Little Fair Isle Hat
Before learning how to knit, I loved and admired Fair Isle knitting but always assumed that it was reserved for an elite few gold medal knitters, the kind who apprenticed on their grandmothers’ knees before they could even walk. Now, of course, I know that I should never have been so intimidated!
What looks so intricate is actually just a matter of knitting first with one color and then with a second, switching between the two as the pattern slowly emerges and blossoms into a fascinating and surprising design. Fair Isle is really one of the most fun things you can do in knitting!
If you’ve never done it, this Little Fair Isle Hat is a great place to start, small and manageable. And if you’re a veteran of the craft, then you’ll appreciate the speed of this sweet knit. Either way, some baby, toddler or child somewhere is going to be sporting a very pretty hat, made by you!
Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 45 thoughtfully designed yarns in nearly every natural fiber and in every spectacular color you can imagine. Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn store, where every skein is created with care and your creativity in mind!
It’s true that an intrinsic economic difficulty of Fair Isle knitting is the necessity for small amounts of many colors. I was so happy to sidestep this problem with Koigu’s little 11 yard skeins of KPM Needlepoint Yarn. They’re wonderfully soft, beautiful and affordable. And with over 150 hand dyed colors to choose from, the fancy knitting may end up being the easiest part! -Whitney
P.S. We also have a pattern for the adorable sweater! Just visit our Easy Baby Pullover project journal right here!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Whitney Van Nes.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoLittleFairIsleHat. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- Main Color: 1 skein of Koigu Premium Merino, 100% merino wool. Each skein is 175 yards/ 50 grams; approximately 75 (87, 100) yards required. We used the color #0000.
- Contrast Colors: 5 skeins of Koigu Premium Merino Needlepoint Yarn, 100% merino wool. Each skein is 11 yards; approximately 5 yards required. We used the color #2420, #2425, #1305, #1303, and #2360.
- US 4 (3.5 mm), 16 inch circular needles
- A set of US 4 double pointed needles
Shop our wonderful collection of fingering-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!
Gauge
28 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
Finished Sizes
Baby (Toddler, Kid)
- Circumference: 14 (16, 18) inches
Sample: The hat pictured here is Toddler size.
Pattern
With the circular needles and the Main Color (MC), cast on 98 (112, 126) 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: *P1, k1, repeat from * to end of round.
Repeat Round 1 six more times.
Now follow this chart, starting in the lower right corner and reading from right to left. Repeat each line to the end of the round (7, [8, 9] times), then move up the chart, always starting from the right. Remember to change colors as the chart’s colors change!
With the MC, knit until piece measures 4¼ (5, 5¾) inches from the cast on edge.
The Crown
Kid Size, Start Here:
Round 1: *K7, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. 112 stitches
Rounds 2 and 3: Knit.
Continue on to Round 1 of the Toddler Size.
Toddler Size, Start Here:
Round 1: *K6, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. 98 (98) stitches
Rounds 2 and 3: Knit.
Continue on to Round 1 of the Baby Size.
Baby Size, Start Here:
Round 1: *K5, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. 84 stitches, all sizes
Rounds 2 and 3: Knit.
Round 4: *K4, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. 70 stitches
Rounds 5: Knit.
Round 6: *K3, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. 56 stitches
Round 7: Knit.
Round 8: *K2, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. 42 stitches
Round 9: *K1, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. 28 stitches
Round 10: *K2tog, repeat from * to end of round. 14 stitches
Round 11: Repeat last round. 7 stitches
Round 12: [K2tog] 3 times, k1. 4 stitches
The Top Loop
Slip all 4 stitches onto one double pointed needle so that the last stitch you knit is at the left end of the needle.
Knit a 2 1/2 inch I-cord. Bind off, cut the yarn, and pull the tail through the remaining stitch.
To form the top loop, bring the tail to the inside of the hat, pulling the very tip of the I-cord along with it. As you weave in the tail, sew the I-cord tip to the inside of the hat.
Weave in all the ends and gently block your pretty new hat!
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 this hat and can't wait to make it for my niece. And the adorable sweater? Pattern name please???
