Childhood friend or work buddy, sister or brother, pen pal or neighbor, no matter who gets the best friend title in your life, our Best Friend Hat seals the deal!

Best Friend Hat | Purl Soho

A simple 1×1 rib makes a stretchy fabric that hugs the head, while two strands of wonderfully soft Line Weight make a pretty marle with lots of room to play! If it all looks a little familiar, that’s because the Best Friend Hat is an update to our classic Boyfriend Hat, now for all genders and in more sizes.

Best Friend Hat | Purl Soho

We’ve also added a color switcheroo so that one color remains the same while one changes partway through, a contrast cuff if you wear it folded up or just a neat colorblock if you wear it slouchy… Also a good opportunity to make one for your best friend and reverse the colors for yours, not too matchy match but definitely best friends!

Best Friend Hat | Purl Soho

Originally designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.

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

Materials

Best Friend Hat | Purl Soho
  • Color A: 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Line Weight, 100% merino wool. Each skein is 494 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 135 (190, 235, 265, 305, 355) yards required.
  • Color B: 1 skein of Line Weight; approximately 60 (85, 100, 115, 130, 150) yards required.
  • Color C: 1 skein of Line Weight; approximately 75 (110, 135, 155, 175, 205) yards required.
  • US 3 (3.25 mm), 16-inch circular needles
  • A set of US 3 double pointed needles
  • 4 stitch markers, including 1 unique

Here are the color combinations we used…

Best Friend Hat | Purl Soho
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Baby size: Color A: Red Pine; Color B: Kiln Red; Color C: Wheat Flour

Best Friend Hat | Purl Soho
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Toddler size: Color A: Red Plum; Color B: Kiln Red; Color C: Ballet Pink

Best Friend Hat | Purl Soho
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Junior/ Adult Small size: Color A: Soft Black; Color B: Fieldstone Gray; Color C: Heirloom White

Best Friend Hat | Purl Soho
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Adult Medium size: Color A: High Tide; Color B: True Turquoise; Color C: Reed Gray

Gauge

39 stitches and 34 rows = 4 inches in 1 x 1 rib, unstretched, holding together a strand of Yarn A and a strand of Yarn B

Sizes

Baby (Toddler, Junior/Adult Small, Adult Medium, Adult Large, Adult X-Large)

To fit actual head size of approximately 15-16 (17-18, 19-20, 21-22, 23-24, 24-25) inches

  • Finished Circumference: 11 ½ (13, 14 ¾, 16 ½, 18, 19 ¾) inches, un-stretched
  • Finished Height (uncuffed): 7 ¾ (9, 10 ¼, 11, 11 ¾, 12 ¾)

Pattern

Begin

With one strand of Color A and one strand of Color B, cast 112 (128, 144, 160, 176, 192) stitches onto circular needles. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

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

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

Repeat Round 1 until piece measures 3½ (4, 4¼, 4½, 4¾, 5) inches from cast-on edge.

Cut Color B and join Color C.

Repeat Round 1 until piece measures 6¼ (7½, 8¼, 9, 9½, 10¼) inches from cast-on edge.

Shape Crown

NOTE: Switch to double pointed needles when necessary.

Set-Up Round: [Work 28 (32, 36, 40, 44, 48) stitches in established 1 x 1 rib pattern, place marker] 3 times, work in established pattern to end of round.

Round 1: *[K1, p1] four times, k1, knit 2 together (k2tog), work in established pattern to 2 stitches before next marker, slip slip knit (ssk), repeat from * to end of round. [8 stitches decreased]

Round 2: *[K1, p1] four times, k1, purl 2 together (p2tog), work in established pattern to 2 stitches before next marker, p2tog through the back loop (tbl), repeat from * to end of round. [8 stitches decreased]

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 three (4, 5, 6, 7, 8) more times. [48 stitches]

Next Round: *Ssk, [k1, p1] 2 times, k1, k2tog, p1, k1, p1, repeat from * to end of round. [40 stitches]

Next Round: *Ssk, p1, k1, p1, k2tog, p1, k1, p1, repeat from * to end of round. [32 stitches]

Next Round: *Ssk, k1, k2tog, p1, k1, p1, repeat from * to end of round. [24 stitches]

Finish

Cut yarns and thread them onto a tapestry needle. Draw the needle through the remaining stitches. Pull tight and bring tails to inside of hat to weave in.

Weave in remaining tails and block as desired.

Best Friend Hat | Purl Soho