Striped Hat in Plymouth DK Merino Superwash - F482

Striped Hat in Plymouth DK Merino Superwash – Pattern F482

This free downloadable knitting pattern from Plymouth Yarn Design Studio (pattern code F482) guides knitters through the construction of a classic striped beanie-style hat worked in a bold two-color garter stripe design. Available in three sizes — Child, Teen/Adult S, and Adult L — with approximate finished circumferences of 17½", 20", and 22", this hat is an accessible and satisfying project for knitters comfortable with basic techniques. The pattern is offered free with yarn purchase.

What Is Being Made

The finished object is a striped knitted hat featuring a neat ribbed brim and a boldly textured garter stitch body worked in two contrasting colors. The hat is knitted flat on straight needles and then seamed, making it an excellent choice for knitters who prefer working back and forth rather than in the round. The crown is shaped through a series of systematic decrease rows, creating a smooth, fitted top.

Materials Used

• Plymouth Yarn DK Merino Superwash — the main color (MC), used in #1111 Navy; 1 skein of 50g is required for all sizes
• Plymouth Yarn Angora — the contrast color (CC), used in #3007 Orange; 1 ball (10g) for Child size, 2 balls for Teen/Adult S and Adult L
• US Size 4 straight needles — used for the ribbed brim section
• US Size 6 straight needles — used for the main garter stripe body
• A stitch marker is also recommended

The combination of DK Merino Superwash and Angora is a particularly appealing pairing. The merino provides structure, stitch definition, and machine-washable practicality, while the angora contributes a soft, halo-like texture and warmth to the contrast stripes. Together they create a hat that is both visually striking and luxuriously comfortable to wear.

Techniques Used

• Flat knitting — the entire hat is worked back and forth in rows on straight needles, then seamed at the end
• Seaming — after knitting, the hat is joined along the side edge to form its tubular shape
• Casting on — the project begins with a long-tail or standard cast-on of 94, 110, or 122 stitches depending on size
• Two-color striping with yarn carry — both MC and CC yarns are kept active throughout the stripe sequence; the pattern specifically notes that you do not need to cut the yarn you are not using, instead carrying it up the side of the work. This technique keeps yarn ends tidy and reduces weaving in of ends.
• Crown decreasing — a structured series of decrease rows using k2tog (knit two together) reduces the stitch count progressively across multiple right-side rows, shaping the crown smoothly while maintaining the stripe sequence
• Even stitch increases — a small number of stitches are increased evenly across the final ribbing row before switching to the larger needle and beginning the stripe body, ensuring proper stitch count for the pattern repeat

Stitches Used

• 2x2 Ribbing — worked as p2, k2 on wrong-side rows and k2, p2 on right-side rows, this forms the stretchy, form-fitting brim. The ribbing is worked on the smaller US 4 needles for a snug, neat edge.
• Garter Stitch — the main body of the hat is worked entirely in garter stitch (knit every row, both right side and wrong side), which creates a squishy, ridged fabric with excellent drape and elasticity. Garter stitch is also notably reversible, making it ideal for a hat brim that may fold or roll.
• k2tog (Knit Two Together) — a standard right-leaning decrease used throughout the crown shaping rows to reduce stitches evenly and form the top of the