Hi Abby-
We will be posting the pattern for the sweater later this month so stay tuned.
Thanks for your question!
Molly
Loooove this pattern. Cant wait to cast on, hope to whip up a few for shower gifts…
Abby took the words right out of my mouth. Adorable sweater!! This post was sent to me by a friend who knows my granddaughter because the child in the photo looks just like her.
How about an adult size version of this hat and up-coming sweater?!!
Ditto the need for this darling Koigu sweater in an adult version !! please and thank you
Love the hat! Was ordering the materials and you are out of many of the neelepoint yarn colors. Can you order more and let me know when they are back in stock. Would love to make one soon 🙂
Hi Miriam-
If you'd like to get an email when we get the colors back in stock please drop us a line at [email protected] with a list of the colors you're looking for.
Thank you for your question!
Molly
Hi,
Can this pattern be increased to make an adult sized hat? How would I go about doing that…? Do you just add stitches each row or will that make the hat go out of shape?
Thanks for your help,
Alison
Hi Alison,
For an adult size hat you can cast on either 140 or 154 stitches. One hundred and forty will give you a 20 inch circumference and 154 will end up 22 inches around.
For both sizes I would knit about 6 or 7 inches before starting the decreases. And for the 20 inch size, you should start the decreases with k8, k2tog, and for the 22 inch size, start with k9, k2tog.
Please let me know if you'd like further clarification or if you have any questions! And good luck!
Thanks!
Whitney
Any word on the sweater yet? I have a 5-month-old niece I'm dying to make that sweater for – the hat is already in the works!
Please and thank you very much,
Kelly
Hi KRB-
Yes, the pattern is available here: http://purlbee.squarespace.com/easy-baby-pullover/
Thank you for your question!
Molly
Thank you so much for all these great patterns on your lovely site, plus your generous help and tips. I just love love love this little hat and since I've been intimidated by Fair Isle, I am going to dive in and attempt this after your intro. I cringe when I see a chart. Do I read it left to right every single time? Every single row? I have no knitters available to help me… Thanks ahead of time for any tips and help. Cheers!
Hi Donna,
Your question asks if you read every row of the chart from “left to right”, but actually you read every row from right to left, just as you knit.
I'm so glad you've decided to take the plunge into Fair Isle knitting. It is a truly rewarding technique! Please let me know if you encounter any more questions. I'd be happy to help!
Whitney
Hi! I'm new to knitting with patterns but I love this one so much!! Just to clarify, when knitting the fair isle design, do I stockinette stitch?
Please make more fair isle designs!
Hi Newbie,
Yes! It is in stockinette stitch, but because the hat is knit in the round, stockinette is created by knitting every stitch.
I admire your bravery! Good luck!
Whitney
Hi Whitney,
I've been an amateur knitter for several years (and a huge fan of Purl!) and have been DYING to learn the fair isle technique. I've tried it on my own a bit, and I always feel like something's not quite right and I end up giving up. I think this hat will be my next fair isle project and hopefully I'll get it this time, but some tips for a new fair isler especially related to handling the different colors would be really great! Thanks!!
Hello,
I love this pattern so I decided to give it a try (first time fair isle for me), but even though I have followed the instructions precisely, and bought exactly the same needle (equivalent euro size) and the same yarn (same brand), the size does not look right.
The hat looks tiny enough for a newborn, although I followed the instruction for the toddler (126 stiches)… I have undone and done it again three times and it is still not working. Any idea what went wrong ?
Thank you for your time and lovely ideas.
Donatella
many of these colors are out of stock! do you have any other color combination recommendations? the hat is beautiful and i am eager to try and knit it for my baby cousin!
Hi Donatella,
It sounds like you have a gauge problem. Knitting needle sizes are given as a recommendation, but you should always use the size you need to get the proper gauge. You're probably a tight knitter (at least when fair isle gets involved!), and so you might need to use needles one or two (or even three!) sizes bigger that what the pattern recommends.
Here is a useful introduction to the topic of gauge: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/not-too-tight-tutorial/
I hope this helps and that you're not too frustrated to try again. I admire your persistence so far!
