Classic Cuffed Hat in Daily Wool
Like a true classic, our Classic Cuffed Hat is as lovable now as it was a decade ago when we first shared it… And in another decade, it will be just as good! We’ve updated this super popular free pattern so you can knit it in Daily Wool, our obsession-worthy machine wash- and dry-able wool that’s a classic in and of itself.
A simple shape that thoughtfully conforms to your head, the Classic Cuffed Hat’s cozy ribbing pulls in to hug your ears, while the top tapers along four spokes to fit your crown. A big, cheery pom pom tops it all off!
Those simple details have never looked better, thanks to Daily Wool’s smooth stitch definition and beautiful bounce. Twenty-four gorgeous colors add to the appeal, each one lovely enough to want to wear all winter long, this year, next year, and the one after that.
We created Daily Wool to bring joy to your everyday life, with a soft touch and a hard-working spirit. Made in Peru with incredibly soft 100% superwash wool from a carbon-neutral mill in Uruguay, it’s a yarn you can feel great about wearing on the daily, and it’s so soft that you’ll truly want to do so!
Round, balanced, and resilient, Daily Wool’s tidy 4-ply spin even resists pilling… And thanks to that superwash wool, you can just toss it in the wash!
This time around, we added three new sizes to the Classic Cuffed Hat pattern (that’s twice as many sizes as there were before!), so absolutely everyone can get outfitted in no time flat.
Pick up a skein or two of amazing Daily Wool, and cast on for a Classic Cuffed Hat, a ride-or-die kind of hat for wherever winter takes you… Into a storm, up a mountain, or just to the mailbox and back!
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!
Originally designed by Gina Rockenwagner.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoClassicCuffedHat, and #PurlSohoDailyWool. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- Purl Soho’s Daily Wool, 100% superwash wool yarn. Each skein of this worsted-weight yarn is 164 yards/ 100 grams.
- With Pom Pom: 1 (1, 2, 2, 2, 2) skein(s); approximately 145 (164, 200, 235, 255, 275) total yards required
- Without Pom Pom: 1 (1, 1, 2, 2, 2) skein(s); approximately 110 (130, 155, 170, 190, 210) total yards required
- US 6 (4 mm), 16-inch circular knitting needles
- US 7 (4.5 mm), 16-inch circular needles
- A set of US 7 double pointed needles
- Stitch markers, including one unique
- Optional: Purl Soho’s Pom Pom Maker in size Small + Large
We knit our samples in the following sizes and colors…
- BABY: Apple Blossom, Heirloom White
- TODDLER: Wild Onion
- KID: Chartreuse Green, Super Pink
- ADULT MEDIUM: Inchworm Green, Cinnamon Bark
GAUGE
20 stitches and 28 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch, on larger needles
30 stitches and 27 rounds = 4 inches in 1×1 rib, unstretched, on smaller needles
SIZES
Baby (Toddler, Kid, Adult Small, Adult Medium, Adult Large)
To fit actual head circumference of 13–15 (14–17, 16–19, 18–20, 19–22, 21–24) inches
- Finished Body Circumference: 14½ (16, 17½, 19¼, 20¾, 22½) inches
- Finished Ribbing Circumference: 9½ (10½, 11¾, 12¾, 13¾, 15) inches, unstretched
- Finished Height: 9 (9½, 10¼, 10¾, 11¼, 11¾) inches, uncuffed and excluding pom pom
PATTERN
CAST ON
With smaller circular needles, cast on 72 (80, 88, 96, 104, 112) stitches. We used a Long Tail Tubular Cast On (beginning with a purl cast-on stitch after the slip knot), but a basic Long Tail Cast On would also be beautiful (and less complicated!).
IF YOU USED A LONG TAIL TUBULAR CAST ON…
Foundation Row 1 (wrong side): *Knit through the back loop (k1 tbl), slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front (wyif), repeat from * to end of row.
Foundation Row 2 (right side): *K1, slip 1 purlwise wyif, repeat from * to end of row.
Place unique marker and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.
Continue to Cuff.
IF YOU 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 to Cuff.
CUFF
Round 1: *K1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.
Repeat Round 1 until piece measures approximately 3 (3, 3½, 4, 4, 4) inches from cast-on edge.
BODY
Switch to larger circular needles.
Work in stockinette stitch, knitting every round, until piece measures 7 (7¼, 7¾, 8, 8, 8¼) from cast-on edge, or to 2 (2¼, 2½, 2¾, 3¼, 3½) inches less than desired height.
CROWN
NOTE: Change to double pointed needles when necessary.
