Ursula 7021

Ursula 7021 Knit Hat by Sue Whiting Designs

What is Being Made

The Ursula 7021 is a knitted hat designed to fit an average-size head as a one-size garment. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a finished hat using a super chunky yarn weight, resulting in a quick and satisfying make suitable for knitters with some experience beyond the beginner level.

Techniques Used

This hat pattern employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques. The construction begins with a cast-on edge worked in garter stitch for stability, followed by a lace pattern section that showcases yarn-over techniques. The crown shaping uses strategic decreases to form the hat's rounded top, with the decreasing rows worked in a structured sequence to ensure even tapering. The combination of yarn-overs and decreases creates an openwork lace effect throughout the main body of the hat.

Stitches Used

• Garter Stitch (g st): Worked over the initial 4 rows to create a textured, non-curling edge
• Yarn Forward (yfwd): Used in the lace pattern to create deliberate holes and openwork
• Yarn Round Needle (yrn): The purl-row equivalent of yarn forward, maintaining lace pattern consistency
• Knit Two Together (K2tog): A right-leaning decrease used throughout the lace pattern and crown shaping
• Purl Two Together (P2tog): A decrease worked on wrong-side rows to mirror the decreases on right-side rows
• Knit (K) and Purl (P): Basic stitches forming the foundation of all pattern rows

Pattern Structure

The hat is constructed in three main sections. The foundation uses garter stitch over 4 rows for a secure edge. The main body features a 2-row repeat lace pattern that alternates between knit and purl rows, with yarn-overs paired with decreases to maintain stitch count while creating an open, decorative texture. This pattern repeat continues until the hat reaches 12 centimeters in length. The crown shaping section introduces additional decreases to gradually reduce stitches from 50 to 42, then to 34 stitches across multiple shaping rows, creating the rounded top of the hat.

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: Lion Brand Gold Leaf in super chunky weight. The pattern requires 1 ball of 75 grams, photographed in the colorway red/gold 113. Super chunky yarn creates a dense, warm fabric that works up quickly due to the larger yarn thickness and resulting larger stitch size.

Needles: 1 pair of 8 millimeter (US size 11) needles. These needles are appropriately sized for super chunky yarn to achieve the correct fabric density and drape.

Tension: The pattern specifies a gauge of 9¼ stitches and 13½ rows to 10 centimeters measured over the lace pattern using 8 millimeter needles. Checking tension before beginning is essential to ensure the finished hat fits correctly and exhibits the intended fabric characteristics.

Skill Level Considerations

Classified as an intermediate project, the Ursula 7021 assumes knitters are comfortable with basic stitches and can execute yarn-overs and decreases with confidence. The lace pattern requires attention to stitch placement and pattern repetition, while the crown shaping demands understanding of how decreases affect fabric structure. The super chunky yarn weight makes individual stitches highly visible, which can help with error detection and correction during the knitting process.