Candystripe Slouch Hat in SweetGeorgia Superwash Worsted - Downloadable PDF

Candystripe Slouch Hat – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Candystripe Slouch Hat is a free, downloadable PDF knitting pattern designed by Felicia Lo for SweetGeorgia Yarns. This cheerful striped and textured slouch hat is sized to fit an adult medium head (approximately 20 to 22 inches in circumference) and is designed to be completed in just a couple of evenings, making it an ideal quick-knit project for crafters who love colorwork without the complexity of traditional stranded techniques.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a slouchy, textured striped hat worked in the round. The design combines bold color stripes with tactile surface interest created through eyelets and welts, resulting in a finished piece that looks far more intricate than the skill level required. The hat has a relaxed, slightly oversized silhouette characteristic of the slouch style, making it both fashionable and practical for everyday wear.

Materials Used

Yarn

The pattern calls for 5 mini skeins of SweetGeorgia Yarns Superwash Worsted, one mini skein per color, with each skein measuring approximately 50 yards / 46 meters and weighing 1 oz / 28 g. The yarn is 100% superwash Merino wool in a worsted weight. The five specific colorways used in the original design are:

• Colour A: Sapphire
• Colour B: Basil
• Colour C: Nightshade
• Colour D: Wisteria
• Colour E: Deep Cove

The use of mini skeins makes this pattern a wonderful stash-buster and an excellent way to explore SweetGeorgia's rich, hand-dyed color palette. Each color contributes approximately 50 yards to the finished hat, meaning very little yarn is wasted.

Needles and Notions

The pattern requires a US Size 7 / 4.5 mm circular needle in a 12-inch / 30 cm length, or a longer circular needle if using the magic loop method. Additional notions typically required for hat knitting in the round include stitch markers and a tapestry needle for finishing.

Gauge

The recommended gauge is 18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm in stockinette stitch, measured after blocking. Achieving correct gauge is important for ensuring the hat fits the intended adult medium size range of 20 to 22 inches.

Techniques and Skills Required

The Candystripe Slouch Hat is rated as an intermediate skill level pattern. Knitters should be comfortable with the following techniques before casting on:

• Knitting in the round on a short circular needle or using the magic loop method
• Working stripes with multiple colors, including managing yarn ends and color changes
• Simple decreases for shaping the crown of the hat
• Eyelet construction using yarn overs to create decorative openwork details
• Welt stitch patterning to add raised horizontal texture to the fabric

Welts are created by alternating knit and purl rows or rounds in a deliberate sequence, producing a ridged, three-dimensional surface texture. Eyelets, formed by pairing a yarn over (yo) with a knit-two-together (k2tog) decrease, create small decorative holes that add lightness and visual detail to the striped sections. Together, these elements elevate the hat beyond a simple stripe pattern into something with genuine textural interest.

Stitches Used

The following stitches and techniques are referenced in the pattern abbreviations and construction:

• k – knit
• p – purl