Twig and Twine

Twig and Twine Hat by Shauna Shiff

What is Being Made

Twig and Twine is a classic knitted hat designed by Shauna Shiff, featuring a timeless silhouette enhanced by distinctive undulating texture. This downloadable knitting pattern produces a finished hat with head circumferences in three sizes: Child (18"), Small Adult (20"), and Large Adult (22"), with corresponding lengths of 7½" to 8½" depending on size. The hat is designed to fit with 2 inches of negative ease at the head circumference, creating a snug, comfortable fit. The finished hat is shown in the Monet colorway of One Room Fibers Superwash Merino DK yarn and pairs beautifully with wool coats for long, wooded walks.

Techniques Used

The defining characteristic of the Twig and Twine hat is its textured surface created through slipped stitches and dropped stitches, which form cable-like undulating patterns across the fabric. The hat is worked in the round using either double-pointed needles or a circular needle, a common technique for seamless hat construction. The pattern incorporates 1x1 ribbing sections, which provide elasticity and structure to the finished garment.

Stitches Used

• Slipped stitches—used to create the distinctive texture without adding bulk
• Dropped stitches—intentionally released stitches that form the undulating cable-like visual effect
• 1x1 ribbing—alternating knit and purl stitches for elasticity and definition

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: One Room Fibers Superwash Merino DK weight, with yardage requirements of 162 yards (Child), 194 yards (Small Adult), or 224 yards (Large Adult). The pattern is shown in the Monet colorway. Each 100-gram skein contains 231 yards / 211 meters.

Needles: US Size 2 / 2.75 mm needles for the ribbed sections and US Size 4 / 3.5 mm needles for the main body. Both needle sizes can be worked as double-pointed needles (DPNs) or 16-inch / 40 cm circular needles, or needles of your preferred choice for working in the round.

Additional Notions: One stitch marker to denote the end of the round and a darning needle for weaving in ends.

Gauge: 7 stitches and 10 rows per 1 inch / 2.54 cm in 1x1 ribbing on US Size 2 needles.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with some experience. The combination of working in the round, managing multiple needle sizes, and executing slipped and dropped stitches requires foundational knitting skills and comfort with texture manipulation.