Whitney
Hi Pooja,
Another beautiful color combination, that still stays in the neutral world of the original version would be # 2390.5, 2423, 2424, 1305, and 2360.
I hope this helps and thank you so much for asking!
Whitney
In row 8 of the pattern, shouldn’t it be the first color instead of the second?
Hi Nicole,
Are you talking about the eighth round of the fair isle chart? If so, it correctly starts with the contrast color (each “branch” of the “tree” is two stitches high).
If you’re talking about a different part of the pattern, or if I haven’t answered your question, please let me know and we’ll get straightened out!
Thanks for your question!
Whitney
This is an absolutely beautiful little hat and I can’t wait to get started!. Only instead of knitting it, I’m going to attempt to crochet it. Wish me luck!
I am planning to knit this for my nephew, but I was wondering, if I used a main color and just one additional color for the fair isle pattern, how many skeins of the needlepoint yarn would I need?
Hi Cassie,
I’m not honestly sure, but I think you would be safe with three skeins but may only need two. And just so you know, if you wind your skeins into balls as you need them, you can return any unused, unwound skeins for store credit within six months of purchasing them.
Thanks for asking and please let us know if you have any other questions!
Whitney
Has anyone ever tried this adorable pattern with a single self-striping yarn instead of the needlepoint yarns for the pattern colors?
Any tips for converting to a worsted weight instead of fingering to make a warmer hat? I’d still like it to fit a small child but I want it to be warmer…
Hi Heather,
If you give me your gauge and hat size, I’d be happy to help you with specifics, but in general, you should multiply your gauge by the number of inches you want your hat to measure and cast on the nearest multiple of14. Your first round of crown decreases will depend on your cast on number…
Again, I’d be happy to help more if you tell me the gauge and finished circumference you’re going for!
Thanks for your question!
Whitney
Hi!
I want to make this hat for my nephew and I want to make the base colour a navy blue. Any suggestions for what would then make good colours for the fair isle pattern?
Thank you for this beautiful pattern!
Hi Shamal-
Here are the colors we’d recommend:
Koigu KPM: 1003
Needlepoint KPM: 2227, 2200, 2190, 2180, 2181
I think this could be very beautiful!
Thanks for your question!
Molly
Hi! I’m really wanting to try out this pattern! It’s so lovely. I was wondering if you had a color combination suggestion for a white background but starting with a dark rose pink and progressing lighter from there? Thanks!
Hi Angie,
Since each Koigu dye lot is so different, I would really recommend calling our California warehouse for a person-to-person color consultation! That way you’ll be able to describe how you envision “dark rose pink” and you can to talk to someone who has actual eyes on the yarn! Call us at (800) 597-7875 Monday through Friday 12-6 EST.
Thank you for asking… It sounds like it’s going to be very pretty!
Whitney
Your link for the matching baby sweater isn’t working, can’t wait to finish the hat.
Thank you so much NYCKay! The link has been fixed!
Best-
Molly
Hi! I love this pattern! Do you have any recommendations for the needlepoint yarn colors to make a pink/neutral version for a girl?
Hi Elisha!
We put this one together for you in the store today! We think using Koigu KPM in color 2423 as the main color with Needlepoint KPM in 1144, 1162, 1141, and 1122 would be beautiful!
Happy Knitting!
Thomas
Thank you for such a wonderful pattern and for the confidence to try my first fair isle! I just completed this hat and it is so beautiful. I loved working with the yarn as well. This is my favorite site for patterns and I can’t wait to try another one
Hi! Love this pattern! I saw you gave directions in the comments on how to modify this for an adult hat but you did not mention altering the band width. Would you suggest knitting a larger band for an adult hat to make it more proportionate? Or does it not really matter? (The pattern for baby/toddler looks like a width of 7 rows, if Im reading the pattern correctly:])
Thanks so much!
Hi MBK-
The band width is up to you! Perhaps you can measure a hat with a band that you like to try to determine how tall you’d like it to be? Thanks for your question and please let us know how it turns out!
Best-
Molly
Thanks for the adult version as well as the children’s.
Hi, I would love to make this hat in shades of purple for a toddler girl. Do you have any recommendations for the base and needlepoint colors?
