Hat in Schachenmayr Highland Alpaca - S9364A - Downloadable PDF

Hat in Schachenmayr Highland Alpaca – Design S9364A

This free downloadable knitting pattern from Schachenmayr (design code S9364A) guides you through creating a classic, cosy knitted hat worked entirely in the round. Rated very easy, it is an ideal project for beginner knitters looking to build confidence with circular knitting and simple crown shaping. The finished hat is sized to fit a head circumference of 54–56 cm, making it a practical everyday accessory for adults.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a single seamless knitted beanie-style hat with a smooth stockinette body and a neatly tapered crown. The clean, minimalist aesthetic lets the yarn's natural texture and lustre take centre stage, making it a versatile piece that suits a wide range of styles.

Construction and Techniques

• Circular cast-on: 40 stitches are cast on using a circular needle, and the work is immediately joined in the round with a stitch marker placed at the round beginning.
• Working in the round: The entire hat body — rounds 1 through 23 — is knitted in continuous rounds without turning, eliminating any seams.
• Transitioning to double-pointed needles: Once the crown decreases begin, the knitter switches from the circular needle to a set of double-pointed needles (DPNs), with 10 stitches distributed per needle, to accommodate the reducing stitch count comfortably.
• Crown shaping with centred double decreases: A series of structured decrease rounds (rounds 24–30) reduces the stitch count from 40 down to just 8 stitches, creating a smoothly tapered, rounded crown.
• Finishing: The remaining 8 stitches are threaded twice through with a tapestry needle to close the crown securely.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch (Glatt rechts) in the round: Every stitch in every round is knitted, which — when worked in the round — produces a smooth, flat stockinette fabric on the right side. This forms the entire body of the hat.
• Centred double decrease (3 Maschen rechts überzogen zusammenstricken): A slip-slip-knit style triple decrease used repeatedly during the crown shaping rounds. Each repeat removes 2 stitches per decrease point, creating symmetrical, radiating decrease lines across the crown — a hallmark of well-finished handknitted hats.

Pattern Structure – Round by Round

• Rounds 1–23: All stitches knitted in stockinette, building the body of the hat to the desired length.
• Round 24: First decrease round — stitch count reduced from 40 to 32 stitches.
• Round 25: Plain knit round.
• Round 26: Second decrease round — reduced to 24 stitches.
• Round 27: Plain knit round.
• Round 28: Third decrease round — reduced to 16 stitches.
• Round 29: Plain knit round.
• Round 30: Final decrease round — reduced to 8 stitches, then crown is closed.

Materials and Yarn

The pattern is designed for use with Schachenmayr Highland Alpaca, a super chunky weight yarn. The super chunky classification means the hat knits up quickly — making it especially rewarding for beginners — and produces a wonderfully warm, substantial fabric. As the yarn name suggests, it features alpaca content, which is prized for its softness, natural warmth, and subtle sheen. Both a circular needle and a set of double-pointed needles in an appropriate size for super chunky yarn are required to complete this project.

Who This Pattern Is For

This is a beginner-friendly pattern that requires only the ability to knit in the