A combination of its simplicity, practicality, and of course, beauty, has made our Classic Ribbed Hat in Cashmere Merino Bloom a favorite for years.

Classic Ribbed Hat In New Colors + Styles | Purl Soho

Its reputation was built on a one-color design, but a variation on a classic is always welcome, and so, we’ve branched out with four new design options: thick or thin stripes and two or three colorblocks. And still sized for babies, kids, and grownups large and small, everyone gets just what they want!

Classic Ribbed Hat In New Colors + Styles | Purl Soho

You knit this hat in an easy 1×1 rib (that means, knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch, and repeat!). This kind of ribbing is quintessential for a watchman-style hat because the fabric naturally contracts, keeping your hat firmly on your head. It also creates a deep and lofty texture, which traps air and keeps your head insulated, too!

Classic Ribbed Hat In New Colors + Styles | Purl Soho

You work the 1×1 rib for long enough that you’ll have a generous folded cuff, if you want one, and then you shape the crown with regularly spaced knit-2-together decreases, which create a lovely spiral detail.

Classic Ribbed Hat In New Colors + Styles | Purl Soho
Classic Ribbed Hat In New Colors + Styles | Purl Soho

Something else that makes this hat so special? Our over-the-top gorgeous Cashmere Merino Bloom. Twenty-five percent of this yarn is the softest Mongolian cashmere you can imagine, enough that you really feel its incredible softness and wonderful warmth and enough that you see a delicate halo bloom around your hat.

Classic Ribbed Hat In New Colors + Styles | Purl Soho

The other 75% of Cashmere Merino Bloom is extra fine merino… Also very soft but with the characteristics of wool: sproingy-ness to help the hat keep its shape and durability so it has a nice, long life.

Classic Ribbed Hat In New Colors + Styles | Purl Soho

You only need one skein for a solid hat in any size, except the largest, which requires two, so dive into our palette of over twenty gorgeous colors. If stripes or colorblocks are calling to you, we also have two-skein Classic Ribbed Hat Bundles for ready-to-go color combinations!

If you love the yarn used in this project, you’ll love all of our other yarn, too! Explore our 35+ lovingly created yarn collections, in nearly every natural fiber and spectacular color you can imagine… Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn shop!

Classic Ribbed Hat In New Colors + Styles | Purl Soho

Update: Now A Staff Pick

September 2024

Classic Ribbed Hat In New Colors + Styles | Purl Soho

Simple, practical, and beautiful, our Classic Ribbed Hat in Cashmere Merino Bloom is a customer favorite and now it’s also a Staff Pick! Meet some of the team and hear about how they made this pattern their own…

Aly P., our eCommerce Coordinator + Marketing Analyst, made her single-color Classic Ribbed Hat in a classic dark blue… Truly a staple! For a clever take, our Customer Service Technical Specialist, Lili T., knit a two-tone version using basic intarsia. Gaby B., our Design Manager of Operations + Junior Editor, made adorable big and little versions that are perfect for gifting. Warehouse Specialist Lili H. made a cool colorblock hat with a super classic look, while another amazing Warehouse Specialist, Morgan W., made the stunning Red Poppy hat, a super pop for any day!

You can also find more inspiration by browsing our Classic Ribbed Hat Knit-Along and watching our Classic Ribbed Hat Zoom + Knits, where you’ll learn every technique along the way and see tons more beautiful hats, too!

Get in on the action by making this free knitting pattern and casting on with Cashmere Merino Bloom! Will your hat be solid, striped, or color blocked?

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Jake Canton. Click here to see even more of Jake’s designs!

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

Materials

Classic Ribbed Hat In New Colors + Styles | Purl Soho

Purl Soho’s Cashmere Merino Bloom, 75% extra fine merino and 25% cashmere. Each skein of this Light Worsted/DK yarn is 218 yards/ 100 grams.

  • Solid Color Version
    • Color A: 1 (1, 1, 1, 2) skein(s); approximately 110 (140, 180, 215, 260) yards required.