Thanks so much!
Hello Lindy!
What a sweet idea! Since the Koigu Needlepoint yarns differ dramatically from dye lot to dye lot, please feel free to email customerservice AT purlsoho DOT com so that we can help you pick them out in person. We’re so glad you like this pattern! -Alyson
Love it. Can’t wait to make.
Thank you for this pattern! I’ve been wanting to try fair isle but every pattern I’ve come across has looked intimidating, but you’ve written this out to give me confidence and courage!! My husband is going to Norway and I’ve asked him to get me some baby yarn to make this for our kids! I’m excited!! 🙂
Hello Rachel!
We’re so happy you like this pattern! Color work really isn’t that complex once you give it a shot! Enjoy! -Alyson
Can you tell me what type of cast on technique was used to make this hat? Thanks!
Hello Liz!
We tend to stick to Long Tail Cast on unless otherwise specified. You can find a tutorial for this technique here: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2006/09/29/long-tail-cast-on/j
Best of luck! -Alyson
Thank you so much for this pattern. I’m so excited I had to come and let you know how grateful I am. This is my first fair isle and it’s coming along so well — and easy too! I can hardly wait to finish it. It looks so cute and I’m proud of how the reverse side looks too 🙂
Hi, Diane!
Thank you so much for your kind words! We are delighted that you’re enjoying this pattern!
Best,
Kumeko
Knitting it in the round, my rows are not matching up at the join. Do you have any tips?
Hi Natalie,
Thanks for writing in! If you are talking about joining the work for the first round, don’t worry because you will sew this up at the end when you weave in your yarn tails. If you are talking about the “jog” that occurs at the beginning of each round where it looks like there is a “step”, you can refer to many Youtube tutorials on how to eliminate this appearance. I’d search for “jogless jog” technique. Best of luck!
-Adam
Would it be possible to do this hat with Blue Sky Alpaca’s 100% Sportweight Alpaca?
Thank you!
Hi Jenna,
Thanks for writing in! This pattern is written for fingering weight yarn and the sportweight alpaca is quite a bit heavier. The pattern would require quite a bit of reworking to work with such a much thicker yarn. If you would like to use another yarn, I would suggest an alternate fingering weight yarn with a gauge of roughly 7 stitches = 1 inch in stockinette stitch.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Will the baby size fit a 6-9 month old baby? Starting this soon, but she’s a summer baby so it would be helpful to know! Assuming toddler starts at ~1 year?
Hi Alexis,
Thanks for writing in! If you can, I would suggest measuring her head and picking a size that is about one inch smaller than her actual head circumference to get the best fit, because babies do grow quickly and at different rates. If that is not an option then I would assume the toddler size would fit best starting for one-year-olds.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Will this pattern work well with the main yarn as Cashmere Merino Bloom, Season Alpaca or Mulberry Merino, while the pattern yarn remains Koigu Needlepoint? I am going for added warmth and thickness in an adult size.
After your comment above on sportweight alpaca–like Blue Sky Alpaca–for this pattern, I hoped there might be enough wiggle room that Mulberry Merino or Tynd might work with the pattern AND with Kiogu Premium Merino yarns. Bulkier than Kiogu, yet lighter than the Blue Sky alpacas, Mulberry Merino takes 5.5 to 6.5 stitches to the inch and Tynd 5.25 to 6.25.
Would using a #5 needle help, as both Kiogu and Mulberry Merino will work with that size?
Would Blue Sky Royal Alpaca work for Jenna and me? It’s a fingerweight, but at 288 for 100 grams heavier than Koigu, which is 350 yards per 100 grams (twice the 50 gram skein of 175 yards as sold here)? But, is the texture right? Merino is more fluffy than alpaca, no?
As I am desirous of assuring a flat result, I may just stick with the instructions, rather than mixing anything different with the Koigu Needlepoint 11-yard skeins. Koigu is thicker than most fingering yarns anyway, I noticed, Royal Alpaca being an exception. Also, Koigu is sold in 50 grams at $15, and the RA is 100 grams at $44.60.
