Touque

Touque by Anna Dalvi

What Is Being Made

The Touque is a knitted winter hat designed by independent designer Anna Dalvi. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a classic fitted beanie with a folded ribbed cuff and tapered crown, suitable for cold-weather wear.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques to construct the hat:

• Circular knitting on double-pointed needles (dpns) — The hat is worked in the round from the bottom up, using a set of 5 dpns to maintain an even circumference and avoid seams
• Ribbed cuff construction with a fold-over technique — The pattern incorporates a folded ribbing method where stitches are picked up from an earlier round and knitted together, creating a professional double-layered cuff that folds inward for added warmth and structure
• Stockinette stitch in the round — The main body of the hat is worked in smooth stockinette stitch, creating a classic knit fabric
• Decrease shaping — Strategic decrease rounds are worked throughout the crown to gradually reduce stitches and create the tapered top of the hat
• Grafting and finishing — The pattern concludes with cutting yarn, sewing through remaining stitches, and fastening off on the inside for a neat, professional finish

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (k) — The primary stitch used throughout the stockinette body
• Purl stitch (p) — Used in combination with knit stitches for the k2p2 ribbing pattern
• Decrease stitches — Worked in decrease rounds to shape the crown and reduce stitch count progressively
• Ribbing (k2p2) — A 2x2 knit-purl alternation that creates the elastic, textured cuff

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Touque pattern calls for specific materials to achieve the intended fit and fabric quality:

• Needles: 5.5 mm double-pointed needles (set of 5)
• Yarn: Two skeins of Scheepjes Alpine, a bulky-weight yarn with approximately 75 meters per 50-gram skein. The fiber content is a 75% wool and 25% acrylic blend, providing warmth, durability, and easy care
• Stitch count: Pattern begins with 80 stitches cast on and divided evenly across 4 needles (20 stitches per needle), with multiple decrease rounds worked to shape the crown

Pattern Structure and Rounds

The hat follows a logical progression from cuff to crown. After casting on 80 stitches, the pattern includes 20 rounds of k2p2 ribbing for the cuff, followed by the folding technique that creates the double-layer effect. The main body consists of 18 rounds of stockinette stitch, with a series of decrease rounds spaced throughout to gradually taper the crown. This structured approach ensures even shaping and a professional-looking finished hat.