Skywalk Hat

Skywalk Hat by Jennifer Myrick

What is Being Made

The Skywalk Hat is a knitted, top-down hat available in five sizes to fit different head circumferences: Preemie (9½" circumference), Baby (14" circumference), Child (16" circumference), Adult Small/Medium (unstretched), and Adult Large (unstretched). This intermediate-level knitting project creates a finished hat with a ribbed brim and textured body, suitable for various ages from newborns through adults.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Skywalk Hat employs fundamental knitting techniques appropriate for intermediate crafters. The pattern uses circular knitting, worked in the round from the bottom up using a cast-on edge. The construction begins with a ribbed brim section worked on smaller needles, then transitions to larger needles for the main body. This needle-size transition is a classic technique that creates a fitted, elastic edge while allowing the hat body to expand slightly for better drape and comfort.

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) – The primary stitch forming the fabric
• Purl (P) – Used in combination with knit stitches to create texture and definition
• Ribbing (K1, P1) – The alternating knit-purl pattern used for the brim, creating an elastic, fitted edge that hugs the head
• Textured stitch patterns – The body features repeating sequences such as *K5, P6, K5* that progress through decreasing knit sections and increasing purl sections across multiple rounds, creating visual interest and dimensional texture

Materials

The Skywalk Hat requires Cascade Yarns CASCADE 220 in the colorway #8892 Azure. This yarn is composed of 100% Peruvian Highland Wool and comes in 100-gram skeins with 220 yards of yardage. One skein is sufficient to complete the hat in any size. Two sets of needles are required: US 6 (4mm) needles for the ribbed brim section and US 8 (5mm) needles for the main body. The worsted-weight yarn paired with these needle sizes creates a durable, warm fabric suitable for cold-weather wear.

Pattern Details

The pattern provides specific cast-on counts for each size, ranging from 48 stitches for Preemie to 112 stitches for Adult Large. The brim is worked in 1×1 ribbing (alternating knit and purl stitches) for a depth of ¾ to 2½ inches depending on size. After switching to the larger needles, the knitter follows a series of textured rounds where knit and purl stitches are strategically arranged to create visual patterning. The progression shown moves through rounds with varying distributions—such as K5, P6, K5 in Round 1, then K4, P8, K4 in Round 2, and K3, P10, K3 in Round 3—indicating a gradual shift in the stitch pattern that likely continues through the crown shaping.