Double Dip Ribbed Hat

Double Dip Ribbed Hat by Marly Bird

What is Being Made

The Double Dip Ribbed Hat is a fashionable and flirty knit hat designed for adult wear with a one-size-fits-most fit. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a finished circumference of 20 inches (50.8 cm) and a finished height of 8.25 inches (21 cm) when not blocked, or 8.5 inches (21.6 cm) when wet blocked. The hat combines comfort with elegant styling, making it suitable for everyday wear or special occasions.

Techniques and Construction

The Double Dip Ribbed Hat is worked in the round using circular needles and double-pointed needles, a fundamental technique for creating seamless, tubular garments. The hat features a distinctive double dip stitch pattern that creates a visual effect resembling a fishtail braid, adding textural interest and visual appeal to the finished piece. This pattern is worked on a foundation of basic ribbing, which provides structure and elasticity to ensure the hat maintains its shape and fits securely on the wearer's head.

Stitches Used

• Ribbing Stitch: A k3, p2 (knit 3, purl 2) ribbing pattern forms the base of the hat, creating vertical columns of texture that provide stretch and recovery
• Double Dip Stitch: A special stitch technique worked through the ribbed foundation that creates the distinctive fishtail braid appearance characteristic of this design

The gauge for this pattern is 18 stitches and an unspecified number of rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in the 3 knit x 2 purl ribbing stitch pattern when slightly stretched, ensuring proper fit and fabric drape.

Materials

This hat requires 1 ball of Red Heart Chic Sheep by Marly Bird™ yarn in Sangria colorway. The yarn is 100% Merino Wool in worsted weight, with each ball containing 3.5 ounces (100 grams) and 186 yards (170 meters) of yardage. Merino wool provides softness, breathability, and natural elasticity ideal for hat construction.

The needles required include Size 6 (4 mm) 16-inch circular needles for the ribbed sections and Size 7 (4.5 mm) 16-inch circular needles plus a set of 5 double-pointed needles (dpn's) for working the crown decreases. Additional notions include a stitch marker for tracking rounds, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scissors, and an optional fluffy pom pom for embellishment.

Pattern Summary

The Double Dip Ribbed Hat combines intermediate knitting skills with straightforward construction methods. The project begins with circular needles to establish the ribbed base, then transitions to double-pointed needles as stitches are decreased at the crown. The interplay between the structured k3, p2 ribbing and the decorative double dip stitch creates a hat that is both technically interesting and visually striking. The use of 100% Merino Wool ensures the finished hat is soft against the skin while maintaining excellent shape retention through blocking.