T Rex

T Rex Knit Hat by Sharon Mooney

What Is Being Made

The T Rex is an intermediate-level knit hat designed by Sharon Mooney, sized to fit head circumferences of 20" to 24". The finished hat measures 10" tall from the center top to the bottom of the ribbing when unstretched. This design is particularly well-suited for adult heads and features a two-color colorwork pattern using navy and silver yarn.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several fundamental knitting techniques appropriate for intermediate crafters. The hat is constructed using circular knitting on circular needles for the body, transitioning to double pointed needles for the crown decreases as the circumference becomes too small for circular needles. The pattern incorporates colorwork with two contrasting yarn colors (navy as the main color and silver as the contrasting color), allowing for visual interest and texture variation. Gauge adjustment is an important consideration for this pattern—knitters who prefer a smaller finished hat can achieve this by using needles one half to one size smaller (US 2/2.75mm) to increase stitch density by ½ to 1 stitch per inch.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The T Rex hat is worked primarily in stockinette stitch (also called stocking stitch), which creates a smooth, classic fabric with a flat appearance on the right side and bumpy texture on the wrong side. The hat includes ribbing at the bottom edge, which provides elasticity and helps the hat stay securely on the wearer's head. Ribbed sections are typically worked by alternating knit and purl stitches in vertical columns. The pattern uses decreases at the crown to shape the hat and close the top, a standard technique for crown-down or top-down hat construction.

Materials and Tools

The T Rex pattern calls for specific materials to achieve the intended finished dimensions and drape:

• Yarn: Approximately two skeins of Knit Picks "Palette" yarn (100% Peruvian Highland Wool, 231 yards/211.2 meters per 1.75 ounces/50 grams). One skein in Navy serves as the main color, and one skein in Silver serves as the contrasting color. This is a 4-ply weight yarn, which is a standard worsted or medium weight suitable for creating fabric with good stitch definition.
• Needles: One 16-inch/40cm circular knitting needle in size US 3/3.25mm for working the body in the round, and a set of four double pointed needles also in size US 3/3.25mm for working the crown decreases.
• Notions: Three ring stitch markers (with one being a contrasting color to clearly mark the beginning of rounds) and a yarn needle or large embroidery needle for weaving in ends after completion.

Gauge and Finishing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 6.5 stitches and 7.5 rows per inch (or rounds per inch) measured over stockinette stitch before blocking. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for the hat to fit properly; knitters should always knit a gauge swatch and measure it after blocking to ensure their tension matches the designer's specifications. Blocking—the process of wetting or steaming the finished knit to set the stitches and even out the fabric—is recommended before wearing to achieve the intended finished dimensions and drape.