By the way, are 50 grams, 175 yards, enough for a 22″ adult’s hat? Should I buy two skeins?
Hi Judy,
Thanks for writing in! Although the yards per gram are different, Blue Sky Royal Alpaca is a true fingering weight. Alpaca fiber just weighs more than wool! Alpaca tends to have more drape than merino wool so you may have a slouchier hat, but it is a warmer fiber.
Although Woolfolk Tynd does knit up at a true fingering weight gauge, the other yarns you have mentioned are all sport to DK weight and will significantly alter the gauge and overall size of your hat, and may not result in a smooth, flat fair isle section. Changing your needle size will also affect the size of your hat and may result in a too large hat, even if you are altering the pattern to make an adult size, so regardless of what yarn you choose to substitute, you should knit a gauge swatch to make sure your hat will turn out the correct size.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
I purchased the yarn and some notions, but wasn’t sure whether the adult hat needed a #4, 16″ needle like the child’s or a #4, 24″ needle. The widest measure around my head was 22″ or even a bit more, as my hair is thick.
Hi Judy,
Generally all hats, adult or child sized, are knitted on a 16″ needle as the stitches will squish up and fit fine, whereas they may be too stretched out on a longer needle. I would recommend a final measurement that is two to four inches smaller than your actual head circumference as hats fit best with a bit of negative ease!
Best,
Julianna
For the adult hat, how can I make a more substantial cuff? I am afraid on my very thick hair the child’s pattern wouldn’t hold up. Could it and should it have a stronger rib, like your Classic ribbed Hat, which can also be worn slouchy? Then the pattern would start later, but I don’t know how much. Would that look weird or okay?
Would a delicate stockinette one, like the Simple Pleasures hat’s, although maybe not as broad, suit this Fair Isle pattern better than a rib?
I am struggling with the long-tailed tubular cast on and considering a local class to get me started.
Hi Judy,
Great question! If you would like to knit a cuff that will fold up, you can certainly do so. I would suggest knitting the ribbing on a smaller needle, either a US 2 or 3, and making it about four inches long so it will fold up to two inches. You can then work the colorwork portion of the hat followed by stockinette stitch without colorwork if necessary for a total length of 6 or 7 inches, measured with the cuff folded up, before beginning the decreases.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Are the colors in these instructions purples or browns or something in between?
Hi Judy,
Thanks for reaching out! Our original color palette for this hat transitioned from a dark purple, through several shades of medium purple and purple-toned browns, to a nice taupe; however, the dye lots of Koigu Needlepoint Yarn can vary quite a bit, so I would suggest checking out current colors to select a color palette that works for you!
Best,
Julianna
The colors stump me. Is Koigu 2420 purples or navy and purple? Apparently it is the darkest color. Is 2425 more brown than anything else? And 1303 looks like oatmeal? And 2360, the pale gray, is last?
I have the alternative colors you offered Pooja, but my 2423 doesn’t look like the ordering photo at all. It should look like a very light platinum heather, but mine has much more contrast in the depths of color, so looks more striated. It even looks a bit pink sometimes. Sometimes 2360 also looks pinkish, and I don’t know which is darker. Or is it the difference between natural or incandescent light and camera spotlighting?
I also am not sure which order they go in for the alternative color scheme. Is 2424 the darkest, or 1305? Is 2360 or 2423 lighter?
I think I’ll do the original colors for the pattern, because I think I understand the order better and maybe I get some purple-ish hues (?)
Hi Judy,
Thanks for writing in! Koigu’s colors tend to vary quite a bit between dye lots, so #2425 from several years ago when we knit the sample hat could be quite different from #2425 that was dyed recently. I would suggest going by the pictures on our site, which we update quite frequently to reflect the current dye lots, to put together your own version of the color gradient. Also, if you drop us a note in the comment box of your order asking us to see if the colors you have selected will work well for the Little Fair Isle Hat, we will be happy to double check and recommend changes if necessary!
Best,
Julianna
I expect the answer is “no”, but can the Koigu Premium Merino Needlepoint Yarns be purchased in a London shop, UK?
