Ribbed Hat in in Plymouth Boku - F191

Ribbed Hat in Plymouth Boku – Free Knitting Pattern (F191)

This free downloadable knitting pattern from Plymouth Yarn Design Studio (pattern code F191) guides knitters through creating a classic ribbed hat using Plymouth Yarn's Boku yarn. Designed by JoAnne Turcotte, this beginner-friendly pattern produces a cozy, stretchy hat approximately 9 inches long, worked entirely in the round from cast-on to crown. The finished hat features a deep, textured ribbed body and a neatly gathered crown, making it a practical and stylish cold-weather accessory.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a single knitted ribbed hat sized to fit a standard adult head. The hat is worked in the round on circular needles, then transitioned to double pointed needles as the crown decreases reduce the stitch count. The finished piece measures about 9 inches in length, providing excellent coverage and warmth thanks to the deep ribbed construction.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Boku – 1 ball is all that is needed for this project
• Needles: US size 8 16-inch circular needle, plus US size 8 double pointed needles (DPNs) for the crown shaping
• Notions: 1 stitch marker

Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 16 stitches = 4 inches measured over stockinette stitch on a US size 8 needle. Knitters are advised to test their gauge over stockinette stitch before beginning to ensure accurate sizing.

Techniques Used

• Knitting in the round on a 16-inch circular needle, joining stitches carefully to avoid twisting
• Transitioning from circular to double pointed needles as the stitch count decreases during crown shaping
• Stitch marker placement to track the beginning of each round
• Crown decreasing worked over seven structured decrease rounds to shape the top of the hat
• Yarn threading and gathering to close the final 9 stitches at the crown, then securing and weaving in ends

Stitches Used

• K2, P2 ribbing – worked for 7½ inches to form the deep, stretchy body of the hat; ribbing creates natural elasticity that helps the hat conform to the head
• P2tog (purl two together) – a decrease stitch used in Round 1 of the crown shaping to reduce purl stitches
• K2tog (knit two together) – a right-leaning decrease used in Rounds 4, 6, and 7 to rapidly reduce the stitch count toward the crown
• K1, P1 ribbing – worked briefly in Round 5 as the stitch count transitions during crown shaping
• Knit stitch (K) and Purl stitch (P) – the fundamental building blocks throughout the entire pattern

Pattern Construction Details

The hat begins with a loose cast-on of 72 stitches onto the 16-inch circular needle. A stitch marker is placed and the work is joined in the round. The body of the hat is worked in K2, P2 ribbing for 7½ inches, creating a deeply textured, stretchy fabric that is both functional and visually appealing. Ribbing is one of knitting's most versatile stitch patterns — the alternating columns of knit and purl stitches pull the fabric inward, giving it excellent stretch and recovery.

Once the body is complete, the crown shaping begins with a carefully sequenced series of seven decrease rounds. The stitch count is reduced from 72 stitches down to 54 stitches in Round 1, then to 36 stitches in Round 4, then to 18 stitches in Round 6, and finally