Triple Berry Hat, a free knitting pattern from Knitty.com.

INTRODUCTION

Triple Berry

beauty shot by Merri Fromm

Mellow

Cheer yourself with a pink and playful bucket hat. Made in a double layer, because we need to stay warm, with a linen stitch because we need to have fun, and in pink because winter never gives us enough color. Linen stitch looks complicated but is as easy as any colorwork you'll ever do. This hat is knit continuously and then the inside just pops into the outside—a very neat trick.

The lovely yarn used is Camp Color Fingering. This sock weight yarn has great stitch definition and a great palette of colors. If pinks and red are not your thing, then check them out for other color combinations—the more they clash, the better!

spacer model: Therese Nkeng

spacer photos: Merri Fromm

SIZE

Adult S[M, L, XL]
Shown in size M with 24 inch/60 cm size head (that includes the hair). Please choose a size with 3–5 inches/8–12 cm less than head size.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Circumference: 18.5[20, 21.5, 23] inches/ 47[51, 55, 58] cm
Length/Height: 9[9, 9.5, 9.5] inches/ 23[23, 24, 24] cm
Note: Choose a finished size that is 3–5 inches/8–12 cm less than head size, to be sure the hat will stay on the head.

MATERIALS

Yarn
Camp Color CC Fingering [100% Superwash Merino; 190 yd/50 g skein];
[MC] Icing on Top (pale pink); 1[1, 1, 1] skeins
[CC1] Candy Apple (med pink); 1[1, 1, 1] skeins

[CC2] High Femme (red); 1[1, 1, 1] skeins

Yarn Characteristics
The sample shown uses a superwash fingering-weight wool yarn. This pattern would work with many types of finger/sock weight yarn in wool or mostly wool.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #2/2.75mm circular needle, 16-inch/40-cm
US #3/3.25mm circular needle, 16-inch/40-cm
US #3/3.25mm needles for small circumference in the round

Notions
stitch markers
waste yarn and crochet hook for provisional cast on
yarn needle

GAUGE

26 sts/40 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

Multi-color Linen Stitch
Rnd 1: *Slip 1 wyif; k1; repeat from * to end.
Rnd 2: *K1, slip 1 wyif; repeat from * to end.

DIRECTIONS

Outer hat
Using smaller circular needle and crochet cast-on with waste yarn, provisionally CO 120[130, 140, 150] sts.

Attach MC and knit all sts, place marker and join for working in the rnd, being careful not to twist.

Work St st for 1.5 inches/4 cm.

Change to larger circular needle.

Work 1 rnd Multi-color Linen Stitch. Join CC1, leaving MC attached.
With CC1, work 1 rnd Multi-color Linen Stitch. Join CC2, leaving other yarns attached.
With CC2, work 1 rnd Multi-color Linen Stitch.
Continue, working Multi-color Linen Stitch as set, changing color every round,
in the following order: MC, CC1, CC2.

Work for 2[2, 2.5, 2.5] inches/5[5, 6, 6] cm. You can end with any round.

Cut MC and CC2, and change to smaller needle.

Hat is completed in CC1 only.
Work in St st for 3.5 inches/9 cm.

Crown Shaping
Knit one round.
Rnd 1: *K8, k2tog; repeat from * to end.
Rnd 2 and all even numbered rounds: Knit
Rnd 3: *K7, k2tog; repeat from * to end.
Rnd 5: *K6, k2tog; repeat from * to end.
Rnd 7: *K5, k2tog; repeat from * to end.
Rnd 9: *K4, k2tog; repeat from * to end.
Rnd 11: *K3, k2tog; repeat from * to end.
Rnd 13: *K2, k2tog; repeat from * to end.
Rnd 15: *K1, k2tog; repeat from * to end.
Rnd 17: *K2tog; repeat from * to end.
12[13, 14, 15] sts remain after final round.

Note: As hat gets too small to work on circular needle, change to small-circumference method.

Cut yarn leaving a 12 inches/30 cm tail, thread onto yarn needle, run through remaining live sts twice and pull tight to close.

Weave in all ends of outer hat before beginning lining.

Lining hat
Remove waste yarn and place provisional cast on stitches onto smaller needle.

With CC2, purl 1 rnd.

Knit for 2[2, 2.5, 2.5] inches/ 5[5, 6, 6] cm.

Break CC2 and attach CC3, and knit for 5 inches/13 cm.

Weave in ends of outer hat before beginning crown shaping.

Note: As hat gets too small to work on circular needle, change to small-circumference method.

FINISHING

Cut yarn leaving a 12 inch/30 cm tail, thread onto yarn needle, run through remaining live sts twice and pull tight to close.

Fold lining to inside of hat and attach lining at top of hat with a few sts when weaving in final end.

Block to shape as follows:
Find an object that is close to a bucket shape with dimensions that are a little larger than the finished size. A wooden milliners block is ideal, but if you don't have one, try for a mixing bowl or bucket. I used a plastic food storage container flipped upside down.

After a good soak in water, squeeze out the excess and position the hat on the block. Let the hat dry completely so that the stitches set. The hat will shrink up to size after its dry.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

designername Merri lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she works as a WW Wellness Coach and graphic designer. She lives with her husband and the sweet cats Twister and Quigley.

You'll find more of her work on Ravelry.