Essential Hat, Mitten + Hand Warmer Set

Give the warmest of welcomes to Cashmere Tend, Purl Soho’s very first 100% cashmere collection. As soft and pure and beautiful as we can imagine, we’re very excited to share this gorgeous yarn with you!

Cashmere Tend is a classic worsted weight, which makes it just right for totally toasty accessories. We think simple is a good place to begin, and our Essential Hat, Mittens + Hand Warmers are just that. Utterly timeless and clearly special, they are perfect for traipsing through the falling leaves and later, for dashing through the snow.

Choose from 18 lovely colors, from autumn-bright Coquelicot Orange to winter-sleep Nocturne Blue. We designed the entire palette to pay homage to the lore and tradition of cashmere yarn while indulging in our love for nature and its complex shades.

The cashmere fiber itself comes from hundreds of small farms in the mountainous plateaus of Inner Mongolia and northeastern China. It is traceable from the pasturing region but not from individual farms. For us, such specificity proved hard to find in that remote and rural region, but we can say that from the sorting facility through the spinning and dying processes, our cashmere is closely traced to ensure its very fine quality.

Profoundly beautiful and incredibly soft, we can’t think of a better way to welcome fall than with this very special yarn… Enjoy its pleasures!

Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 45 thoughtfully designed yarns in nearly every natural fiber and in every spectacular color you can imagine. Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn store, where every skein is created with care and your creativity in mind!

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

Materials

Hat

1 (1, 2, 2, 2) skein(s) of Purl Soho’s Cashmere Tend, 100% cashmere. Each skein is 82 yards/ 50 grams; approximately 60 (80, 100, 125, 135) yards required.
US 6 (4 mm), 16-inch circular needles (Kid, Adult Small, and Adult Large sizes only)
A set of US 6 double pointed needles (all sizes)
Stitch markers, including one unique

We knit our samples in the following sizes and colors…

Baby: Heirloom White
Toddler: Blue Tourmaline
Kid: Gray Spruce
Adult Small: Wild Hyacinth
Adult Large: Nocturne Blue

Hand Warmers

1 (2, 2, 2) skein(s) of Purl Soho’s Cashmere Tend, 100% cashmere; approximately 70 (90, 110, 145) yards required.
A set of US 6 double pointed needles
Stitch markers, including one unique
Scrap yarn

We knit our samples in the following sizes and colors…

Adult Medium: Wild Hyacinth
Adult Large: Nocturne Blue

Mittens

2 (2, 2, 3) skeins of Purl Soho’s Cashmere Tend, 100% cashmere. Each skein is 82 yards, approximately 90 (115, 140, 180) yards required. (NOTE: We no longer offer Cashmere Tend, but choose from one of our other worsted/aran weight yarns.)
A set of US 6 double pointed needles
Stitch markers, including one unique
Scrap yarn

We knit our sample in the Adult Medium size and used the color Gray Spruce.

Gauge

18 stitches and 28 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Sizes

Hat

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

Finished Circumference: 12 (14¾, 16, 18¾, 20) inches
Finished Height: 6½ (7½, 8½, 9, 10) inches with rolled edge, instructions to modify

Hand Warmers + Mittens

Kid/Junior (Adult Small, Adult Medium, Adult Large)

Finished Circumference At Wrist: 5 (5¾, 6½, 7) inches
Finished Circumference At Palm: 6 (7, 7¼, 8¼) inches
Hand Warmers Finished Length From Cuff To End: 5½ (6½, 7½, 9) inches with rolled edges, instructions to modify
Mittens Finished Length From Cuff To Tip: 7¾ (8¾, 10, 11½) inches with rolled edge, instructions to modify

Notes

Kfb (Knit Front And Back)

Knit into front and then into back of same stitch.

For a video tutorial, please visit our Knit Back and Front Tutorial.

Lifted Increase

RLI (Right Lifted Increase): Lift right leg of stitch below next stitch on left needle onto left needle and knit it. [1 stitch increased]

LLI (Left Lifted Increase): Lift left leg of stitch 2 rows below stitch on right needle onto left needle and knit it through the back loop. [1 stitch increased]

For more information on these techniques, please visit our Lifted Increase Tutorial.

Make 1 Backwards Loop

With working yarn, create a loop so the strand of yarn closer to the ball of yarn is in front, insert needle from front to back of loop. Pull tight on needle to secure stitch on needle.

For more information on this technique, please visit our Make 1 Backwards Loop Tutorial.

Hat Pattern

Crown

Cast 6 stitches onto three double pointed needles. Distribute stitches evenly among needles.

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

NOTE: For Kid, Adult Small, and Adult Large sizes, change to 16-inch circular needles when necessary.

Round 1: [Kfb (see Notes)] 6 times. [12 total stitches: 4 stitches on each needle]

Round 2: Knit to end of round.

Round 3: *K1, RLI (see Notes), knit to last stitch on needle, LLI (see Notes), repeat from * to end of round. [6 stitches increased]

Repeat Rounds 2 and 3 six (8, 9, 9, 9) more times. [54 (66, 72, 72, 72) stitches]

Adult Small + Adult Large Only

Rounds 1 and 2: Knit to end of round.

Round 3: *K1, RLI, knit to last stitch on needle, LLI, repeat from * to end of round. [6 stitches increased]

Repeat Rounds 1–3 – (-, -, 1, 2) more time(s). [- (-, -, 84, 90) stitches]

Body

Continue in stockinette stitch, knitting each round, until piece measures 7 (8, 9, 9½, 10½) inches from cast-on edge, with edge unrolled (edge will roll approximately ½ inch), or to desired height.

