Chunky Harvest Hats Free Pattern
Welcome to the first free pattern on the Barrett Wool Co. Journal. This pattern will always be available here on the blog and will not be offered as a pdf download.
Chunky Harvest Hats
Susan B. Anderson
Click here to find out more, favorite and queue the Chunky Harvest Hats on Ravelry!
It was about 20 years ago that I knit my first pumpkin hat. A little over 10 years ago my version of a pumpkin hat was published in my first book, Itty-Bitty Hats. That is one of the most popular hats in the book by far. In tribute to the 10-year anniversary of Itty-Bitty Hats and the Little Pumpkin Hat, I decided to take the colors in Barrett Wool Co. that represent the traditional fall harvest fruits and vegetables and make some new hats. Here I am offering a Pumpkin Hat, Eggplant Hat, Apple Hat, Grape Hat, and a Yellow Squash Hat from which to choose. Really though even if you're not in the mood for a fruit or vegetable, this is just a good, simple chunky weight hat that could be knit up in ANY color or combination of colors or stripes or textures! Let your imagination run wild.
For this new version of the Chunky Harvest Hats I put a fun twist on the original Little Pumpkin hat in that you hold two strands of Home Worsted Weight doubled throughout the entire hat and you knit on a larger size needle at 3 stitches per inch. This makes for a super-squishy fabric that works up in the blink of an eye. I also added lots of sizes, six sizes to be exact, in the pattern that will fit a newborn up to an adult size head! You could always play around with making the brim longer for a cuffed style, too.
Sizes: Newborn (3-6 months, 6-12 months, toddler/small child, large child, teen/adult)
Hat circumference in inches: 12 (14, 16, 18, 20, 22) inches
Sizing Suggestions:
~ For a snug-fitting hat, 1 to 2-inches of negative ease is suggested. For example, if the head circumference measures 15-inches make the 14-inch size. Rounding down to the next size if the measurement is in between the listed measurements.
~ For a looser-fitting hat or if you want room to grow, select the size that is the same measurement as the head circumference or go up to the next size. For example, if the head measurement is 15-inches make the 16-inch size.
Yarn: Barrett Wool Co. Home Worsted Weight held doubled throughout, (230 yards, 210 meters/100 grams), 1 skein of each in the following colors.
Pumpkin: Marmalade and Grassland
Apple: Red Flannel and Grassland
Yellow Squash: Humble Gold and Ellie Gray
Yarn Notes:
~ One skein of the Home Worsted Weight for the top of the hat will be enough for many hats.
~ The 3-6 month size finished hat weighs 33 grams for reference.
~ One skein of the Home Worsted Weight is enough to make any of the sizes. You will need two skeins if you want a contrasting top to your hat.
~ If you wind your yarn using a yarn winder to make a cake, you can pull one end from the inside and one end from the outside of the yarn cake as you work. Otherwise you can hand-wind two separate balls from which to pull the ends.
Needles: US size 10.5 or 6.5mm, 16-inch and double-pointed needles, or a long circular for magic loop. Or the correct size needle to obtain gauge.
Important Needle Note: For the smallest size you will need either 12-inch circular needles or work the entire hat on double-pointed needles, or use the magic loop technique with a 32-inch or longer circular needle. For the 3-6 month size I used a 16-inch circular needle and it works fine. It’s a stretch at first but then it loosens up as you work up the hat.
Gauge: 3 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch with the worsted weight yarn held doubled
Abbreviations:
K Knit
P Purl
K2tog Knit two stitches together
BLinc Make a backwards loop on the right needle to increase one stitch.
Here is a good video tutorial for BLinc. : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DqvG3LoYiI
SSK Slip two stitches separately and as if to knit, place the slipped stitches back on the left needle, then knit two stitches together through the back loops.
Dpn(s) Double-pointed needle(s)
St(s) Stitch(es)
Rnd(s) Round(s)
Special technique:
I-cord: Using two double-pointed needles, knit the stitches. *Do not turn. Slide the stitches to the other end of the double-pointed needle. Knit the stitches. Repeat from *.
