Fair isle designs may be most common in sweaters, but at this, the most wonderful time of the year, many of us have little time for elaborate hand knit gifts. Which is why we created this adorable Trio of Colorwork Hats!

Trio of Colorwork Hats | Purl Soho

When you combine our irresistibly soft and thick Gentle Giant merino with the Magic Loop method , you can turn out a hat for everyone on your list in no time flat. (Not familiar with Magic Loop? Just watch our new video tutorial, and learn how you can dispense with double pointed needles!)

Trio of Colorwork Hats | Purl Soho

And if you’re knitting up a whole pile of hats, you’ll appreciate that no two need be the same: One basic pattern, plus three designs to choose from, plus 21 different yarn colors to combine, equals lots of options!

Trio of Colorwork Hats | Purl Soho

There’s nothing like a gift that gives warmth and smiles all around. Cozy, clever, and unique, a Colorwork Hat will bring joy to anyone lucky enough to receive one!

Trio of Colorwork Hats | Purl Soho

This project designed for Purl Soho by Jamila Modeste.

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

Materials

Trio of Colorwork Hats | Purl Soho
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  • Main Color (MC): 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Gentle Giant, 100% merino wool. Each skein is 48 yards/ 125 grams; approximately 39 (67, 75) yards required. NOTE: If making Adult Large Polka Dots Hat with an I-Cord topper, you’ll need 2 skeins of the Main Color.
  • Contrast Color (CC): 1 skein of Gentle Giant

NOTE: Switch the colors and have enough yarn to make two Toddler/ Kid Hats!

We used the following color combinations…

  • Vertical Stripes Hat: MC is White Peppercorn; CC is Mint Ice
  • Polka Dots Hat: MC is Heirloom White; CC is Cowrie Pink
  • Fair Isle Ombré Hat: MC is White Peppercorn; CC is Super Yellow

SAMPLES: Our Vertical Stripes and Polka Dots Hats are size Adult Small/ Medium, and our Fair Isle Ombré Hat is size Toddler/ Kid.

Gauge

8 stitches and 9 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Sizes

Toddler/Kid, Adult Small/Medium, Adult Large

  • Finished circumference: 16 (18, 20) inches
  • Finished height (excluding topper): Approximately 8¾ (9¾, 10¾) inches

Note

To make these hats, we used the magic loop method, a popular alternative to using double pointed needles. For the magic loop method you use circular needles that are longer than you would normally use for regular in-the-round knitting. Curious? Visit our Magic Loop Tutorial to learn all about it! (Bad time to learn a new technique? Double pointed needles will work just fine, too!)

Patterns

Vertical Stripes Hat

Trio of Colorwork Hats | Purl Soho

Brim

With Main Color (MC), use a Long Tail Cast On to cast on 32 (36, 40) stitches.

Join for working in the round, being careful to not twist the stitches.

Knit 4 rounds.

Vertical Stripes

Joining Contrast Color (CC)…

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

Repeat Round 1 twelve (14, 16) more times.

Crown Shaping

Round 1: *K2tog with CC, k1 with MC, k1 with CC, repeat from * to end of round. [24 (27, 30) stitches]

Round 2: K1 with CC, *k1 with MC, k2 with CC, repeat from * to last two stitches, k1 with MC, k1 with CC.

Cut MC.

Round 3: With CC, *k1, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. [16 (18, 20) stitches]

Round 4: Knit to end of round.

Round 5: K2tog 8 (9, 10) times. [8 (9, 10) stitches]

Cut CC, leaving a 24-inch tail and thread it onto a tapestry needle. Draw the needle through the remaining stitches and pull taut.

Tassel

With remaining yarn on tapestry needle, make a tassel by following our Tiny Attached Tassel Tutorial (although this one’s not so tiny!). We made three loops of yarn to create our tassel here.

Weave in remaining ends.

Polka Dots Hat

Trio of Colorwork Hats | Purl Soho

Brim

With Main Color (MC), use a Long Tail Cast On to cast on 32 (36, 40) stitches.

Join for working in the round, being careful to not twist the stitches.

Knit 4 rounds.

Polka Dots

Joining Contrast Color (CC)…

Round 1: *K1 with CC, k3 with MC, repeat from * to end of round.

Rounds 2 and 3: Knit with MC to end of round.

Round 4: K2 with MC, *k1 with CC, k3 with MC, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, k1 with CC, k1 with MC.

Rounds 5 and 6: Knit with MC to end of round.

Repeat Rounds 1-6 one more time.

Repeat Rounds 1-2 (1-3, 1-5) one more time.

Crown Shaping

Round 1: *K2tog with CC, k2 with MC, repeat from * to end of round. [24 (27, 30) stitches]

Round 2: With MC knit to end of round.

Round 3: With MC, *k1, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. [16 (18, 20) stitches]

Round 4: With MC, knit to end of round.

Round 5: K2tog with MC, k2tog, with CC, 4 (4, 5) times, k2tog with MC – (1, -) times. [8 (9, 10) stitches]

Cut CC.

I-Cord

Set-Up Row

Toddler/Kid Size: K3tog twice, k2tog. [3 stitches]

Adult Small/Medium Size: K3tog 3 times. [3 stitches]

Adult Large Size: K3tog, K4tog, k3tog. [3 stitches]

Continue

Knit 4 rows of I-Cord.

Next Row: K3tog. [1 stitch]

Cut MC, leaving a 12-inch tail and draw it through remaining stitch.

Tassel

Cut four 9-inch lengths of CC. Using a tapestry needle, thread each length halfway through the tip of the I-Cord to create 8 strands of fringe.

Wrap the I-Cord tail several times around the base of the fringe where it joins the I-Cord.

Thread the tail up through the wraps, and trim fringe to desired length.

Weave in remaining ends.

Fair Isle Ombré Hat

Trio of Colorwork Hats | Purl Soho

Brim

With Main Color (MC), use a Long Tail Cast On to cast on 32 (36, 40) stitches.

Join for working in the round, being careful to not twist the stitches.

Knit 4 rounds.

Fair Isle Ombré

Round 1: *K1 with CC, k3 with MC, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 2: K2 with MC, *k1 with CC, k3 with MC, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, k1 with CC, k1 with MC.

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

Repeat Round 1 zero (1, 0) more time(s).

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

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

Repeat last two rounds one (1, 2) time(s).

Adult Small/Medium Size Only: *K1 with CC, k1 with MC, repeat from* to end of round.

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

Next Round: K2 with CC, *k1 with MC, k3 with CC, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, k1 with MC, k1 with CC.

Repeat last two rounds one more time.

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

Crown Shaping

Round 1: *K2tog with CC, k1 with CC, k1 with MC, repeat from * to end of round. [24 (27, 30) stitches]

Cut MC.

Round 2: With CC, knit to end of round.

Round 3: *K1, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. [16 (18, 20) stitches]

Round 4: Knit to end of round.

Round 5: K2tog 8 (9, 10) times. [8 (9, 10) stitches]

Make I-cord

Set-Up Row

Kid’s Size: K3tog twice, k2tog. [3 stitches]

Adult Small/Medium Size: K3tog three times [3 stitches]

Adult Large Size: K3tog, K4tog, k3tog. [3 stitches]

Continue

Knit 10 rows of I-Cord.

Next Row: K3tog. [1 stitch]

Cut CC, leaving a 12-inch tail and draw it through remaining stitch.

Thread tail onto tapestry needle and pull through top center of hat to inside.

Thoroughly weave in the tail to fasten I-Cord in a loop.

Weave in remaining ends.

Trio of Colorwork Hats | Purl Soho