The herringbone pattern is, of course, traditionally woven, yet it routinely “weaves” its way into the knitting world. Here on the Purl Bee, this classic zigzag has inspired chunky cowls, handsome scarves, and now a hat, too!

Herringbone Hat | Purl Soho

This Herringbone Hat depends on texture for its herringbone-ness and on logical engineering for its structure. To highlight both I knit up my hats in Purl Soho’s gorgeous Mulberry Merino. A delicious blend of silk and merino, the silk reflects the light and draws attention to the riveting texture, while the merino keeps the whole thing shipshape!

Herringbone Hat | Purl Soho

This particular herringbone stitch pattern is created by simple slip stitches, no fancy maneuvers or fussy tricks. And like the herringbone pattern itself, the Herringbone Hat, with its clever construction and compelling details, is sure to become a knit classic! -Laura

PS- To see Instagram photos of this project being worn click here and here!

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.

Materials

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  • 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Mulberry Merino, 80% extra fine merino, 20% mulberry silk. Up to 247 total yards required. (NOTE: We no longer offer Mulberry Merino, but choose from one of our other sport weight yarns.)
  • US 6 (4 mm) circular or straight needles

Gauge

28 stitches and 54 rows = 4 inches in stitch pattern

22 stitches and 30 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Sizes

Newborn (Toddler, Kid, Adult Small, Adult Large)

  • Finished Circumference: 11¾ (14¼, 16½, 19, 21¼) inches
  • Finished Height: 5¾ (7, 8, 9, 10 ¼) inches

Notes

CONSTRUCTION

This hat is worked flat and then seamed together.

SLIPPED STITCHES

Slip all slipped stitches purlwise.

Make 1 Left

Make 1 Left (m1L): With the left needle, pick up the bar between the last stitch you knit and the one you’re about to knit, bringing the needle from front to back, then knit through the back loop of the strand.

For help with this stitch, visit our Make 1 Right + Left tutorial.

Make 1 Purlwise

Make 1 Purlwise (m1p): With the left needle, pick up the horizontal strand between the last stitch you knit and the one you’re about to knit, bringing the needle from front to back, then purl through back loop of the strand.

For help with this stitch, visit our Make 1 Purlwise (m1p) tutorial and see the Make 1 Left Purlwise instructions, or watch the stitch in action at 01:42 in our video.

Pattern

Cast on 21 (25, 29, 33, 37) stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Foundation Row (wrong side): Purl to end of row.

Increase (Stitch Pattern Slants Right)

Row 1 (right side): Slip 1 with yarn in back (wyib), k1, make 1 left (m1L; see Notes), *k2, slip 2 with yarn in front (wyif), repeat from * to last three stitches, k3. [1 stitch increased]

Row 2: Slip 1 wyif, p3, *slip 2 wyib, p2, repeat from * to last two stitches, make 1 purlwise (m1p; see Notes), p2. [1 stitch increased]

Row 3: Slip 1 wyib, k1, m1L, *k2, slip 2 wyif, repeat from * to last stitch, k1. [1 stitch increased]

Row 4: Slip 1 wyif, p1, *slip 2 wyib, p2, repeat from * to last two stitches, m1p, p2. [1 stitch increased]

Repeat Rows 1–4 four (5, 6, 7, 8) more times. [41 (49, 57, 65, 73) stitches]

Continue Evenly (Stitch Pattern Slants Left)

Row 1 (right side): Slip 1 wyib, k1, *slip 2 wyif, k2, repeat from * to last three stitches, slip 2 wyif, k1.

Row 2: Slip 1 wyif, p3, *slip 2 wyib, p2, repeat from * to last stitch, p1.

Row 3: Slip 1 wyib, k3, *slip 2 wyif, k2, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.

Row 4: Slip 1 wyif, p1, *slip 2 wyib, p2, repeat from * to last three stitches, p3.

Repeat Rows 1–4 four (5, 6, 7, 8) more times.

Continue Evenly (Stitch Pattern Slants Right)

Row 1 (right side): Slip 1 wyib, k3, *slip 2 wyif, k2, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.

Row 2: Slip 1 wyif, p3, *slip 2 wyib, p2, repeat from * to last stitch, p1.

Row 3: Slip 1 wyib, k1, *slip 2 wyif, k2, repeat from * to last three stitches, slip 2 wyif, k1.

Row 4: Slip 1 wyif, p1, *slip 2 wyib, p2, repeat from * to last three stitches, p3.

Repeat Rows 1–4 four (5, 6, 7, 8) more times.

Decrease (Stitch Pattern Slants Left)

Row 1 (right side): Slip 1 wyib, k1, slip slip knit (ssk), *k2, slip 2 wyif, repeat from * to last stitch, k1. [1 stitch decreased]

Row 2: Slip 1 wyif, p3, *slip 2 wyib, p2, repeat from * to last four stitches, purl 2 together through the back loop (p2tog tbl), p2. [1 stitch decreased]

Row 3: Slip 1 wyib, k1, ssk, *k2, slip 2 wyif, repeat from * to last three stitches, k3. [1 stitch decreased]

Row 4: Slip 1 wyif, p1, *slip 2 wyib, p2, repeat from * to last four stitches, p2tog tbl, p2. [1 stitch decreased]

Repeat Rows 1–4 four (5, 6, 7, 8) more times. [21 (25, 29, 33, 37) stitches]

Work Second Half of Hat

Herringbone Hat | Purl Soho

Repeat the entire pattern one more time, starting with the Increase (Stitch Pattern Slants Right) section.

Bind off all stitches knitwise.

Finish

Herringbone Hat | Purl Soho

With wrong sides together, fold the piece in half so that you can seam the hat together.

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Hold the cast on and bind off edges parallel. Use a tapestry needle threaded with the working yarn to sew the two edges together (NOTE: I used contrast yarn for demonstration purposes). Sew under the knit stitch at the cast on edge and then under the knit stitch directly opposite at the bind off edge.

Continue back and forth for the length of these straight edges.

Herringbone Hat | Purl Soho

Continue seaming up the slanted edges, now using Mattress Stitch. Continue in Mattress Stitch along the top edge and then down the second slanted side.

Weave in the ends and block as desired.

Herringbone Hat | Purl Soho