CDD Center double-decrease. Slip two stitches together and as if to knit. Knit the next stitch. Pass the two slipped stitches over the first stitch and off the right needle.
Here is a good video tutorial for the CDD:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIV0rBQjpq8
Pattern Notes:
~ The hat starts at the brim. The yarn is held doubled throughout the hat. Begin with the selected color for the body of the hat.
~ The pattern is written for using a 16-inch circular needle for the brim and body of the hat and then switching to double-pointed needles as needed for the decrease sequence at the top of the hat. If you want to use double-pointed needles or magic loop for the entire hat adjust as needed.
Apple and Grape Hats
Brim
With two strands held together and the circular needles, cast on 36 (42, 48, 54, 60, 66) stitches using the long-tail cast-on method. Join to work in the round being careful not to twist the stitches. Place a stitch marker on the first stitch.
Rnds 1-4: (K1, p1) repeat to the end of the round.
Body of Hat
Knit every round until the hat measures 4 (4 ½, 5, 5 ½, 6, 7) inches from the cast on edge.
Decrease Sequence for the Top of the Hat
Apple Hat: Continue in the same color.
Grape Hat: Switch to the selected contrast color.
Switch to double-pointed needles when necessary.
Rnd 1: (K4, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round. 30 (35, 40, 45, 50, 55) sts.
Rnd 2: Knit.
Rnd 3: (K3, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round. 24 (28, 32, 36, 40, 44) sts.
Rnd 4: Knit.
Rnd 5: (K2, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round. 18 (21, 24, 27, 30, 33) sts.
Rnd 6: Knit.
Rnd 7: (K1, K2tog) repeat to the end of the round. 12 (14, 16, 18, 20, 22) sts.
Rnd 8: Knit.
Rnd 9: (K2tog) repeat to the end of the round. 6 (7, 8, 9, 10, 11) sts.
Apple Hat Only: Switch to selected stem color.
I-cord Stem
Place all of the remaining stitches onto one double-pointed needle. You will be using two double-pointed needles to knit the I-cord.
Begin working in I-cord.
Find the size you are making and follow those specific instructions.
Newborn: 6 sts on needle.
Row 1: Repeat (k2tog) three times. 3 sts.
Work in I-cord until it measures 2-inches.
Next row: K2tog, k1, pass the first stitch over and off the right needle. 1 st..
Cut the yarn leaving a 6-inch end and pull the end through the remaining stitch.
Go to Stem Finishing.
3-6 months: 7 sts on needle.
Row 1: Repeat (k2tog) three times, k1. 4 sts.
Row 2: K2tog, knit to end of row. 3 sts.
Work in I-cord until measures 2-inches.
Next row: K2tog, k1, pass the first stitch over and off the right needle. 1 st..
Cut the yarn leaving a 6-inch end and pull the end through the remaining stitch.
Go to Stem Finishing.
6-12 months: 8 sts on needles.
Row 1: Repeat (k2tog) four times. 4 sts.
Row 2: K2tog, knit to end of row. 3 sts.
Work in I-cord until measures 2-inches.
Next row: K2tog, k1, pass the first stitch over and off the right needle. 1 st..
Cut the yarn leaving a 6-inch end and pull the end through the remaining stitch.
Go to Stem Finishing.
Toddler/Small Child: 9 sts on needles.
Row 1: Repeat (k2tog) four times, k1. 5 sts.
Row 2: K2tog, k1, k2tog. 3 sts.
Work in I-cord until measures 2-inches.
Next row: K2tog, k1, pass the first stitch over and off the right needle. 1 st..
Cut the yarn leaving a 6-inch end and pull the end through the remaining stitch.
Go to Stem Finishing.
Large Child: 10 sts on needles.
Row 1: Repeat (k2tog) five times. 5 sts.
Row 2: K2tog, k1, k2tog. 3 sts.
Work in I-cord until measures 2-inches.
Next row: K2tog, k1, pass the first stitch over and off the right needle. 1 st..
Cut the yarn leaving a 6-inch end and pull the end through the remaining stitch.
Go to Stem Finishing.
Teen/Adult: 11 sts on needles.
Row 1: Repeat (k2tog) five times, k1. 6 sts.
