Frais

Frais Hat by Alicia Plummer

What Is Being Made

Frais is a knitted hat designed by Alicia Plummer, available in three finished circumference sizes: 19 inches (48 cm), 21 inches (53 cm), and 23 inches (58 cm). This intermediate-level knitting project creates a finished hat with a distinctive double brim construction and elegant crown shaping.

Knitting Techniques

The Frais hat is worked from the bottom up using a double brim construction method. The crown shaping features a clean, 6-pointed star finish, creating a refined silhouette. The hat is worked in the round, requiring careful attention during the cast-on to avoid twisting stitches. The pattern includes a partridge eye stitch pattern that adds visual texture and interest to the finished piece.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns Used

• Stockinette stitch – the primary stitch used throughout the hat body
• Partridge eye pattern – a decorative stitch pattern incorporating knit stitches and slipped stitches with yarn held in back (wyib)
• Slipped stitches – used in the partridge eye pattern for textural detail
• Long tail cast-on – the foundation method for this project

Materials and Tools

The Frais hat requires 1 skein of Western Sky Knits Willow Partridge Eye Superwash Sport yarn in 100% merino wool. Total yardage needed is 200 yards (182 meters) for the smallest size, 220 yards (200 meters) for the medium size, and 240 yards (220 meters) for the largest size.

Needles required include US 4/3.5 mm double-pointed needles or circular needle for the ribbed brim sections, and US 6/4.0 mm double-pointed needles or circular needle for the main hat body. The gauge is 24 stitches and 36 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on US 6/4.0 mm needles when blocked.

Additional notions include 1 place marker and a darning needle for weaving in ends.

Pattern Structure

The cast-on begins with 114 stitches for the smallest size, 126 stitches for the medium size, and 138 stitches for the largest size. After joining in the round, the knitter works the double brim section, which measures 1.5 inches (4 cm) for the smallest size and 2 inches (5 cm) for the larger sizes. The partridge eye pattern is worked in alternating rounds of knit stitches and the slip-stitch pattern, creating a subtle textured brim before transitioning to the main hat body in stockinette stitch and proceeding to the 6-pointed star crown shaping.