Cashmere Hats for Mom, Dad and Baby
Every winter I make my husband, Adam, a new hat. Two years ago I made him the 70’s Ski Hat and three years ago was the Almighty Alpaca Hat. Years before went unrecorded on these pages, but are still in his head wear rotation.
Admittedly, I was a little remiss last winter with Adam. Instead of making him a hat, I was frantically knitting my way through my last trimester of pregnancy, convinced that my baby would freeze to death without a chest full of handknit sweaters and blankets. This year I didn’t want anyone to be left out and so decided that we would all get new hats. Actually, not just new hats, but new cashmere hats.
I think Jade Sapphire’s cashmere might come from magical goats. How else to explain the luxurious softness and the gentle fuzzy halo that glows around the yarn? The hand dyed color is just as magical. Complicated, subtle and rich, it inspires combinations that you’ve never dreamed of!
I didn’t want our hats to be super matchy-match, instead I wanted them to reflect the personality of the wearers. Adam’s is relaxed and a little funky, Bear’s is cuddly and a bit quirky, and mine is perfect…just joking!
Knit all three to make a family’s winter extra special or give them individually to friends and family whose heads might need some cozying up! -Whitney
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Whitney Van Nes.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoCashmereHatsForMomDadAndBaby. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- Jade Sapphire’s Zageo 6 ply Cashmere, 100% Mongolian Cashmere. Each skein is 150 yards/ 55 grams.
These colors, from the left, are Henna, Burnt Toast, Masala, and Silver Pearl.- Dimple Hat: 2 skeins, approximately 300 yards required. (I used 2 of the Masala.)
- Striped Flap Hat: 2 skeins and a small amount for the I-cord ties, approximately 300 yards required. (I used the Henna and Burnt Toast for the hat and some leftover Masala for the ties.)
- Baby Chariot Hat: 1 skein and a small amount for a pom pom, approximately 150 yards required. (I used Silver Pearl for the hat and Masala for the pom pom.)
- A US 5 (3.75 mm), 16-inch circular needle
- A set of US 5 double pointed needles
- A Susan Bates Pom Pom Maker for the Baby Chariot Hat
Shop our wonderful collection of light worsted/DK-weight yarn to find a suitable substitute for this project, and remember that it’s always a good idea to check your gauge before you cast on… Our All About Gauge Tutorial shows you how!
Woman’s Dimple Hat
Gauge
6 1/2 stitches = 1 inch in dimple stitch
Finished Size
19 inches in circumference
Pattern
Cuff
Using a US 5, 16 inch circular needle, cast on 112 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Place a marker and join for working in the round, being careful to not twist the stitches.
Round 1: *K2, p2, repeat from * to end of round.
Repeat Round 1 until piece measures 1 1/4 inches from the cast on edge.
Dimple Stitch
Preparatory Round: *K8, make 1 right, repeat from * to end of round. (126 stitches)
Rounds 1-3: *K3, slip 3, repeat from * to end of round.
Rounds 4-6: Knit.
Round 7: K4, *bring the right needle under the 3 slipped strands, knit the next stitch, pass the 3 slipped strands over, k5, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, bring the right needle under the 3 slipped strands, knit the next stitch, pass the 3 slipped strands over, k1.
Round 8: Knit.
Rounds 9-11: *Slip 3, k3, repeat from * to end of round.
Rounds 12-14: Knit.
Round 15: K1, *bring the right needle under the 3 slipped strands, knit the next stitch, pass the 3 slipped strands over, k5, repeat from * to last 5 stitches, bring the right needle under the 3 slipped strands, knit the next stitch, pass the 3 slipped strands over, k4.
Round 16: Knit.
Repeat Rounds 1-16 three more times.
Repeat Rounds 1-12.
(Tips for the Dimple Stitch)
– When you “K3, slip 3, repeat”, after you slip 3 and are knitting the next stitch, the yarn across the inside of the work should be pretty loose. To ensure this, slide the last 4 stitches on the right needle over to the right so that the yarn has to stretch a bit to knit the next stitch.
– When you “bring the right needle under the 3 slipped strands”, it will look like this:
– When you “pass the 3 slipped strands over”, put the left needle under the three slipped stitches and bring them over the knit stitch and off the right needle.
Crown
Round 1: Slip 1, *k1, k2tog, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, k1, remove marker, k2tog, replace marker. (84 stitches)
Round 2: *K2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (42 stitches)
Round 3: Repeat Round 2.
