Soft + Sweet Hats | Purl Soho

Angora twin sets may have gone the way of beehive hairdos, but a touch of angora is still totally enchanting. Nowadays, we prescribe the fuzzy decadence of angora in small doses, because really, just a little tuft here and there is all you need to feel sweet!

Soft + Sweet Hats | Purl Soho

The thing I find so wonderful and amusing about angora is that it so closely resembles the animal from which it came. Astonishingly soft fibers are gently combed from astonishingly soft angora rabbits and are left so unadulterated that the resulting little fluffy ball could easily be mistaken for an actual baby bunny!

Soft + Sweet Hats | Purl Soho

For these Soft + Sweet Hats I chose Koigu’s lovely Kersti Merino Crepe to play the straight man to Joseph Galler’s wild Belangor 100% angora. In gentle, dusky colors, the result is classic, just the way we like it!

Soft + Sweet Hats | Purl Soho

Choose from three sizes (baby, toddler or child) and three designs. The Anchor Hat, above, reminds me of an old fashioned nursery where boys wore bloomers and sturdy leather shoes. But I’d adore this hat for my sneaker-wearing son too, and so in the end, it’s its timelessness that I really love.

Soft + Sweet Hats | Purl Soho

The Stripes Hat is simple to knit but finishes with a beautifully complex interplay of textures. Lines of downy angora fibers form a diaphanous veil over stripes of smooth, crisp merino. Wow!

Soft + Sweet Hats | Purl Soho

And want to give something super sweet this Valentine’s Day? The Hearts Hat is an easy fair isle design with a whole lot of whimsy and love!

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Whitney Van Nes.

Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoSoftAndSweetHats. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Materials

Soft + Sweet Hats | Purl Soho

  • Main Yarn: Koigu’s Kersti Merino Crepe, 100% merino wool. This color is #0000.
    • Hearts Hat: 1 (1, 2) skein(s)
    • Stripes Hat: 1 (1, 1) skein
    • Anchor Hat: 1 (1, 2) skein(s)
  • Contrast Yarn: Joseph Galler’s Belangor, 100% angora. These colors, from the top, are Pink, Oatmeal and Dark Grey.
    • Hearts Hat: 1 (1, 1) ball
    • Stripes Hat: 1 (1, 2) ball(s)
    • Anchor Hat: 1 (1, 1) ball
  • US 4 (3.5 mm), 16-inch circular needles
  • A set of US 4 double pointed needles
  • Purl Soho’s Pom Pom Maker Set(optional, make your own cardboard template if you prefer!)

Gauge

30 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette

Sizes

Baby (Toddler, Child)

Finished Circumference: 12 (14½, 16¾) inches

Pattern

Basic Hat

NOTE: To make a different size Stripes or Anchor Hat, cast on any even-numbered multiple of 9. If you’re planning to make the Hearts Hat, cast on any multiple of 18.

CUFF

Cast on 90 (108, 126) stitches onto the circular needles. Place a marker and join for working in the round, being careful to not twist the stitches. Round 1: *K1, p1, repeat from * to end of round. Repeat Round until piece measures ¾ (1, 1½) inches from cast on edge.

BODY

Knit every round until piece measures 5 (5½, 6) inches from cast on edge.

CROWN

(Note: Switch to the double pointed needles whenever the stitches no longer fit comfortably on the circular needles.)

Round 1: *K7, Knit Two Together (k2tog), repeat from * to end of round. 80 (96, 112) stitches

Round 2: Knit.

Round 3: *K6, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. 70 (84, 98) stitches

Round 4: Knit.

Round 5: *K5, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. 60 (72, 84) stitches

Round 6: Knit.

Round 7: *K4, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. 50 (60, 70) stitches

Round 8: Knit.

Round 9: *K3, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. 40 (48, 56) stitches

Round 10: Knit.

Round 11: *K2, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. 30 (36, 42) stitches

Round 12: Knit.

Round 13: *K1, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. 20 (24, 28) stitches

Round 14: Knit.

Round 15: *K2tog, repeat from * to end of round. 10 (12, 14) stitches

Round 16: Knit.

Round 17: *K2tog, repeat from * to end of round. 5 (6, 7) stitches

Cut the yarn and thread it through the remaining stitches. Weave in the ends.

POM POM

Using the larger template of the Small Pom Pom Maker, make an approximately 2-inch-in-diameter pom pom. (Or make your own cardboard template.) Use the Main Yarn, the Contrast Yarn or a combination of both! Bring the tails through the top of the hat to the inside, tie a tight knot and weave in the ends. Gently block your hat and you’re done!

Hearts Hat

With the Main Yarn, knit the Cuff according to the Basic Hat pattern, above. Then knit every round until piece measures 1 1/4 (1 3/4, 2 1/2) inches from the cast on edge.

Introducing the Contrast Yarn, knit the next 12 rounds according to the chart below. Starting in the bottom right corner, read every line from right to left. Repeat each line to the end of the round, then move up the chart one line for the next round. Be sure to keep the strands across the back of the work loose. I find the best way to do this is to shove the stitches on the right needle far over to the right so that the new color has to stretch to reach the left needle.

This creates perfect slack, preventing buckling and tightness.

Soft + Sweet Hats | Purl Soho

Once you’ve finished the chart, continue to knit the rest of the hat with the Main Yarn according to the Basic Hat pattern, above.

Stripes Hat

NOTE: For some helpful tips for knitting stripes in the round visit our Tutorial right here! With the Main Yarn, knit the Cuff according to the Basic Hat pattern, above. *With the Main Yarn, knit 4 rounds. With the Contrast Yarn, knit 2 rounds. Repeat from * to the end of the hat, continuing the stripe pattern throughout the crown shaping.

Anchor Hat

With the Main Yarn, make a Basic Hat according to the Basic Hat pattern, above. Then, with the Contrast Yarn, use Duplicate Stitch to embroider the design from this chart to the front of the hat. Start the design 1/2 (3/4, 1) inch above the ribbed cuff.

Soft + Sweet Hats | Purl Soho