January is always my favorite month around the shop. Crafters storm the doors, determined to put their New Year’s resolutions into action. So if this year you’ve resolved to move from flat scarves and blankets to round hats or to add new techniques, like simple colorwork, to your repertoire, this pattern is for you!

Friendly Fair Isle Hat | Purl Soho

I knit up these cute and toasty Friendly Fair Isle Hats in Purl Soho’s single-ply Super Soft Merino. A quick bulky weight, this is indeed a friendly project, great for learning and for easy gratification!

Friendly Fair Isle Hat | Purl Soho

Of course, once you’ve knit this hat, you’ll be equipped to take on the sweater pattern that inspired it, our original Friendly Fair Isle Sweater. So, get ready to expand those resolutions and happy New Year! -Laura

Friendly Fair Isle Hat | Purl Soho

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.

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

Materials

BABY HAT

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  • MC: Super Pink
  • CC: Heirloom White

KID HAT

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  • MC: Heirloom White
  • CC: Pink Grapefruit

ADULT SMALL HAT

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  • MC: Sea Salt
  • CC: Super Pink

Gauge

13 stitches and 18 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Sizes

Baby (Kid, Adult Small, Adult Large)

  • Finished Circumference: 14 ¾ (17 ¼, 19 ¾, 22) inches
  • Finished Height (without pompom): 7 (8 ½, 9 ½, 10) inches

Samples: Sizes Baby, Kid and Adult Small are pictured here.

Note

s2kp [slip slip knit pass]: Slip two stitches together knitwise, knit 1, pass slipped stitches over knit stitch and off needle. [2 stitches decreased]

Pattern

Begin at Bottom Edge

With MC and circular needles, cast on 48 (56, 64, 72) stitches.

I used a Long Tail Tubular Cast On, because it’s nice and stretchy, but a basic Long Tail Cast On would also be beautiful (and less complicated)! If you do a Long Tail Tubular Cast On, be sure to work the Foundation Rows before joining in the round (they are described both in our tutorial and below).

IF YOU DID A LONG TAIL TUBULAR CAST ON…

Foundation Row 1: *Knit 1 through the back loop, slip one with yarn in front, repeat from * to end of row.

Foundation Row 2: *Knit 1, slip 1 with yarn in front, repeat from * to end of row.

IF YOU DID A LONG TAIL CAST ON OR SIMILAR…

Continue to the following section, Work Ribbed Edge.

Work Ribbed Edge

Place unique 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 1 until piece measures 1 1/4 (1 1/2, 2, 2 1/4) inches from cast-on edge.

Continue, Now in Fair Isle

Joining CC…

Round 1: *K1 with CC, k1 with MC, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 2: *K1 with MC, k1 with CC, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 one (1, 2, 3) more time(s).

Repeat Round 1.

Cut CC.

Continue in Main Color

With MC, continue in stockinette stitch, knitting each round, until piece measures 4 1/2 (5 1/2, 6, 6) inches from cast-on edge.

Shape Crown

NOTE: Switch to double pointed needles when necessary.

Set-Up Round: With MC, *k12 (14, 16, 18), place marker, repeat from * two more times, knit to end of round.

FOR BABY SIZE ONLY

Omit Rounds 1-8, below.

Joining CC…

Work Round 9.

Knit one round with MC.

Work Round 9 one more time and then shape crown, working Rounds 10-17.

FOR KID SIZE ONLY

Omit Rounds 1-6, below.

Joining CC…

Work Round 7.

Knit one round with MC.

Work Round 7 one more time and then shape crown, working Rounds 8-17.

FOR ADULT SMALL SIZE ONLY

Omit Rounds 1-4, below.

Joining CC…

Work Round 5.

Knit one round with MC.

Work Round 5 one more time and then shape crown, working Rounds 6-17.

FOR ADULT LARGE SIZE ONLY

Do not omit any rounds.

Joining CC…

Round 1: [K2 with CC, (k3 with MC, k1 with CC) four times, slip marker] four times.

Round 2: Knit with MC.

Round 3: Repeat Round 1.

Round 4 (Decrease Round): With MC, *k1, k2tog, knit to 2 stitches before next marker, ssk, slip marker, repeat from * to end of round. [64 stitches]

Round 5: *K1 with CC, k3 with MC, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 6: Repeat Round 4. [56 stitches]

Round 7: [K1 with CC, k2 with MC, (k1 with CC, k3 with MC) two times, k1 with CC, k2 with MC, slip marker] four times.

Round 8: Repeat Round 4. [48 stitches]

Round 9: [K1 with CC, k1 with MC, (k1 with CC, k3 with MC) two times, k1 with CC, k1 with MC, slip marker] four times.

Round 10: Repeat Round 4. [40 stitches]

Round 11: [K2 with CC, (k3 with MC, k1 with CC) two times, slip marker] four times.

Round 12: Repeat Round 4. [32 stitches]

Round 13: *K1 with CC, k3 with MC, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 14: Repeat Round 4. [24 stitches]

Round 15: *K1 with CC, k2 with MC, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 16: Repeat Round 4. [16 stitches]

Cut MC.

Round 17: With CC, *k1, s2kp (see NOTES section, above), repeat from * to end of round. [8 stitches]

Cut CC and thread onto tapestry needle. Draw the needle through the remaining stitches and pull taut.

Finish

Make + Attach Pom Pom

Use CC and Large Pom Pom Maker to make a pom pom 3 ½ inches in diameter. Attach securely at crown. Here’s how…

You should have two long tails coming from the pom pom. Thread one tail onto a tapestry needle, and insert it through the top of the hat, directly to one side of the closure at the crown. Pull the tail through to the inside. Repeat with the other tail, this time inserting the needle on the opposite side of the closure at the crown. Turn the hat inside out, and firmly tie the two tails together in a double knot. Thread both tails onto the tapestry needle and bring the needle up through the closure at the crown and through the center of the pom pom. Trim the tails to the same length as the rest of the pom pom.

Weave + Block

Weave in the ends and block as desired.

Friendly Fair Isle Hat | Purl Soho