Brenda Hat in Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash® Merino - W657 - Downloadable PDF

Brenda Hat in Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash® Merino

What Is Being Made

The Brenda Hat is a women's medium-sized knitted hat designed by Susie Bonell, featuring a finished circumference of 21 inches and a height of 10 inches. This is a classic pull-on style hat suitable for everyday wear, crafted from premium superwash merino wool for durability and easy care.

Yarn and Materials

This pattern uses Cascade Yarns® 220 Superwash® Merino, a DK weight yarn composed of 100% superwash merino wool. A single skein in color #22 (Raspberry) provides 220 yards of yardage from 100 grams (3.5 ounces), offering sufficient material to complete the entire hat. The superwash treatment makes this yarn machine-washable, eliminating the need for hand washing and special care.

Needles and Tools

The pattern requires circular knitting needles in two sizes to accommodate the hat's construction and shaping:

• US 6 circular needle (16-inch) for the initial cast-on and ribbed cuff
• US 8 circular needle (16-inch) and double-pointed needles (DPN) for the main pattern and crown decreases
• One stitch marker to denote the beginning of each round
• A yarn needle for weaving in ends

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

The Brenda Hat employs fundamental knitting techniques appropriate for an easy-to-intermediate skill level. The construction begins with a cast-on of 100 stitches worked in the round on the smaller circular needle, ensuring stitches are not twisted during joining—a critical step for seamless circular knitting.

The hat features a ribbed cuff worked in a repeating *K2, P2* (knit 2, purl 2) pattern for 1½ inches. This ribbing creates elasticity and helps the hat conform snugly to the wearer's head while providing visual texture at the brim.

Once the ribbing is complete, the knitter transitions to the larger US 8 needles and works the Brenda Pattern across the main body of the hat. The pattern incorporates several standard knitting abbreviations and techniques:

• K (Knit)—the fundamental stitch creating the fabric
• P (Purl)—the reverse of knit, used in ribbing for textural contrast
• KFB (Knit into the front and back)—an increase stitch that adds stitches for shaping
• K2tog (Knit 2 together)—a right-leaning decrease used to shape the crown
• SSK (Slip, Slip, Knit)—a left-leaning decrease providing balanced shaping
• YO (Yarn Over)—creates decorative eyelets or lace elements within the pattern
• PM (Place Marker)—marks the round beginning for tracking progress

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 24 stitches by 32 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in stockinette stitch when worked on US 8 needles with Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash® Merino. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for ensuring the finished hat matches the intended dimensions of 21 inches circumference and 10 inches in height.

Skill Level and Difficulty

Rated as easy-to-intermediate, the Brenda Hat is accessible to knitters with basic circular knitting experience. The pattern assumes familiarity with fundamental techniques such as casting on, working in the round, basic increases and decreases, and binding off. The straightforward construction and use of standard stitches make this an ideal project for knitters looking to build confidence with in-the-round knitting while creating a practical, wearable garment.