North Wind Hat in SweetGeorgia Superwash Worsted and Cashluxe Fine - Downloadable PDF

North Wind Hat by Felicia Lo – SweetGeorgia Knitting Pattern Summary

The North Wind Hat is a beautifully versatile, quick one-skein knitting pattern designed by Felicia Lo for SweetGeorgia Yarns. This pattern produces a simple lace slouch beanie sized to fit an adult medium head, with a finished brim circumference of 18 inches (45.5 cm) unstretched and a depth of 11 inches (28 cm). The design is intentionally flexible, offering two brim options so knitters can personalize the fit and style of their finished hat. The lace section can also be extended to create as much or as little slouch as the knitter desires, making this a truly adaptable project.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a knitted slouch beanie hat worked in the round from the brim upward. The silhouette is relaxed and modern, suitable for year-round wear. The combination of a stretchy lace body and a comfortable ribbed or folded brim gives the hat both visual interest and practical wearability. Because the lace pattern is easy to memorize, knitters can work through the project quickly and enjoyably, even while watching television or commuting.

Yarn Options and Materials

The pattern offers two distinct yarn options, each producing a slightly different look and feel:

• SweetGeorgia Yarns Superwash Worsted – used as a single strand; shown in the colorway Riptide. This yarn is 100% Superwash Merino Wool, providing 200 yards (183 m) per 4 oz (115 g) skein. Superwash Merino is prized for its exceptional softness, machine-washable convenience, and beautiful stitch definition, making it an ideal choice for showcasing the zig zag lace motif.
• SweetGeorgia Yarns CashLuxe Fine – held double to achieve a worsted-weight fabric; shown in the colorway Coral Rose. This yarn is a luxurious blend of 70% Superwash Merino Wool, 20% Cashmere, and 10% Nylon, offering 400 yards (365 m) per 4 oz (115 g) skein. Holding a lace-weight yarn double is a clever technique that allows knitters to take advantage of the extraordinary softness and halo of cashmere while achieving the correct gauge for the pattern.

In both cases, only one skein is required, making this an excellent stash-busting or gift-knitting project.

Needles and Notions

• US 8 (5 mm) 16-inch (40 cm) circular needles for the main body of the hat
• US 8 (5 mm) double-pointed needles for working the crown decreases
• Knitters are advised to adjust needle size as needed to achieve the correct gauge
• Additional notions include one stitch marker and a tapestry needle for finishing

Gauge

The recommended gauge is 18 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in the stitch pattern. Achieving accurate gauge is important for ensuring the hat fits correctly, particularly given the unstretched brim measurement of 18 inches, which is designed to stretch comfortably over a head measuring 20 to 22 inches (50.5 to 55.5 cm) in circumference.

Techniques and Stitches Used

The North Wind Hat is rated Easy/Intermediate, making it accessible to knitters who have mastered the basics and are ready to explore simple lace. Key techniques and stitches include:

• Knitting in the round on circular and double-pointed needles – the entire hat is worked seamlessly from cast-on to crown
• Zig zag lace pattern – a simple, easy-to-memorize lace motif that creates a striking visual texture across the body of the hat; lace knitting typically involves a combination of yarn overs and decreases