Wendy 7023

Wendy Hat by Sue Whiting Designs

What is Being Made

Wendy is a knitted hat designed by Sue Whiting Designs, offered as pattern 7023. This intermediate-level project creates a finished hat sized to fit an average adult head. The design features textured stitch patterns and decorative cable elements worked in the round, resulting in a sophisticated accessory suitable for everyday wear.

Craft and Techniques

This is a knitting project worked entirely in the round using the circular needle method with double-pointed needles. The hat is constructed from the bottom up, beginning with a cast-on edge and progressing through multiple pattern rounds. The pattern incorporates several intermediate knitting techniques including:

• Ribbed edging for elasticity and structure
• Cable crosses (Cr2R and Cr2L) for decorative twisted stitch effects
• Decreasing techniques including P2tog (purl two together) and P2tog tbl (purl two together through back loop) to shape the crown
• Make one (MK) increases to add stitches within pattern rows
• Stocking stitch (stockinette stitch) as the primary fabric base

Stitches Used

The Wendy hat employs a combination of fundamental and intermediate stitches. The foundation includes knit (K) and purl (P) stitches arranged in ribbed patterns for the lower sections. Decorative elements feature cable crosses (Cr2R and Cr2L) that create twisted rope-like textures. Shaping is achieved through decreases using purl two together variations and increases using the make one technique. The pattern works across 91 stitches initially, distributed evenly across three of four double-pointed needles, with strategic decreases reducing the stitch count to 77 stitches as the hat progresses.

Materials and Tools

The Wendy hat is worked using Adriafil Riflessi yarn in aran weight, with one 50-gram ball required for completion. The photographed sample is shown in colorway gold 41. Construction requires a set of four double-pointed needles in 5½ mm (US 9) for the main fabric, along with a cable needle for executing the cable cross stitches. The pattern references a tension gauge of 16 stitches and 20 rows to 10 centimeters when worked in stockinette stitch on 6 mm (US 10) needles, though the finished hat is worked on the smaller 5½ mm needles. Checking tension before beginning is essential for achieving the correct finished size.