Cut the yarn and thread it through the remaining stitches. Bring the tail to the inside of the hat and weave it in.
Man’s Striped Flap Hat
Gauge
6 stitches = 1 inch in stockinette stitch
Finished Size
22 inches in circumference
Notes
Designate “Color B” as the color you want the I-cord trim to be. (I used “Burnt Toast” as Color A, “Henna” as Color B, and “Masala” as Color C.)
When you knit the ear flaps bring the yarn up the side of the flap when you change colors. And when you knit the hat bring the yarns up the inside of the work. Keep the yarn a little bit relaxed when you pick up a new color.
Pattern
Ear Flaps
With two US #5 double pointed needles and Color A, cast on 2 stitches.
Row 1 (right side): Knit into the front and back (kfb), kfb. (4 stitches)
Row 2 (wrong side): Kfb, purl to last stitch, kfb. (6 stitches)
With Color B…
Row 3: Kfb, knit to last stitch, kfb. (8 stitches)
Row 4: Kfb, purl to last stitch, kfb. (10 stitches)
With Color A…
Rows 5 and 6: Repeat Rows 3 and 4. (14 stitches)
With Color B…
Row 7: Kfb, knit to last stitch, kfb. (16 stitches)
Row 8: K1, purl to last stitch, k1.
With Color A…
Rows 9 and 10: Repeat Rows 7 and 8. (18 stitches)
Repeat Rows 7-10. (22 stitches)
Repeat Rows 7 and 8. (24 stitches)
*Switch colors,
Next Row: Knit.
Next Row: K1, purl to last stitch, k1.
Repeat from * 7 more times, ending with two Color B rows.
With Color A…
Next Row: Kfb, knit to last stitch, kfb. (26 stitches)
Next Row: K1, purl to last stitch, k1.
With Color B…
Next Row: Kfb, knit to last stitch, kfb. (28 stitches)
Next Row: Kfb, purl to last stitch, kfb. (30 stitches)
Cut the yarns and set this ear flap aside.
Make another ear flap identical to this first one. Use a US #5, 16 inch circular needle to make the second ear flap, and do not cut the Color A yarn at the end.
The Body of the Hat
With Color A, knit across the 30 stitches of the second ear flap.
With the wrong side of the ear flap facing you, cable cast on 52 stitches.
Being careful that the cast on stitches aren’t twisted, knit across the 30 stitches of the first ear flap (the one that is on the double pointed needle).
With the wrong side of the ear flap facing you, cable cast on 20 stitches.
Place a marker and, being careful that these last cast on stitches aren’t twisted, join the work into the round.
Continuing with Color A, knit 1 round.
*With Color B, knit 2 rounds.
With Color A, knit 2 rounds.
Repeat from * until piece measures 5 inches from the cable cast on edge, ending with the second round of either color.
Crown
Continuing the stripe pattern,
Round 1: *K9, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (120 stitches)
Round 2 and every even round: Knit.
Round 3: *K8, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (108 stitches)
Round 5: *K7, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (96 stitches)
Round 7: *K6, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (84 stitches)
Round 9: *K5, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (72 stitches)
Round 11: *K4, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (60 stitches)
Changing to double pointed needles,
Round 13: *K3, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (48 stitches)
Round 15: *K2, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (36 stitches)
Round 17: *K1, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (24 stitches)
Round 19: *K2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (12 stitches)
Knit 1 round.
Cut the yarns and, with the last yarn you knit with, thread the tail through the remaining stitches. Bring both tails to the inside of the hat and weave them in.
I-Cord Edge
With Color B, cast 3 stitches onto a US# 5 double pointed needle. (Or if you want to be very neat you can cast on using a provisional cast on so that you can graft the two ends of the I-cord together using the kitchener stitch. Otherwise, when you are finished you will just sew the two ends together.)
Starting at the right top corner of the left ear flap, knit an attached I-cord, picking up 20 stitches across the center back of the hat. (FYI: the white yarn in this photo is my provisional cast on.)
Continue the attached I-cord, picking up 50 stitches around the right ear flap.
Picking up 52 stitches across the front cast on edge, continue the attached I-cord.
Pick up 50 stitches around the left ear flap and connect the two I-cord ends, either by sewing or grafting them together.
Ties
With Color C and a double pointed needle, pick up 3 stitches at the base of either ear flap.
Knit an 8 inch I-cord and bind off.
Repeat for the other ear flap and weave in all your ends.