Hi Judy,
I’m not aware of any shops in the UK that sell Koigu, but we do ship internationally! You can find full details on our international shipping rates on our Shipping information page.
Best,
Julianna
I’ve completed 4″ of cuff and changed to size 4 from size 3 circular needles. How do I change colors? Do I leave a tail of the new color or knot it somewhere? How long a tail, so it doesn’t unravel? Is there an instructional video?
Thanks.
Hello Judy,
Thank you for reaching out! This is a great question. You leave a tail, usually about 8 inches long. We have some more info in our Fair Isle; Design your own tutorial.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
I want to add a pom pom to the Little Fair Isle Hat for an adult. I’m not sure what size is proportionate to the hat, knit with US size 4 needles. I have plenty of Koigu Heirloom White to make the pom pom, as I got 2 skeins for the hat.
Should I use Purl Soho’s pom pom maker, with a wide spectrum of sizes, or Clover’s, which seems to offer more control, yet has no mid-range sizes–nothing between 1 5/8″ and 2 1/2″.
Later I may want to make the pom pom scarf, which uses 1 1/4″ pom poms. Clover has no 1 1/4″, only 1″ and 1 3/8″. Maybe the 1 3/8″ would substitute well enough? Or should I use the U-shaped pom pom maker?
Hi Judy
Thanks for reaching out! All of the pom pom tools do make the pom pom process quite easy, but they vary in a few ways. Our Purl Soho Pom Pom Maker Set – even children can use this type of tool with very little instruction – but the pom pom is very lopsided when it first comes off of the tool and requires quite a bit of trimming to get that ideal round shape. The trim guides included with the Purl Soho set speed up this process and you can make 6 different sizes with just the one set.
The Clover Pom Pom Maker is a bit trickier to learn to use. It has several arms that have to be unfolded and wrapped in the proper order, but once you master the steps, it creates a pom pom that is much rounder, so there is less trimming involved. However, each tool can only make one size of pom pom, so you may need several sizes depending on your pom pom needs.
Each tool has its advantages and drawbacks – overall, the Purl Soho Pom Pom Maker Set is easier to use, but requires more trimming, while the Clover Pom Pom Maker is harder to use but requires less trimming. Also, the Purl Soho set can be used to make more sizes than either of the other set, but it is a bit pricier. It is really up to you and how many pom poms you think you will be making, but I hope that extra information helps!
Best,
Julianna
I have completed Row 9 of the decreases and believe I cannot continue on 16″ circular needles. The stitches are already stretched. Should I change to perhaps 3 double-pointed needles for the rest? I don’t see how it is possible to wait until the very end.
If I should change, does it matter how long they are? I have a pair of double-pointed size 4 and another pair of single-point size 3 that are each 12″ long.
Hi Judy,
Thanks for writing in! You should switch to double pointed needles whenever you feel that there are too few stitches to stretch around the 16″ needle – no need to wait until the very end! You will need to use double pointed needles, not straight needles, but any length should work.
Best,
Julianna
As I am making an adult hat, would a tassel or pom pom suit it better than a loop? For the former, I have leftover contrast yarns. For the latter, a whole skein of main color.
It’s looking lovely, by the way, although I had to correct several mistakes.
I will have to ask how to weave in the CC ends, so might as well ask now. I left really long tails.
Thanks for such an imaginative pattern. Each pattern row was different from every other, so never dull.
Hi Judy,
I’m so glad you enjoyed knitting the hat! The finish on top is really up to you – I think all the options work well, even for an adult hat, so you can choose whichever one you prefer! When you are weaving in the ends, you just need to try to weave each end in on top of the rows that are the same color as best you can. It can be tricky when the stripes are so narrow, so it’s okay if you overlap a different color a bit, but do try to keep them out of the portion of the hat that is just the main color!
I hope that helps!
Julianna
I am redoing from knit two, knit two together, as that is where I could pick everything up. The top had inverted due to tightness.
I used two double-pointed needles plus the circular, amounting to three double needles. I don’t see how knitting with two is possible. Or is it, if you carry the needles parallel with each other?
Hello Judy,
Thank you for your question! For the crown of the hat you will need at least 4 double pointed needles to knit with, but you will only need two to knit the i-cord loop at the top of the hat.
