Barrels & Purls Hat -- a loom knit pattern

Barrels & Purls Hat – Reversible Loom Knit Pattern

Project Overview

The Barrels & Purls Hat is a beginner-friendly loom knit design created by Dayna Scoles that produces a completely reversible hat with two distinct visual appearances. This downloadable PDF pattern allows crafters to create a finished hat using a single loom and basic knitting techniques, making it an excellent project for those new to loom knitting.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates an adult-sized reversible hat that can be worn with either side facing outward, offering two unique aesthetic options from a single project. The reversible nature of the design means crafters get maximum versatility from one completed garment.

Loom and Equipment

The Barrels & Purls Hat is worked on a 5/8" gauge purple Knifty Knitter 48-peg adult hat round loom. This specific loom size and peg count are essential for achieving the correct finished dimensions and gauge for the hat.

Yarn Requirements and Materials

This pattern requires 108 yards of #5 Bulky weight yarn. The sample shown in the pattern was created using Cloudborn Fibers by Craftsy 100% Superwash Merino Wool, which provides a soft, durable, and easy-care fiber suitable for hat wear. The bulky yarn weight ensures the hat knits up quickly and creates a warm, substantial fabric.

Primary Technique: The Barrel Stitch

The defining feature of this pattern is the custom Barrel Stitch, a unique stitch technique developed by designer Dayna Scoles. This stitch creates the textured, reversible appearance of the finished hat. The Barrel Stitch works as follows:

• Rows 1-3: E-wrap the indicated pegs in a row and leave those stitches sitting on the pegs without knitting over them. This process is repeated for three consecutive rows, building up three loops (one from each row) on each peg.
• Row 4: Purl all three loops on each peg together as though they were a single loop.

Once crafters understand the basic rhythm of the Barrel Stitch, the pattern becomes straightforward to execute. The stitch is designed to be simple and intuitive despite its visually striking results.

Stitches and Abbreviations

The pattern uses the following stitch abbreviations:

• k = e-wrap knit stitch
• u = u-knit stitch
• ew = e-wrap and leave loop sitting on peg (do not knit over)

These basic stitches form the foundation of the pattern, with the e-wrap knit and u-knit stitches being standard loom knitting techniques, while the e-wrap-and-leave technique is specific to creating the Barrel Stitch texture.

Difficulty Level

Rated as a beginner project, the Barrels & Purls Hat is accessible to loom knitters who are new to the craft. The straightforward stitch pattern and clear rhythm make it an ideal introduction to more advanced loom knitting techniques.

Design Features

The unique construction method creates two completely different visual textures on the front and back of the hat. This reversibility means the hat can be worn right-side out or inside out, providing two distinct looks from a single finished project. This feature adds practical value and creative styling options for the wearer.