Wild

Wild Hat by Fiona Hamilton-MacLaren

What is Being Made

Wild is a downloadable knitting pattern for an adult hat designed by independent designer Fiona Hamilton-MacLaren. This project creates a finished hat in three sizes: small, medium, and large. The design features a ribbed brim that transitions into a textured body, offering a quick and satisfying knitting project suitable for crafters with foundational skills.

Yarn and Materials

This hat is an economical project requiring just 50g of aran weight yarn. The pattern features A Little Bit Sheepish Merino Aran in the colorway Go Go Green as the shown example. Aran weight yarn is a medium-weight yarn that works quickly on larger needles, making this an efficient project for knitters seeking faster results.

Additional notions required include a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and stitch markers to track rounds during circular knitting.

Needles and Tools

The pattern calls for 4.5mm circular needles measuring 62cm (24 inches) for working in the round. Circular needles are essential for this hat construction, as they accommodate the cast-on stitches and allow seamless knitting in continuous rounds without seaming.

Stitches and Techniques

Wild employs several fundamental knitting techniques and stitches:

• Longtail cast on: The pattern specifically recommends this cast-on method due to its excellent stretch and flexibility, which is particularly important for hat brims that must accommodate the wearer's head comfortably.
• Knit and purl stitches: These basic stitches form the foundation of the ribbed brim and seed stitch pattern.
• Knitting in the round: The hat is constructed circularly using circular needles, eliminating the need for seaming.
• Ribbed texture: The brim features a classic knit-one, purl-one (k1, p1) ribbing pattern repeated over 8 to 10 rounds depending on size, creating vertical columns that provide stretch and recovery.
• Seed stitch pattern: The body transitions from ribbing into a seed stitch pattern, which breaks up the solid ribbed texture with an alternating knit and purl design that creates visual interest and texture.
• Decreasing: The pattern incorporates knit-two-together (k2tog) decreases to shape the crown of the hat.
• Yarn over (YO): This stitch creates intentional holes or lacy elements within the design.
• Weaving in ends: The finishing technique secures yarn tails neatly within the fabric.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 15 stitches and 22 rows over 10cm (4 inches) in stockinette stitch. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished hat dimensions. Three adult sizes are provided: small, medium, and large, with cast-on stitches of 72, 80, and 88 stitches respectively. The brim ribbing is worked for 8 rounds in the small size and 10 rounds in both medium and large sizes.

Skill Level

Wild is designed for knitters with intermediate beginner skills. The pattern requires competency with longtail cast on, basic stitches (knit and purl), circular knitting, and simple decreases. The quick-to-work nature of the project and the minimal yardage make it an excellent choice for crafters seeking to build confidence with in-the-round construction and shaping techniques.