Round 1: [K1, slip slip knit (ssk), k13 (15, 17, 19, 21, 23), knit two together (k2tog), place marker] 3 times, k1, ssk, k13 (15, 17, 19, 21, 23), k2tog. [64 (72, 80, 88, 96, 104) stitches remain]
Round 2: Knit to end of round.
Round 3: [K1, ssk, knit to 2 stitches before marker, k2tog, slip marker] 4 times. [8 stitches decreased]
Repeat Rounds 2 and 3 five (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) more times. [16 stitches remain]
Next Round: [K2tog] 8 times. [8 stitches remain]
FINISHING
Cut tail and thread it through remaining stitches, then bring tail to inside of hat.
Weave in ends and gently wet block.
POM POM
If you’re using Purl Soho’s Pom Pom Maker Set, use the Large Pom Pom Maker and the 2 (2, 2½, 2½, 2½, 2½)-inch Trim Guide to make a 2 (2, 2½, 2½, 3, 3)-inch pom pom. Follow the instructions for worsted-weight yarn in our Pom Pom Tutorial.
ATTACH POM POM
Thread each pom pom tail separately through the top of the crown to the inside of the hat. Tie the tails into a knot, then thread the tails up through the pom pom itself and trim them flush with the pom pom.
Now enjoy your Classic Cuffed Hat!
Learn About Daily Wool + All Our Beautiful Yarns
This project is incredibly soft and conveniently machine wash- and dry-able in our beautiful Daily Wool, made from 100% superwash wool yarn! Spun into 4 tidy plies, this worsted/aran-weight yarn is un-prone to pilling, with a bounce to its step and a lovely stitch definition. Daily Wool is what makes knitting fun… 24/7!
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our growing collection of Daily Wool knitting patterns and cast on!
More Worsted/Aran-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of worsted/aran-weight yarns
- If you want to use a different yarn, be sure to take the time to get the correct gauge. Need help? Check our All About Gauge Tutorial!
More Yarns With Similar Fiber
- Shop machine-washable yarn
- Shop superwash wool yarn
- Shop wool yarn
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!
Can this pattern be used for Plenty?
Hi Kari,
Yes it can! Plenty typically works up to a larger gauge though, so you’ll probably need to change your cast-on number to ensure that the hat fits.
To figure out your new cast-on number, you will want to first knit a gauge swatch in pattern. Once you know how many stitches you are getting per inch, you can multiply that number by the finished circumference of the size you want to make and cast on the nearest multiple of 4 stitches. Then you can follow the pattern essentially as written!
The only other thing you’d need to modify is Round 1 of the CROWN section. Here’s how to work that round with any multiple of 4 stitch count:
Round 1: [K1, slip slip knit (ssk), k(cast-on / 4 – 5), knit two together (k2tog), place marker] 3 times, k1, ssk, k(cast-on / 4 – 5), k2tog.
Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Can this pattern be used with cashmere merino bloom?
Hi Rosa,
Cashmere Merino Bloom would be a great choice for this pattern! I would just recommend knitting up a gauge swatch before beginning so that you can determine what size needles you’ll need to use. You may need to size up or down your needles in order to achieve the gauge of the pattern!
All the best,
Lili
Lili, can this entire hat be done with magic loop?
Hi Michele,
Yes you can totally use longer circular needles and knit the whole hat with magic loop!
All the best,
Lili
Hi guys
Can this pattern be done, finished without the pompom?
Hi Cheryl,
Yep, the pom pom is totally optional!
All the best,
Lili
I’m confused about the cuff. On Adult Medium is the cuff 2″? The directions say k1 p1 for 4 inches, then switch to stockinette til it measures 8″ but the photo looks as if the cuff is more than 2″.
Hi Liz,
Thanks for writing in! You’re correct, for the Adult Medium size, the cuff should measure 4 inches. It’s worn folded up though, so it ends up looking shorter like that.
All the best,
Lili
I would like to knit the hat with a matching cowl, can you suggest a pattern that would work with this yarn.
Hi Mindy,
I saw your other comment on the Mistake Rib Cowl, and you can absolutely use Daily Wool to make that pattern! You’ll just need to modify the cast-on number so that it works for the gauge you’re knitting at.
To figure out your new cast-on number, you will want to first knit a gauge swatch in pattern. Once you know how many stitches you are getting per inch, you can multiply that number by the width that you would like and cast on the nearest multiple of 4 stitches. Then you can follow the pattern as written!
All the best,
Lili
If I didn’t want a fold up brim, just a 1” or so of ribbing, how many inches would I knit before starting my decreases. I’m knitting adult medium. Thanks.
Hi Donna,
Thanks for writing in! You should knit to either 5 inches from the cast-on edge, or to 3 1/4 inches less than your desired height!
All the best,
Lili