the chunky weight of the yarn. The crown is shaped through a series of carefully structured decrease rounds, drawing the fabric neatly to a gathered finish at the top.

Techniques Used

• Crocheting in the round – The hat is constructed entirely in continuous or joined rounds, building from the brim to the crown without seams on the main body.
• Woven basket stitch – The primary textural technique used across the body of the hat, created by alternating front post trebles (FPT) and back post trebles (BPT) in a structured repeat. This technique mimics the over-and-under weave of a basket, producing a deeply ridged, three-dimensional fabric.
• Crown shaping and decreases – The pattern uses a sequence of decrease rounds to taper the crown smoothly. These include BPT2tog, FPT2tog, tr2tog, and standard treble decreases, progressively reducing the stitch count from the full body circumference down to just 7 stitches, which are then drawn together and finished off.
• Joining rounds with slip stitches – Rounds are closed with slip stitches at key stages, particularly during the decrease section, ensuring a neat and even finish.

Stitches Used

• Treble crochet (tr) – The foundational stitch used throughout the hat body and crown shaping.
• Front Post Treble (FPT) – Worked around the post of the stitch below from the front, creating raised ridges that stand proud of the fabric surface.
• Back Post Treble (BPT) – Worked around the post of the stitch below from the back, recessing into the fabric to create the contrasting valleys of the basket weave texture.
• Front Post Treble Two Together (FPT2tog) – A decrease stitch combining two front post trebles into one, used during crown shaping while maintaining the textural character of the stitch pattern.
• Back Post Treble Two Together (BPT2tog) – The back post equivalent decrease, worked in tandem with FPT2tog to keep the basket stitch pattern consistent as the crown narrows.
• Treble Two Together (tr2tog) – A standard treble decrease used in the final crown rounds to rapidly reduce stitch count toward the gathered top.
• Slip stitch (sl st) – Used to join rounds at key points during the decrease sequence.

Materials

• Yarn: Rowan Big Wool – a super-chunky weight yarn sold in 100g balls. The pattern was photographed in two colourways: Glum 056 and Black 008, showcasing how the bold basket stitch texture reads beautifully in both tonal and classic shades. Rowan Big Wool is a 100% merino wool yarn known for its lofty, soft handle and excellent stitch definition, making it particularly well suited to post-stitch textures like those featured in this design.
• Hook: A 7mm (US size 10.75) crochet hook is specified for this pattern.
• Tension: 11.5 stitches x 10 rows to 10cm (4 inches) over woven