I hope this makes sense and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hello!
I have a quick question about something I don’t quite understand regarding the chart:
“Repeat each line to the end of the round (7, [8, 9] times), then move up the chart, always starting from the right. Remember to change colors as the chart’s colors change!”
Do I repeat every line of the chart 7,[8,9] times?
Many thanks for claryfiying!
Best,
Merima
Hi Merima,
Thanks for writing in! This means that you will be repeating the 14 stitches of the chart 7 (8, 9) times around the hat in each row – for instance, the smallest size of the hat has 98 stitches, which divides by 14 7 times, so you will work 7 repeats of the chart. You will, however, only work each row of the chart once.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
This is such a cute hat that it has become my go-to for baby gifts! My favorites are a light varigated background with all-black “trees” so that it looks like either dawn or use bright oranges varigated for a sunset! I’m on my third (fourth?) printout of this pattern because I use it so much! I have also found a knitted baby sock pattern (lionbrand) to use to make matching socks to go with! Well, printing the pattern yet again so I can continue making many many more hats!
Just printed out Little Fair Isle Hat and can hardly wait to start it! The first color change is a little hard to see on my graph. Do you change to the 2nd contrasting color on Row 9?
Hi Diane,
Thanks for reaching out! That is indeed a little difficult to see since the colors are so similar. It looks like it actually switches to the 2nd contrasting color on Row 8, not 9.
I hope that helps!
All the best,
Zha Zha
Oh wow! Thanks for asking this question as I didn’t even notice that colour change. It’s just all black on my iPad!
Hi! I’m just going to start on the colors. Is it necessary to catch the floats on the wrong side? After how many stitches would you do this, if it is necessary?
Hi Diane,
Thanks for writing in! I don’t believe it is necessary to catch the floats with this pattern unless you would like to!
All the best,
Gianna
Thank you for this sharing !
Hello,
I just love this pattern and so do many of my friends and family. I sell finished products on Etsy and was wondering if I could sell this beautiful finished product on my Etsy page? I would obviously give credit to the pattern designer and add a note the wool used is by Purl Soho. Thank you for your consideration.
D Smith
Hi D,
Thank you for your interest in our patterns! While we’re happy you like our Little Fair Isle Hat, our patterns and designs are copyrighted and are for home use only. This means that you can’t use our patterns to make things for sale. We hope you understand!
All the best,
Lili
I just made this for my almost four year old. The toddler size with size 5 needles came out perfect for her (slightly large head). Added some cute ear flaps to keep it steady.
Would this pattern work with your Line Weight yarn? I have several leftover colors and I’d like to try this pattern to make a baby hat. Thanks!
Hi Dakota,
Thanks for your question! We are so happy you are thinking of using those leftover bits of yarn. Baby hats are such great stash-busters!
Line weight is a little more on the lighter end of fingering weight yarns but we think holding it double could be a great idea to knit this hat. Just to be sure, we recommend swatching first to make sure you are happy with the fabric and to see if it meets the gauge for the pattern of 28 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Let us know if you need any help along the way!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
Hi! I love this pattern for baby hats and am now trying to adjust it for an adult with a circumference of 23.5 inches around – how many stitches should I cast on?
Hi Joan,
For an adult size hat you can cast on either 140 or 154 stitches. One hundred and forty will give you a 20 inch circumference and 154 will end up 22 inches around. I’d recommend going with the 22″ size to take negative ease into account. If that’s still too small, I’d recommend sizing up on your needles.
For both sizes I would knit about 6 or 7 inches before starting the decreases. And for the 20 inch size, you should start the decreases with k8, k2tog, and for the 22 inch size, start with k9, k2tog.
All the best,
Gavriella
For a 24 inch size, how many stitches would you cast on and when would you start the decreases? Thank you!
Hi Joan,
I’d recommend going with the 154 cast on and sizing up your needles! Then you can start the decreases after you have finished the chart. Unfortunately we have not written this pattern for adult sizes so we don’t have exact measurements to provide. I’m sorry about that but please let me know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Gavriella