Baby Chariot Hat
Gauge
6 stitches = 1 inch in stockinette stitch
Finished Size
18 inches in circumference
Pattern
Ear Flap
Using a US #5, 16 inch circular needle, cast on 70 stitches.
For this section, you will work back and forth in rows, turning the work at the end of each row.
Row 1 (right side): *K2, p2, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, k2.
Row 2 (wrong side): *P2, k2, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, p2.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece measures 3 1/2 inches from the cast on edge. End with a right side row.
Cuff
With the wrong side facing you, use a Cable Cast On to add 38 stitches. (108 stitches total)
With the right side facing you, place a marker, and, being careful to not twist the stitches, join for working in the round.
Round 1: *K2, p2, repeat from * to end of round.
Repeat Round 1 until piece measures 1 1/4 inches from the Cable Cast On edge.
Body of the Hat and Crown
Knit every round until piece measures 4 inches from the Cable Cast On edge.
Next Round: *K7, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (96 stitches)
Knit 1 round.
Next Round: *K6, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (84 stitches)
Knit 1 round.
Next Round: *K5, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (72 stitches)
Knit 1 round.
Next Round: *K4, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (60 stitches)
Knit 1 round.
As you knit the next round, change to the US #5 double pointed needles.
Next Round: *K3, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (48 stitches)
Knit 1 round.
Next Round: *K2, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (36 stitches)
Knit 1 round.
Next Round: *K1, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (24 stitches)
Knit 1 round.
Next Round: *K2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (12 stitches)
Next Round: *K2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (6 stitches)
Cut the yarn and thread it through the remaining 6 stitches. Pull the yarn tight and weave the end into the inside of the hat.
Pom Pom
With a Pom Pom Maker, use the second smallest template and a contrast yarn (I used what was left over from the Dimple Hat) to make a pom pom. Leave tails when you tie the pom pom together, and use them to attach the pom pom to the top of the hat.
Finished! My family feels really spruced up in our hats. I hope yours does too!
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
Love the baby hat! My son is 5 months old and I am wondering if this hat would fit him, or how do I go about making the hat larger if need be?
So VERY cute!! Thanks for the patterns!
whit’ … how tall is the dimple hat before the crown decreases … not number of rows … but measurement 😉 … thanks a bunch for such a toasty trio of hats … ina and gumby … the dog that tante sophie has …
I love the dimple hat! I knit it on larger needles (size 8) because I like my hats stretchy and only knit 2 full rounds of the 16 row pattern, then moved onto the final 12 rows and the crown. So warm!
Do you know how do I make the dimple hat larger or smaller? I am not sure how many stitches make up the pattern!
Thanks!
Love the hats! I made the baby chariot hat and the men’s hat and I’m almost finished with the dimple hat. I think I am missing something, as I don’t understand the last 12 rows before the crown. Do I need to do rows 9-11 as the Slip 3, k3? Since the pattern does not call for the round that makes the dimple, can I just knit those rows? Thank you!
Love the Dimple Stitch, however, I am a beginner and I can’t figure it out. Would it be possible to post a video demo of dimple stitch?? Many thanks!
I’m also stuck at the dimple hat as I can’t figure it out right after the band. It’s so pretty and I would love to attempt the Dimple Hat. Please help. Thanks!
HI Eve,
Right after the band is a round of increases, If you click on the “m1” you’ll link to an increase tutorial that will hopefully help you out!
Good luck –
Whitney
Ii'm attempting the dimple hat with wool. The actual dimple stitch *knit 5 pick up 3 knit one slip over* needs to have intense concentration as if u miscount u have to undo as I've done 3 times already.
I have a question, will a chariot hat in wool be too hot/warm for a child?
I have been wanting to make a striped hat like the one with the ear flaps, but it seems like every time I knit in the round I end up with an obvious seam where the new stripes start and end. I don't see any in the pictures of the striped hat you made, how did you do it?! Any tips for making those transitions less obvious?
Thanks!
Hi,
I'm making the dimple hat. I'm nearly up to the crown and can't figure out the transition from the dimple stitch to the decreases.
The pattern says repeat rounds 1 – 12, so that leaves me with the strands made by slipping 3 stitches alternately. Do I pull these strands up at some point during the decrease rounds?
I'd greatly appreciate if you could clarify this for me. 🙂 (I'm loving the wonderful texture the dimples make! It's going to be a great hat if I can figure out the decrease transition!)
Thanks!