For our Baby samples, we used Vintage Jade, Wheat Flour, and True Turquoise; for Kid samples, we used Hydrangea Blossom, Fresh Fig, and Warm Honey; for Adult Small, we used Crocus Bud and Golden Green; for Adult Medium, we used Red Poppy and Conch Shell; and for Adult Large, we used Night Blue.

  • Thin Stripe Version
    • Color A: 1 skein; approximately 55 (70, 95, 110, 135) yards required
    • Color B: 1 skein; approximately 55 (70, 95, 110, 135) yards required

For an Adult Small sample, we used Red Poppy and Heirloom White.

  • Thick Stripe Version
    • Color A: 1 skein; approximately 65 (85, 115, 130, 160) yards required
    • Color B: 1 skein; approximately 60 (75, 100, 120, 145) yards required

For another Adult Small sample, we used Rosebud Pink and Icicle Blue.

  • Two Colorblocks Version
    • Color A: 1 skein; approximately 90 (110, 145, 175, 210) yards required
    • Color B: 1 skein; approximately 20 (30, 35, 45, 50) yards required

For an Adult Medium sample, we used High Tide and Hydrangea Blossom.

  • Three Colorblocks Version
    • Color A: 1 skein; approximately 70 (90, 115, 140, 165) yards required
    • Color B: 1 skein; approximately 40 (50, 65, 75, 90) yards required

For another Adult Medium sample, we used Night Blue and Reed Gray.

You’ll also need . . .

Another option is to pick up a Classic Ribbed Hat Bundle (no longer available)! It includes 2 skeins of Cashmere Merino Bloom in two different colors. One bundle makes 1-3 Classic Ribbed Hats, depending on the size and style (see yardage recommendations above to make your calculations!). Choose from 11 pretty pairs…

Classic Ribbed Hat In New Colors + Styles | Purl Soho

TOP ROW: Red Poppy + Heirloom White, Crocus Bud + Red Mulberry, Fresh Fig + Tide Pool

MIDDLE ROW: Rosebud Pink + Icicle Blue, Conch Shell + Warm Honey, Fresh Pickle + Golden Green

BOTTOM ROW: Vintage Jade + Dove Gray, Wheat Flour + True Turquoise, High Tide + Hydrangea Blossom

NOT PICTURED: Night Blue + Reed Gray, Charcoal Onyx + Heirloom White

GAUGE

32 stitches and 33 rounds = 4 inches in 1×1 rib, unstretched

SIZES

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

  • Finished Circumference (unstretched): 10½ (12, 13½, 15, 16½) inches, comfortably stretching to approximately 13–16 (15–18, 17–20, 19–23, 21–25) inches
  • Finished Height (uncuffed): Approximately 7¾ (9, 10¼, 11¼, 12¼) inches (Striped versions may be slightly longer than solid and colorblock versions.)

NOTES

SWITCHING BETWEEN KNIT + PURL

Classic Ribbed Hat In New Colors + Styles | Purl Soho

For help switching between knit and purl stitches, visit our Switching Between Knit + Purl Tutorial!

DOUBLE POINTED NEEDLES

For tips on using double pointed needles to knit smaller sizes or for the Crown of any size hat, visit our Double Pointed Needle Tutorial!

PATTERN

Cast On: All Versions

With Color A, cast 84 (96, 108, 120, 132) stitches onto double pointed or circular needles. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

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

Continue on with the instructions for the version you are making.

Body: Choose A Version

SOLID COLOR VERSION

Classic Ribbed Hat In New Colors + Styles | Purl Soho

Round 1: With Color A, *k1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Round 1 until piece measures 6¼ (7, 7¾, 8¼, 8¾) inches from cast-on edge.

Go on to Crown section, below.

THIN STRIPE VERSION

Classic Ribbed Hat In New Colors + Styles | Purl Soho

NOTE: For this version, be sure to carry non-working yarn up inside of hat when changing colors. For help, please visit our Stripes In The Round Tutorial.

Rounds 1 and 2: With Color A, *k1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Rounds 3 and 4: With Color B, *k1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Rounds 1–4 until piece measures approximately 6¼ (7¼, 7¾, 8¼, 8¾) inches from cast-on edge, ending with Round 4, then repeat Rounds 1–3 one more time.

Go on to Crown section, below.

