1366 Melrose - Hat Knitting Pattern for Kids and Adults in Valley Yarns Sunderland

1366 Melrose: Stranded Colorwork Knit Hat for Kids and Adults

What is Being Made

The 1366 Melrose is a stylish beanie hat designed by Julie Turjoman and published by Valley Yarns. This knitting pattern creates a fitted, stranded colorwork beanie suitable for both children and adults, with three size options ranging from small to large. The finished hat features a circumference of 18 inches (small), 20 inches (medium), or 21¾ inches (large), fitting head sizes from 18–24 inches depending on the size selected. The hat is worked in a cheerful colorway combining a natural base with Pacific Teal and Lavender Mist accent colors, making it an eye-catching accessory for cool weather wear.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level pattern employs several key knitting techniques to create its finished structure:

• Worked in the Round: The hat is constructed using circular needles and double-pointed needles, allowing the knitter to work continuously in rounds rather than flat pieces that require seaming.
• Seamless Construction: Because the hat is worked in the round from bottom to top, no seaming is required, resulting in a smooth, professional finish with no visible seams.
• Stranded Colorwork: Simple colorwork motifs are incorporated throughout the hat using the stranded technique, where two colors are carried across the row. This method creates visual interest with pops of color while maintaining the structural integrity of the fabric.
• Bottom-Up Construction: The hat is worked from the ribbed band at the bottom upward toward the crown, allowing the knitter to try on the hat and adjust length as needed before completing the top shaping.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The 1366 Melrose utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined to create texture and colorwork interest. The pattern begins with a ribbed band worked on smaller needles to create a snug, elastic edge that helps the hat stay in place. The main body of the hat is worked in stockinette stitch, the most basic knit fabric, which provides a smooth canvas for the stranded colorwork motifs. These colorwork patterns are created by knitting with two colors simultaneously, dropping and picking up colors as the pattern dictates to form the decorative designs. The crown shaping involves decreases worked at regular intervals to taper the hat to a finished point.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The 1366 Melrose pattern is designed specifically for Valley Yarns Sunderland, a yarn made from 100% baby alpaca. The yarn is a DK weight, which is a medium-light yarn suitable for creating garments with good drape and warmth without excessive bulk. The pattern requires three colors of Sunderland: 2 balls of Natural (main color), and 1 ball each of Pacific Teal and Lavender Mist (contrast colors). Each ball contains 50 grams and 109 yards of yardage.

The pattern calls for multiple needle sizes to achieve proper gauge and structure. A US size 6 (4.0 mm) 16-inch circular needle and double-pointed needles form the primary needles for the main body of the hat. A US size 7 (4.5 mm) 16-inch circular needle is recommended as an optional upgrade if the knitter needs to adjust gauge while working the stranded colorwork sections, as carrying two colors can sometimes tighten the fabric. A US size 5 (3.75 mm) 16-inch circular needle is used for the ribbed cuff band to create the elastic edge. Additional materials include stitch markers to denote the beginning of rounds and pattern repeats, and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends after completion.

Skill Level and Gauge

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with some experience who are comfortable working in the round and managing multiple colors. The required gauge is 22 stitches and 30 rows per 4 inches when measured over stockinette stitch on US size 6 needles. Achieving proper gauge is essential for the hat to fit correctly, and knitters are encouraged to knit a gauge swatch before beginning the project to ensure their tension matches the pattern specifications.