Bind off all stitches loosely knitwise.

Hand Warmer + Mittens Pattern

Wrist

Cast 23 (26, 29, 32) stitches onto three double pointed needles. [Needle 1: 7 (8, 9, 10) stitches; Needle 2: 9 (10, 11, 12) stitches; Needle 3: 7 (8, 9, 10) stitches]

Knit every round until piece measures 1 (1, 1½, 2) inch(es) from cast-on edge, with edge unrolled (edge will roll approximately ½ inch), or to desired Wrist length.

Gusset

Round 1: K1, RLI (see Notes), knit to end of round, LLI (see Notes). [2 stitches increased]

Rounds 2-4: Knit to end of round.

Repeat Rounds 1-4 four (5, 5, 6) more times. [33 (38, 41, 46) total stitches; Needle 1: 12 (14, 15, 17) stitches; Needle 2: 9 (10, 11, 12) stitches; Needle 3: 12 (14, 15, 17) stitches]

Thumb Hole

Set-Up Round 1: K4 (4, 5, 5) stitches, place previous 4 (4, 5, 5) stitches on scrap yarn, knit to last 3 (4, 4, 5) stitches, place next 3 (4, 4, 5) stitches onto same scrap yarn, use an Make 1 Backwards Loop (see Notes) to cast 1 stitch onto Needle 3. [27 (31, 33, 37) stitches remain; Needle 1: 8 (10, 10, 12) stitches; Needle 2: 9 (10, 11, 12) stitches; Needle 3: 10 (11, 12, 13) stitches]

Palm

Resume working in the round and continue in stockinette stitch, knitting each round, until Palm measures 2¼ (2½, 3, 3½) inches from Thumb Hole, or to desired Palm length.

Hand Warmers Only

Bind off all stitches loosely knitwise.

Continue on to Thumb section, below.

Mittens Only

Continue in stockinette stitch until Palm measures 2¾ (3½, 3½, 4) inches from Thumb Hole, or until piece measures 1¼ (1¼, 1½, 1½) inches from desired total length.

Top, Mittens Only

Set Up For Left Mittens

Set-Up Round: Needle 1: k3 (3, 3, 4), place marker (pm), k4 (5, 5, 6), slip 2 stitches from Needle 1 to Needle 2; Needle 2: k4 (5, 6, 6) pm, k5 (5, 5, 6), slip 2 stitches from Needle 2 to Needle 3; Needle 3: k4 (5, 6, 6), pm, 5 (6, 6, 7), slip 2 (2, 3, 2) stitches from Needle 3 to Needle 1. [Needle 1: 9 (10, 11, 12) stitches; Needle 2: 9 (10, 11, 12); Needle 3: 9 (11, 11, 13) stitches]

Set Up Top Right Mittens

Set-Up Round: Needle 1: k6 (8, 8, 9), pm, k3 (2, 2, 3), k2 (3, 4, 3) stitches from Needle 2 onto Needle 1; Needle 2: k4 (5, 5, 6), pm, k3 (2, 2, 3), k2 (3, 4, 3) stitches from Needle 3 onto Needle 2; Needle 3: k4 (5, 5, 6), pm, k3 (3, 3, 4), k2 (3, 3, 3) stitches from Needle 1 onto Needle 3. [Needle 1: 9 (10 (11, 12) stitches; Needle 2: 9 (10, 11, 12); Needle 3: 9 (11, 11, 13) stitches]

Both Mittens

Round 1: [Knit to 2 stitches before next marker, k2tog, sm, ssk, knit to end of needle] 3 times. [6 stitches decreased]

Round 2: Knit to end of round.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 two (2, 3, 3) more times. [9 (13, 9, 13) stitches remain; Needle 1: 3 (4, 3, 4) stitches; Needle 2: 3 (4, 3, 4) stitches; Needle 3: 3 (5, 3, 5) stitches]

Kid/Junior And Adult Medium Sizes Only, Left Mitten

Next Round: *K2tog, k1, repeat from * to end of round (removing stitch markers as you work). [6 stitches remain]

Kid/Junior And Adult Medium Sizes Only, Right Mitten

Next Round: *K1, ssk, repeat from * to end of round (removing stitch markers as you work). [6 stitches remain]

Adult Small And Adult Large Sizes Only, Both Mittens

Next Round: *K2tog, ssk, repeat to last stitch (removing stitch markers as you work), k1. [7 stitches remain]

All Sizes

Cut yarn, leaving an 8-inch tail. Thread tail on tapestry needle and draw through remaining stitches twice. Pull tight and bring needle to inside of Mitten. Weave in end to secure.

Thumb

Place the 7 (8, 9, 10) Thumb stitches onto 2 double pointed needles. [Needle 1: 4 (4, 4, 5) stitches; Needle 2: 3 (4, 5, 5) stitches]

With right side facing you and beginning with right-most Thumb stitch, join new strand of yarn.

Set-Up Round: Needles 1 and 2: Knit to end of needle; with Needle 3, pick up and knit 1 stitch into stitch to the left of Make 1 Backwards Loop cast-on stitch, pick up and knit 1 stitch from the cast-on stitch, then pick up and knit 1 stitch to the right of cast-on stitch. [10 (11, 12, 13) stitches; Needle 1: 4 (4, 4, 5) stitches; Needle 2: 3 (4, 5, 5) stitches; Needle 3: 3 stitches]

Join for working in the round.

Continue in stockinette stitch until Thumb measures 1¼ (1¼, 1½, 1¾) inches.