I have a question about the dimple stitch. Will it work as long as the round is a multiple of 6 sts? I am thinking of incorporating the dimple stitch into the mimipita earflap hat and it uses 108 sts in a round using a worsted yarn,
Hi Tintallie,
Yes, the dimple stitch is worked over a multiple of 6 stitches (in the round). Good luck with your hat – I'm sure it will be beautiful!
Whitney
Finally finished your dimple hat pattern with the addition of some short row earflaps 🙂
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/tintallie/womans-dimple-hat
Hi! Love the Dimple hat. Would love to make it for fall. I think I'd need it to be 21″after the ribbing (with the ribbing proportionately smaller). How would I increase it and still keep the pattern, gauge and the same needles??
Hi Ruth,
For the Ribbing you would cast on 120 stitches instead of 112. Then for the Preparatory Round of the Dimple Stitch, instead of “k8, m1”, you would “k6, m1”, increasing to 140 stitches for a 21 1/2 inch circumference. Just follow the rest of the directions as they're written and everything should work out great!
Also, FYI, if you're using cashmere it really stretches and the 19 inch size does end up fitting most women…
Good luck!
Whitney
Hi,
I have made this hat a number of times and really love it. I am wanting to make it with a yarn where I am getting 7 stitches per inch. If I cast on 120 and then do k6 make 1, I get to 140, but that is not divisible by 6. Do I just skip a couple of make 1s?
Thanks for any help!
Chris
Hi Chris,
Yes, that would probably be the best solution! Little fudges like that are almost never visible and they do make our lives a lot easier!
Thanks so much for asking and for making this hat “a number of times”. I have too and it’s a secret favorite of mine!
Whitney
Hi,
My daughter is 3 years old, how can I adapt the baby chariot hat for her? I am just begining to knit, so I can't solve this myself, could you please help me??
Thanks a lot in advance.
Ana
Hi Ana,
For the initial ribbing you'll want to cast on a multiple of 4 plus 2 stitches. Then when you cable cast on for the body of the hat, make sure that the total number of stitches is both a multiple of 4 and 9. And of course, you'll want to make the back flap and the body of the hat (before you start the crown decreases) a bit longer for an older child.
I hope these tips help! Thanks for your question and good luck!
Whitney
Hi! I love the flap hat, but I'm wondering if you can suggest a less expensive yarn that would work well with the pattern? Thanks very much!
Hi Liz,
There are lots of great options. In general, most of our DK/LIght Worsted yarns would work well. Here they all are: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/3-knitting-crochet-yarn?filters%5B%5D=5 . My favorite recommendations are Koigu's Kersti Merino Crepe (https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/870-Koigu-Wool-Designs-Kersti-Merino-Crepe-Solids) and Blue Sky's Suri Merino (https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/3059-Blue-Sky-Suri-Merino).
Thanks for the question! By the way, my husband still wears his Flap Hat all the time!
Whitney
Hello, for your dimple stitch pattern, you have us finish with rows 1-12 which would leave the three rows of yarn "un-dimpled". Can you clarify?
Hi Melanie,
That is correct! You leave the last repeat un-dimpled so that you have a smooth transition into the crown decreases. So, carry on!
Thanks for asking and enjoy your hat!
Whitney
Should I be slipping as if to knit or slipping as if to purl, or does it matter? Thanks!
Hi Katie-
Unless otherwise noted you always slip as if to purl.
Thank you for your question!
Molly
When it says m1 does it matter if you m1R or m1L? The link goes to the tutorial for kfb, but the m1 instruction makes me think I shouldn't be using kfb to do the increase. Thanks for your help!
Hi Allie,
That's a really good question! The answer is that it doesn't matter whether you make you make 1 right or left, but it does matter that you "make 1", instead of knitting into the front and back.
I changed the pattern so that it says "make 1 right", since I agree the ambiguity was a little confusing (but feel free to make 1 left, if you prefer!). I also updated the link, which had fallen behind the times!
Thanks so much for your question which led to some improvements that will hopefully help future knitters of the Dimple Hat. Please let us know if you have any other questions and good luck with the rest of your hat!
Whitney
Your instructions for the baby chariot hat say that it is 18 inches in circumference, stretched. Does “stretched” mean that it will fit a smaller head than 18 inches? My baby’s head is 16 inches in circumference at 3.5 months and I’m trying to figure out if I have to adjust the pattern to make the hat smaller or if it will fit as is. Thanks for your help! Really excited to knit this!
