Sarah

Sarah Hat by Taiga Hilliard Designs

What is Being Made

Sarah is a quick-to-knit hat designed for the whole family, available in three sizes: Kid (18 ½" head circumference), Medium Adult (22" head circumference), and X-Large Adult (25" head circumference). This seamless, brim-up hat is worked entirely in the round and is ideal for crafters seeking a fast, satisfying knitting project that requires minimal yardage.

Yarn and Materials

This pattern uses super bulky weight yarn, specifically Madelinetosh ASAP. The yardage requirements are minimal, ranging from 70 yards for the Kid size to 90 yards for the X-Large Adult size, making this an excellent project for using yarn scraps or small quantities. The pattern calls for US size 11 (8.0 mm) needles, or whatever needle size is needed to achieve the specified gauge.

Gauge and Construction

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 9.0 stitches by 14 rows over 4 inches. The hat is knit seamlessly in the round from the brim upward, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a polished, professional finish.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Knit (K) – The fundamental stitch forming the fabric
• Purl (P) – Used in the ribbed brim pattern for textural contrast
• Knit Two Together (K2tog) – A right-leaning decrease used to shape the crown
• Make One Left (M1L) – A left-leaning increase created by picking up the horizontal strand between needles from front to back and knitting through the back loop
• Cast On – The foundation row, with stitch counts of 40, 50, or 55 stitches depending on size
• Join in the Round – Circular knitting technique with careful attention to avoid twisting the cast-on edge
• Stitch Markers – Used to mark the start of round for tracking progress

Pattern Structure

The hat begins with a ribbed brim worked over 9 rounds using a repeating pattern of Purl 2, Knit 1, Purl 1, Knit 1. Following the brim, the main body is worked in stockinette stitch (knitting every round) until the hat reaches the specified length of 6 ½ inches for the Kid size, 7 inches for Medium Adult, and 7 inches for X-Large Adult. Crown shaping is then executed using decreases, with the Kid size maintaining all stitches while the Medium Adult and X-Large Adult sizes incorporate evenly spaced K2tog decreases to achieve the proper fit.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as beginner-friendly, making it an excellent choice for knitters new to circular knitting or those seeking a quick confidence-building project. The straightforward stitch pattern and minimal shaping make Sarah accessible to knitters of all experience levels.