With its bright color-blocks and unusual crown shaping, our Box Hat pattern is actually a little bit outside the box… Perfect for knitters who love smart design and fun color play! It’s also the ideal way to meet Partridge Superwash, a newly updated machine-washable version of one of our all-time most beloved yarns.

Box Hat | Purl Soho

The Box Hat is all simple knitting, starting with 2×2 ribbing for that generous cuff (so plush in Partridge Superwash!) and then shifting to stockinette and a new color… Two things to look forward to! You shape the top of the hat with 4 sets of decreases, the corners of the eponymous box, and finish up by closing the flat-top crown with Kitchener Stitch (yes, we have a great tutorial for that!).

Box Hat | Purl Soho

You end up with a nice chunky-weight hat that is warm, soft, and cushiony without being oversized… In other words, perfect. It’s the kind of pattern you’ll want to knit for absolutely everyone, so the free pattern has sizes for babies, kids, and adults.

Box Hat | Purl Soho

All this in new Partridge Superwash! Like the original Partridge, this new version is an incredibly sumptuous, densely spun single-ply yarn with a super satisfying soft and pliable feeling. What’s new? Most significantly, it is now made with 100% superwash wool (hello, washing machine!). It’s also a tiny bit thicker, falling into the chunky-weight yarn category, and has a fresh new palette of over two dozen gently heathered colors from Coquina Pink to Mint Ice!

Box Hat | Purl Soho
Box Hat | Purl Soho

For two different looks (and some bonus fun), wear your Box Hat with the flat peak front to back for a classic-ski-hat vibe, or spin it side-to-side for a sweet form fit.

Box Hat | Purl Soho

Playful to style, easy to knit, and still as soft and plump as a partridge… Pick up two cheerful colors of Partridge Superwash, one skein each, and cast on for a hat that ticks all the boxes!

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!

Box Hat | Purl Soho

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

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

Materials

Box Hat | Purl Soho
  • Purl Soho’s Partridge Superwash, 100% superwash wool yarn. Each skein of this chunky/bulky-weight yarn is 109 yards/ 100 grams.
    • Color A: 1 skein; approximately 45 (60, 75, 80, 85) total yards required
    • Color B: 1 skein; approximately 40 (55, 60, 70, 80) total yards required
  • US 8 (5 mm), 12- or 16-inch circular knitting needles, depending on size you are making
  • A set of US 8 double pointed needles
  • Stitch markers, including one unique

We knit the following sizes and colors…

  • Baby: Color A, Willow Gray + Color B, Coquina Pink
  • Kid: Color A, Lemon Tree + Color B, Pink Camellia
  • Adult Small/Medium: Color A, White Peppercorn + Color B, Super Pink
  • Adult Medium/Large: Color A, Mint Ice + Color B, Golden Moss

GAUGE

16 stitches and 23 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

16 stitches and 26 rounds = 4 inches in 2×2 rib, stretched

SIZES

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

To fit actual head circumference of 14–17 (16–19, 18–20, 19–22, 21–24) inches

  • Finished Circumference: 14 (16, 18, 19, 21) inches
  • Finished Height: 9¾ (10, 11¼, 12, 13) inches, uncuffed

Sample: Hat worn here is the Adult Small/Medium size.

PATTERN

BRIM

With Color A and using a basic Long Tail Cast On, cast 56 (64, 72, 76, 84) stitches onto circular knitting needles.

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

Round 1: *K2, p2, repeat from * to end of round.

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

BODY

Knit every round until piece measures 4½ (5, 5½, 6, 6) inches from cast-on edge.

Cut Color A.

With Color B, continue knitting every round until piece measures 7 (7½, 8, 8½, 8½) inches from cast-on edge.

CROWN

NOTE: Change to double pointed needles when necessary.

Set-Up Round: K6 (8, 10, 11, 13), place marker (pm), k16, pm, k12 (16, 20, 22, 26), pm, k16, pm, knit to end of round. [5 total stitch markers, including unique end-of-round marker]

Decrease Round: [Knit to two stitches before next marker, knit 2 together, slip marker, k16, sm, slip slip knit] 2 times, knit to end of round. [4 stitches decreased]

Next Round: Knit to end of round.

Repeat last two rounds 4 (6, 8, 9, 12) more times. [36 stitches remain]

Divide remaining stitches onto two needles.

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail.

Hold needles parallel to each other, with wrong sides facing each other. With the long tail threaded onto a tapestry needle, work Kitchener Stitch to close the Crown.

Weave in ends and gently wet block.

Box Hat | Purl Soho
Box Hat | Purl Soho

Learn About Partridge Superwash + All Our Beautiful Yarns

This pattern gets its squishy, sumptuous feel and gorgeous stitch definition from Partridge Superwash, our single-ply chunky/bulky-weight yarn made with 100% superwash wool. This machine-washable version is an update to our original Partridge. Still birds of a feather, the new yarn is a tiny bit thicker (although their gauges overlap at 3.75 stitches to the inch!), a touch toothier, and in a fresh, new palette. Cast on with Partridge Superwash and fall in love with this plump-as-a-partridge yarn!

More Free Knitting Patterns

More Chunky/Bulky-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!