Equinox Hat

Equinox Hat by MsYarn Designs

Project Overview

The Equinox Hat is an intermediate-level knitted hat designed by Dawn Hansen and available through MsYarn Designs. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a classic fitted hat available in three sizes: Small (18" circumference), Medium (20" circumference), and Large (22" circumference). The design features a two-color striped construction using worsted weight yarn, making it an ideal project for knitters looking to develop color-work and shaping techniques.

What Is Being Made

The Equinox Hat is a close-fitting, circular knitted hat with a ribbed or stockinette construction. The pattern uses a two-color striping technique, with a main color (MC) and contrast color (CC) worked throughout the crown and body of the hat. The finished hat sits snugly on the head with a circumference measurement ranging from 18 to 22 inches depending on the chosen size.

Yarn and Materials

This pattern calls for worsted weight yarn in two colors. The main color requires 80 yards, while the contrast color requires 60 yards, for a total yardage of 140 yards. The example shown in the pattern uses Malabrigo Worsted, which is 100% Merino fiber with a yardage of 210 yards per 100 grams. The specific colors used in the example are Purple Mystery for the main color and Taureg for the contrast color.

Knitting supplies needed include US 7 (4.5mm) double-pointed needles (dpn), a stitch marker, and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends. The pattern specifies a gauge of 18 stitches over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in stockinette stitch, which is essential for achieving the correct finished circumference.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Equinox Hat employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques. The pattern uses circular knitting on double-pointed needles, which allows for seamless construction in the round. Knitters will work with a two-color striping pattern that requires managing two active yarn colors simultaneously throughout the project.

A key technique featured in this pattern is the stranding method for color changes. Rather than cutting the yarn between color changes, knitters keep both yarn colors attached and carry the inactive color along the inside of the work. When switching colors, the previous color yarn is held to the left so it lies under the new strand when the first stitch is knit. This approach reduces the number of ends to weave in and creates a more cohesive fabric structure.

The pattern also incorporates shaping techniques necessary for creating a fitted hat, including decreases to form the crown. This intermediate-level construction teaches knitters how to manage decreases while maintaining pattern integrity across multiple colors.

Stitches and Abbreviations

The Equinox Hat uses the following fundamental knitting stitches and abbreviations:

• CO – Cast on: the foundation row of stitches
• st (sts) – Stitch or stitches
• k – Knit stitch
• p – Purl stitch
• K2tog – Knit two stitches together (a right-leaning decrease)
• P2tog – Purl two stitches together (a decrease worked on wrong-side rows)
• m – Marker (used to denote the beginning of rounds)

The primary stitch pattern is stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric texture. The pattern is worked in the round using double-pointed needles, with the stockinette stitch providing the base for the two-color striping design.

Difficulty Level and Skill Development

Rated as an intermediate project, the Equinox Hat is suitable for knitters who have mastered basic cast-on, knit, and purl stitches and are ready to tackle circular knitting and color work. This pattern provides excellent practice for developing skills in managing multiple yarn colors, maintaining consistent tension across color changes, and executing decreases while working in the round. The two-color striping technique is foundational for more complex colorwork patterns and helps knitters build confidence in their ability to manage multiple active yarns.