Row 2: Repeat (K2tog) 3 times. 3 sts.
Work in I-cord until measures 2-inches.
Next row: K2tog, k1, pass the first stitch over and off the right needle. 1 st..
Cut the yarn leaving a 6-inch end and pull the end through the remaining stitch.
Go to Stem Finishing.
Stem Finishing for All Sizes
Place the end on a yarn needle. Pull the end through each stitch on the I-cord moving down toward the top of the hat. When you reach the top of the hat pull the end to the inside. Now gently pull the end until the stem curls at the end. Weave in the end on the inside of the hat and trim.
Weave in all ends on the inside of the hat and trim.
Leaf for Apple Hat:
Use selected leaf color and two double-pointed needles to work back and forth in rows.
To begin, pick up two stitches at the base of the stem by inserting the tip of the needle under the right leg of two consecutive stitches. Begin to work with the selected leaf yarn.
Row 1: K1, BLinc, k1. 3 sts.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: K1, BLinc, k1, BLinc, k1. 5 sts.
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: K2, BLinc, k1, BLinc, k2. 7 sts.
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: K1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1. 5 sts.
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: K1, CDD, k1. 3 sts.
Row 10: Purl.
Row 11: CDD. 1 st.
Cut the yarn and pull through the remaining stitch. Place the end on a yarn needle. Weave in the end on the wrong side of the leaf to about halfway down from the tip of the leaf. Take several stitches to tack the leaf down to the top of the hat. Pull the end to the inside, weave in and trim.
All Hats: Block the hat as desired. The samples were soaked in cold water with wool wash. The excess water was gently squeezed out and the hats were laid flat to dry.
Yellow Squash Hat
Brim
Work the same as for the Apple and Grape Hats through Round 4.
Body of Hat
Rnd 1: (P1, k1) repeat to the end of the round.
Rnd 2: (K1, p1) repeat to the end of the round.
Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until the hat measures 4 (4 ½, 5, 5 ½, 6, 7) inches from the cast on edge. You can end after either a Round 1 or Round 2.
Top of Hat
Switch to the contrast color.
Complete the same as for the Apple and Grape Hats for the Decrease Sequence and for the I-cord Stem and Stem Finishing.
Pumpkin Hat
Brim
Start and work the same as for the Apple and Grape Hats through Round 4.
Body of Hat
Rnd 1: (P1, k5) repeat to the end of the round.
Repeat Round 1 until the hat measures 3½ (4, 4½, 5, 5½, 6½) inches from the cast on edge.
Leafy Top:
Tip: Carry the colors across the inside of the hat making relaxed floats. Be sure not to pull the floats too tight or the fabric will pucker.
MC is Main Color
CC is Contrast Color
Rnd 1: (P1MC, k2MC, k1CC, k2MC) repeat to the end of the round.
Rnd 2: (P1MC, k1MC, k3CC, k1MC) repeat to the end of the round.
Rnd 3: (K1MC, K5CC) repeat to the end of the round.
Cut the Main Color and continue on with the Contrast Color only for the rest of the hat.
Finish the Decrease Sequence for the Top of the Hat and the I-cord Stem and Stem Finishing the same as for the Apple and Grape Hats.
Eggplant Hat
Work the same as for the Apple and Grape Hats until the body of the hat measures 3½ (4, 4½, 5, 5½, 6½) inches from the cast on edge.
Leafy Top:
Tip: Carry the colors across the inside of the hat making relaxed floats. Be sure not to pull the floats too tight or the fabric will pucker.
MC is Main Color
CC is Contrast Color
Rnd 1: (K3MC, k1CC, k2MC) repeat to the end of the round.
Rnd 2: (K2MC, k3CC, k1MC) repeat to the end of the round.
Rnd 3: (K1MC, k5CC) repeat to the end of the round.
Cut the Main Color and continue on with the Contrast Color only for the rest of the hat.
Finish the Decrease Sequence for the Top of the Hat and the Stem Finishing the same as for the Apple and Grape Hats.
©Barrett Wool Co. 2016
This pattern is for personal use only. Charity and fundraising hat knitting is always welcome.
