Cutler Hat in Rowan Brushed Fleece - RTP004-0010-ENPFRP - Downloadable PDF

Cutler Hat in Rowan Brushed Fleece – Pattern Summary

About This Design

The Cutler Hat is an original knitting pattern designed by Martin Storey and published by Rowan. It is a classic knitted beanie-style hat worked in a two-colour stripe, combining a neat ribbed brim with a smooth stockinette body and a carefully shaped crown. The result is a cosy, textured hat with a contemporary yet timeless aesthetic, perfectly suited to the luxuriously soft qualities of Rowan Brushed Fleece yarn. This is a downloadable PDF pattern (reference RTP004-0010-ENP).

Sizes and Finished Measurements

The pattern is written in two sizes to accommodate a range of adult head circumferences:

• S/M: Approximately 50 cm / 19½ in circumference
• L/XL: Approximately 54 cm / 21¼ in circumference

Both sizes share the same finished height of 26 cm / 10¼ in, making this a generously deep hat that sits comfortably over the ears.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a single knitted hat worked flat on straight needles and seamed at the back using mattress stitch. The hat features a two-colour striped body in stocking stitch (stockinette), a ribbed brim in the contrast colour, and a fully shaped crown with evenly distributed decreases that draw the fabric neatly to a gathered top. The two-colour stripe gives the hat a bold, graphic quality while remaining straightforward to execute.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Rowan Brushed Fleece, a chunky weight yarn sold in 50 g balls. Two colours are used:

• Colour A – Ness 282: 1 ball
• Colour B – Cairn 263: 1 ball

Rowan Brushed Fleece is a lofty, brushed yarn with a characteristically soft, halo-like finish that adds warmth and a luxurious feel to the finished fabric. Its chunky weight means the hat knits up quickly, making this an excellent project for knitters who want a satisfying result in a relatively short time.

Needles Required

• 1 pair 5 mm (US 8) straight needles – used for the ribbed brim
• 1 pair 6 mm (US 10) straight needles – used for the main body and crown

Tension / Gauge

The stated tension is 13 stitches × 19 rows to 10 cm / 4 in over stocking stitch using 6 mm (US 10) needles. Achieving the correct tension is important for obtaining the right fit, particularly across the circumference of the hat. Knitters are advised to work a tension swatch before beginning.

Techniques Used

The Cutler Hat draws on a range of fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques:

• Casting on – the hat begins with a standard cast-on of 66 (70) stitches using the smaller needles
• Two-by-two rib (K2, P2) – worked over six rows on 5 mm needles to form the brim; this elastic stitch pattern ensures the hat grips the head comfortably
• Stocking stitch (stockinette) – the main body of the hat is worked in stocking stitch, alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side
• Two-colour striping – colours A and B alternate every two rows to create a regular stripe sequence throughout the body; the yarn not in use is stranded loosely up the right-hand edge of the work rather than cut, keeping the edge tidy and reducing yarn ends to weave in
• Crown shaping with decreases (K2tog) – a structured series of decrease rows reduces the stitch count progressively from 65 (70) stitches down