The Harbor Hat

The Harbor Hat by Melissa Schaschwary

What is Being Made

The Harbor Hat is a slouchy knit hat designed for cool weather wear, created by independent designer Melissa Schaschwary of Dandiliongirl Designs. This downloadable knitting pattern is available in three sizes: Small (3-9 months), Medium (1-2 years), and Large (2 years and up), making it an ideal project for creating custom-fitted hats for infants and toddlers. The slouchy silhouette provides a relaxed, comfortable fit while maintaining warmth during cooler seasons.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several fundamental techniques suitable for knitters with some experience. The pattern utilizes knitting in the round, a circular construction method that creates a seamless tube of fabric. The hat features crown shaping at the top, which requires transitioning from circular needles to double-pointed needles (DPNs) to decrease stitches as the crown narrows. A distinctive two-color striping technique is incorporated throughout the design, alternating between main color and contrasting color sections to create visual interest and depth.

Stitches Used

The Harbor Hat employs a straightforward stitch vocabulary appropriate for intermediate knitters. The primary stitch is stockinette stitch, which creates the smooth, classic knit fabric that forms the body of the hat. This stitch is achieved by knitting all stitches on right-side rounds and purling all stitches on wrong-side rounds when working flat, though the pattern's circular construction simplifies this. The stripe pattern incorporates knit stitches and purl stitches strategically, with purl rounds creating textured transitions between color blocks. Make one (M1) increases and knit two together (K2tog) decreases are used for shaping, particularly during the crown reduction phase. A cast-on begins the project, and the pattern requires a stitch marker to denote the beginning of each round.

Materials and Gauge

This pattern calls for worsted weight yarn, with a total yardage of 200 yards divided equally between two contrasting colors (100 yards each). The designer recommends Malabrigo Merino Worsted or comparable worsted weight yarn, though smaller sizes will require less yardage than the full 200 yards specified. The required gauge is 5 stitches and 7 rows per inch over stockinette stitch, which should be verified before beginning the project to ensure proper fit. Essential needles include a US size 8 circular needle measuring 16 inches for the main body and US size 8 double-pointed needles for crown shaping. Additional supplies include a stitch marker to track round beginnings and a darning needle for weaving in yarn ends upon completion.