H2O Hat

H2O Hat by Bonne Marie Burns

What is Being Made

The H2O Hat is a beginner-friendly knitted hat designed by Bonne Marie Burns. This chic, stretchy hat features a 22-inch circumference that accommodates most head sizes due to its elastic fabric construction. The hat is worked from the top down using strategic decreases to create a fitted crown.

Knitting Techniques Used

This project employs fundamental knitting techniques suitable for beginners while creating a sophisticated finished garment. The primary construction method involves top-down knitting, where stitches are cast on and the hat is worked downward toward the brim. The design incorporates multiple decrease rows strategically spaced throughout the pattern to shape the crown and create the hat's fitted silhouette. The decreases are worked using the K3TOG (knit 3 together) technique, which removes stitches efficiently while maintaining clean, visible decreases on the right side of the fabric. The pattern alternates between decrease rows and stockinette stitch rows, allowing the fabric to expand and contract in a controlled manner.

Stitches Used

The H2O Hat is constructed primarily using two fundamental stitches:

• Stockinette Stitch: The main fabric stitch, created by knitting all right-side rows and purling all wrong-side rows. This creates the classic smooth, V-textured appearance that dominates the hat.
• K3TOG (Knit 3 Together): A centered decrease stitch used in the decrease rows to shape the crown. This stitch combines three stitches into one, reducing stitch count while creating a visible decorative line.

Materials and Gauge

The H2O Hat is worked in super bulky weight yarn, specifically using Colinette Point 5 or similar super bulky yarn at 55 yards per skein. The pattern calls for 3 strands of worsted weight yarn held together to achieve the super bulky effect, requiring only 1 skein total—making this an efficient, quick-to-complete project. The recommended gauge is 8 stitches and 12 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Knitting is worked on #17 (12.75 mm) needles, with a darning needle used for weaving in ends and seaming the back seam. The combination of large needles and thick yarn creates a dense, warm fabric that works up quickly.