The Scottish Tam

The Scottish Tam by Robin Hunter

What is Being Made

The Scottish Tam is a structured knit hat inspired by traditional fabric tams worn by Scottish men with their kilts. This downloadable knitting pattern produces a classic tam with a garter stitch band and a generously proportioned crown. The finished hat is available in four sizes to fit head measurements of 21, 22, 23, or 24 inches (53.5, 56, 58.5, or 61 centimeters), with the garter band designed to stretch snugly around the wearer's head.

Techniques and Construction Methods

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several essential knitting techniques to achieve its traditional shape and structure. The pattern requires proficiency in fundamental stitches and shaping methods, including knit and purl stitches as the foundation, along with increasing and decreasing techniques to shape the crown of the tam. Picking up stitches is also utilized in the construction process, allowing the knitter to work from existing stitches to create seamless transitions between pattern sections. The hat is worked in the round using both double-pointed needles and circular needles, a common approach for hat construction that eliminates the need for seaming.

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch – used for the band that encircles the head, providing elasticity and a textured finish
• Stocking stitch – the primary stitch pattern for the body of the tam, worked over the main crown area
• Knit and purl stitches – fundamental stitches that form the basis of the pattern
• Increases and decreases – shaping techniques used to form the tam's distinctive rounded crown
• Picked-up stitches – used to transition between sections of the hat

Yarn and Materials

The Scottish Tam pattern calls for 2 balls of Louet Bonnie yarn, a premium blend composed of 94% wool and 6% silk, totaling 80 meters (88 yards) per 50-gram ball. The sample shown is knit in colour #06 Green Summer. The chunky yarn weight and specific fiber blend create a durable, structured hat with subtle sheen from the silk content.

The pattern specifies a firmer gauge than the yarn's standard recommendation to provide additional body and structure to the finished hat. The working gauge is 18 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in stocking stitch using 3.75 millimeter needles, whereas the yarn's normal gauge range is 12 to 16 stitches over 4 inches on 5.5 to 8 millimeter needles. This tighter gauge ensures the tam holds its shape and maintains the traditional structured appearance characteristic of Scottish tams.

Needles Required

• 3.75 millimeter double-pointed needles (set of 4 or 5)
• 3.75 millimeter circular needle, 16 inches (40 centimeters)
• 3 millimeter circular needle, 16 inches (40 centimeters)

Sizing and Fit

Before beginning, measure the intended wearer's head with a measuring tape positioned just above the eyebrows and parallel to the floor to determine the appropriate size. The garter band is engineered to stretch and fit snugly around the head, accommodating the measurement range for each size option.