THICK STRIPE VERSION

Classic Ribbed Hat In New Colors + Styles | Purl Soho

Rounds 1–8: With Color A, *k1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Cut Color A and join Color B.

Rounds 9–16: With Color B, *k1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Cut Color B and join Color A.

Repeat Rounds 1–16 two (2, 3, 3, 3) more times.

Baby + Adult Medium Sizes Only

Repeat Rounds 1–4 one time.

Go on to Crown section, below.

Kid + Adult Large Size Only

Repeat Rounds 1–10 one time.

Go on to Crown section, below.

Adult Small Size Only

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 one time.

Go on to Crown section, below.

TWO COLORBLOCKS VERSION

Classic Ribbed Hat In New Colors + Styles | Purl Soho

Round 1: With Color A, *k1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Round 1 until piece measures 6 (6¾, 7½, 8, 8½) inches from cast-on edge.

Cut Color A and join Color B.

With Color B, repeat Round 1 two times.

Go on to Crown section, below.

THREE COLORBLOCKS VERSION

Classic Ribbed Hat In New Colors + Styles | Purl Soho

Round 1: With Color A, *k1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Round 1 until piece measures 2½ (3, 3½, 3¾, 4¼) inches from cast-on edge.

Cut Color A and join Color B.

With Color B, repeat Round 1 until piece measures 6 (6¾, 7½, 8, 8½) inches from cast-on edge.

Cut Color B and join Color A.

With Color A, repeat Round 1 two times.

Go on to Crown section, below.

Crown: All Versions

NOTE: If using circular needles, change to double pointed needles when necessary (see Notes). And, for Thin Stripe and Thick Stripe Versions, be sure to continue working stripes in pattern, and do not change colors for the final round.

Continuing with current working yarn . . .

Set-Up Round: Remove unique end-of-round marker, k1, replace marker for new end of round, *[p1, k1] 7 (8, 9, 10, 11) times, pm (place marker), repeat from * to end of round, omitting final stitch marker. [6 stitch markers placed, including unique end-of-round marker]

KID, ADULT SMALL, ADULT MEDIUM + ADULT LARGE SIZES ONLY

Round 1: [*P1, k1, repeat from * to 2 stitches before next marker, knit 2 together (k2tog)] 6 times. [6 stitches decreased]

Round 2: [*P1, k1, repeat from * to 1 stitch before next marker, k1] 6 times.

Round 3: [*P1, k1, repeat from * to 3 stitches before next marker, p1, k2tog] 6 times. [6 stitches decreased]

Round 4: *P1, k1, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Rounds 1–4 – (0, 1, 2, 3) more time(s). [84 stitches remain]

ALL SIZES

Next Round: [*P1, k1, repeat from * to 2 stitches before next marker, knit 2 together (k2tog)] 6 times. [6 stitches decreased]

Next Round: [*P1, k1, repeat from * to 3 stitches before next marker, p1, k2tog] 6 times. [6 stitches decreased]

Repeat last 2 rounds four more times. [24 stitches remain]

Next Round: *P1, k1, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. [18 stitches remain]

Next Round: *P1, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. [12 stitches remain]

Next Round: *K2tog, repeat from * to end of round. [6 stitches remain]

Cut yarn and thread tail onto a tapestry needle. Thread tail through remaining stitches. Pull taut and bring tail to inside of hat to weave in.

Finishing

Weave in the ends and block as desired.

Classic Ribbed Hat In New Colors + Styles | Purl Soho
Classic Ribbed Hat In New Colors + Styles | Purl Soho

Learn About Cashmere Merino Bloom + All Our Beautiful Yarns

Soft, supple, and toasty warm, Cashmere Merino Bloom is an absolute knitting joy! A light worsted/DK-weight yarn, it is made with 25% of the most exquisite cashmere in the world and 75% extra fine merino wool and benefits from both fibers: cashmere for over-the-top softness and beautiful bloom and merino for resilience, durability, and even more softness. Cashmere Merino Bloom has an incredible hand feel with a gentle halo that illuminates your knitting… A gorgeous choice!

More Free Knitting Patterns

More Light Worsted/ DK Weight Yarns

More Yarns With Similar Fiber

Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!