Hi Tamar,
You know, that is a very good question! I think when I wrote “stretched” I meant that the ribbing would comfortably stretch to 18 inches, but the basic truth is that the body of the hat (the stockinette part) measures 18 inches. I’m not totally sure what I was thinking, but I’ve removed that confusing word and I appreciate your question so much!
Anyway, to make this hat 16 inches in circumference (assuming your gauge is 6 stitches to the inch), start with 62 stitches and when it’s time to cable cast on, cast on 34 stitches for a total of 96.
Thank you again and please let us know if you have any other questions!
Whitney
Hi there!
I see others have commented on this so I’m just going to be one more. I’ve started the dimple hat and am, I suppose, more than a little confused when it comes to the dimple stitch. I understand the s3, k3, then to knit three rows, but then after that am I backtracking a few rows when I bring the needle under three slipped stitches? As if I’m bringing those slipped stitches up to my current row?
I apologize for being so confused. I’m a beginner. A video would be nice. I hope someone can help!
Hi Maxine!
From the slipped stitches, you should have 1 “float” in the back 3 rows down. This float is what you will be slipping your right needle under (from front to back). Then you’ll knit the next stitch, and then bring that float over the knitted stitch (like a bind-off motion).
Hope this helps!
Thomas
I like the baby hat, but in the picture it looks like it is not covering the ears tightly. Is that correct, or does it cover the ears so the wind cannot get to them?
Hello, Kathy!
Thank you for writing in! The ear flaps on this hat are a bit loose, if you prefer a baby hat that fits a bit more snug, please check out these hats:
Garter Ear Flap Hat: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2014/01/23/lauras-loop-garter-ear-flap-hat/
Cozy Ear Flap Hat: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2013/03/11/whits-knits-cozy-ear-flap-hat/
Baby Bonnet: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2012/03/25/whits-knits-baby-bonnet/
If you have further pictures please let us know!
Happy knitting,
Kumeko
Regarding the man’s flap hat, what would be the measurement from the hem (either in front of or behind the flap) to the crown? Also will there be enough left of Color A to make the ties?
Thanks!
Hi Marly,
Thanks for the question. The approximate height of the hat is 10″ from the cable cast on edge. As for having enough of color A, that is hard to say since this is an old sample and we don’t have the exact yardage calculations. Best of luck!
-Adam
Hi there,
I loved making the hat with the Dimple Stitch. It’s a really fun texture and pattern! Do you have any sweater patterns with a dimple or bubble stitch? I would love to make a sweater with texture like that. 🙂
Thanks so much!
Ashley
Hi Ashley,
Thanks for reaching out! Dimple stitch looks very enjoyable and interesting, but unfortunately we don’t have any sweaters written for this stitch. I will be sure to pass your suggestion along to the design team!
Best,
Julianna
Could I use debbie bliss cashmerino to knit this baby hat?
Hi Denyse,
Thanks for reaching out! This hat is knit with Jade Sapphire’s Zageo 6 ply Cashmere, which is a Worsted Weight yarn, so you can use any other worsted weight that you would like for this pattern! Just be sure to work up a gauge swatch to insure that your gauge is consistent with the pattern!
All the best,
Gianna
Thanks for answering so quickly. I love your website and all of your patterns.
Hi! I made the Man’s Striped Flap hat with Neighborhood Fiber Company’s Organic Studio DK in “Hampden” (which produces a nice striped pattern without having to do all the color changes 🙂 for my 13 year old daughter and topped it off with a faux fur pompom. She loves it, as does her younger sister, who asked me to make her one, too. The problem is that while the older one’s noggin is as big as her Dad’s (so no problem making the large man’s hat), the younger one is little smaller. Do you have any suggestions for sizing down a little? I thought about reducing total # of stitches by 12. Would that work? Is there a way to make a less drastic reduction?
Thanks so much for this pattern. I learned techniques I hadn’t tried before and ended up with an AWESOME hat. Definitely going on my list of patterns to come back to again and again. -Masha
Hi Masha,
Thanks for reaching out. You have exactly the right idea already! The decreases in the crown of this hat are worked over a multiple of 12, so you can absolutely just reduce the number of stitches by 12 to make the hat a bit smaller. Since the gauge is 6 stitches per inch, I don’t think that 12 stitches will create that much of a drastic difference! The finished circumference will be 20 inches, which is very standard for an “adult small” sized hat, especially because hats should fit with negative ease. I hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili