For as long as I can remember, every Sunday my grandmother makes fresh pasta from scratch, and every Sunday she uses the same metal pasta maker she got as a wedding anniversary gift from my grandfather in 1961. When we press her to upgrade to a new machine, she always responds, “It’s hard to improve on a classic!”

Classic Cuffed Hat | Purl Soho

I revisited the truth in my grandmother’s words when I set out to make this winter’s hat. How could I improve on a classic winter hat? Very little, and so my pondering ended with these Classic Cuffed Hats, as reliable and perfectly timeless as a 1961 pasta maker!

Classic Cuffed Hat | Purl Soho

To ensure a design that would last a half a century, I made a couple of important decisions. First, I used a Long Tail Tubular Cast On, a simple technique that makes a magically clean and elastic foundation for the ribbed cuff. My new Long Tail Tubular Cast On Tutorial walks you through this method, step by step.

Classic Cuffed Hat | Purl Soho

Second, I chose a yarn that I think of as an instant classic, Purl Soho’s 100% merino Worsted Twist. With 12 gorgeous new colors joining our palette, we couldn’t pick just one, so we made a hat in every new color! What color will you choose for your Classic Cuffed Hat? – Gina

Update: October 2014

Classic Cuffed Hat | Purl Soho

The colors, above, for the adult size are Ash Gray with a Dijon Yellow pom pom; and for the baby size are Dijon Yellow with an Oyster Gray pom pom.

Update: New Pom Poms

November 2019
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We’re having a party and you’re invited! We’ve topped a few of our favorite hat patterns with festive pom poms including our Classic Cuffed Hat! Using our Pom Pom Maker Set in the Small + Large and Extra Large + Jumbo sizes, adorn your Classic Cuffed Hat and join in on the party here!

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Gina Rockenwagner.

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

Materials

Classic Cuffed Hat | Purl Soho
  • Hat with Pom Pom: 1 (2, 2) skeins of Purl Soho’s Worsted Twist, 100% merino wool. Each skein is 164 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 164 (246, 328) yards required. We used all of our new colors! Look below for a list of colors. (NOTE: We no longer offer Worsted Twist, but choose from one of our other worsted/aran weight yarns.)
  • Hat without Pom Pom: 1 (1, 1) skeins of Worsted Twist, 100% merino wool.
  • US 5 (3.75 mm), 16-inch circular needles
  • US 7 (4.5 mm), 16-inch circular needles
  • A set of US 7 double pointed needles
  • Stitch markers, including 1 unique
  • Optional: Purl Soho’s Pom Pom Maker in size Small + Large
Classic Cuffed Hat | Purl Soho

Baby Size, left, from top to bottom: Paprika Red, Pink Grapefruit, Ochre Yellow and Yellow Zest

Kid Size, center, from top to bottom: Lichen Green, Green Turquoise, Pistachio Green, and Cardamom Green

Adult Size, right, from top to bottom: Gray Fig, Green Gray, Moody Green, and Black Green

GAUGE

20 stitches and 28 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch on larger needles

24 stitches and 32 rounds = 4 inches in 1×1 rib, unstretched, on smaller needles

SIZES

Baby (Kid, Adult)

  • Finished Body Circumference: 15 (17, 18½) inches
  • Finished Ribbing Circumference: 12 (13, 14) inches, unstretched
  • Finished Height: 9½ (11, 12¼) inches, excluding pom pom

NOTE

SLIPPED STITCHES

Slip all stitches purlwise.

PATTERN

CAST ON

With smaller circular needles, cast on 72 (80, 88) stitches. We used a Long Tail Tubular Cast On (beginning with a purl cast-on stitch after the slip knot), but a basic Long Tail Cast On would also be beautiful (and less complicated!).

IF YOU USED A LONG TAIL TUBULAR CAST ON…

Foundation Row 1 (wrong side): *K1 through the back loop (tbl), slip 1 (see Note) with yarn in front (wyif), repeat from * to end of row.

Foundation Row 2 (right side): *K1, slip 1 wyif, repeat from * to end of row.

Place unique marker and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.

Continue to Cuff.

IF YOU USED A BASIC LONG TAIL CAST ON

Place unique marker and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.

Continue to Cuff.

CUFF

Round 1: *K1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Round 1 until piece measures 3 (3½, 4) inches from cast-on edge.

BODY

Switch to larger circular needles.

Work in stockinette stitch, knitting every round, until piece measures 8 (8¾, 9¾) from cast-on edge.

CROWN

NOTE: Change to double pointed needles when necessary.

Round 1: [K1, slip slip knit (ssk), k13 (15, 17), knit two together (k2tog), place marker] 3 times, k1, ssk, k13 (15, 17), k2tog. [64 (72, 80) stitches]

Round 2: Knit to end of round.

Round 3: [K1, ssk, knit to 2 stitches before marker, k2tog, slip marker] 4 times. [8 stitches decreased]

Repeat Rounds 2 and 3 five (6, 7) more times. [16 stitches remain]

Next Round: [K2tog] 8 times. [8 stitches]

FINISHING

Cut the tail and thread it through the remaining stitches. Bring the tail to the inside of the hat. Weave in ends.

POM POM

If you’re using Purl Soho’s Pom Pom Maker Set, use the Medium (Large, Large) Pom Pom Maker and the 2 (2½, 3)-inch Trim Guide to make a pom pom. Follow the instructions for a worsted weight yarn in our Pom Pom Tutorial.

ATTACH POM POM

Thread each pom pom tail separately through the top of the crown to the inside of the hat. Tie the tails into a knot, then thread the tails up through the pom pom itself and trim them flush with the pom pom.

Now enjoy your Classic Cuffed Hat!

Classic Cuffed Hat | Purl Soho