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Classic Ribbed Hat in Nigh Aran
A classic among classics, we updated our Classic Ribbed Hat pattern so you can make our most popular hat of all time in brand-new Nigh Aran, our sumptuously soft, decadently plush 100% cashmere yarn!
It’s the same beginner-friendly hat you love, with its perfect not-too-round and not-too-pointy spiral crown, but now, in addition to the original DK-weight Classic Ribbed Hat version in Cashmere Merino Bloom, you can knit it in the 100% cashmere yarn every knitter dreams of, generous and indulgent yet light enough to float. The Classic Ribbed Hat in Nigh Aran is unbelievably soft and squishy, a perfect quick gift knit or a very special treat for yourself!
Made with 100% finest Mongolian cashmere, Nigh Aran is heavenly in your hands, on your needles, and on your head. Even softer than you can imagine, toasty warm, and glowing with a plush halo, it is cashmere at its most extraordinary and irresistible!
Nigh Aran is – you guessed it – an aran-weight yarn, meaning that it’s on the thicker end of worsted weight and, in this case, can even veer a bit into chunky weight. Its many fine plies lend strength and durability to the naturally delicate cashmere fiber, while also making the yarn lofty enough to feel surprisingly light in your hands.
With sizes for babies through adults and a palette of 13 timeless colors to choose from, the Classic Ribbed Hat in Nigh Aran is a truly special way to give the gift of cashmere to all your favorite people (including yourself!).
Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 55 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!
Pattern originally designed and written by Purl Soho designer, Jake Canton, and updated by Purl Soho designer, Hiromi Glover.
Story written by Andrea Lotz for Purl Soho.
Want to print this pattern? On desktop, find the “print” icon in the right margin, and on mobile, scroll to the end of the pattern for it. Use the on-screen instructions to remove anything you don’t want to print!
Materials
- 1 (2, 2, 2) skein(s) of Purl Soho’s Nigh Aran, 100% cashmere. Each skein is 100 yards/ 55 grams; approximately 98 (131, 165, 200) total yards required.
- US 5 (3.75 mm), 12- or 16-inch circular knitting needles OR US 5, 32-inch circular needles for Magic Loop
- If using 12- or 16-inch circular needles: A set of US 5 double pointed needles
- Stitch markers, including one unique
We knit our samples in the following sizes and colors…
- BABY: Silver Poplar
- TODDLER/KID: Wren Feather
- ADULT SMALL: Beech Wood, Flannel Suit, and Ocean Storm
GAUGE
24 stitches and 29 rounds = 4 inches in 1×1 rib, unstretched
SIZES
For help choosing a hat size, check out our complete guide on How to Knit the Right Hat Size!
Baby (Toddler/Kid, Adult Small, Adult Large)
- Finished Circumference (unstretched): 12 (14, 16, 18) inches, comfortably stretching to approximately 14–16 (16–19, 19–22, 22–25) inches
- Finished Height (uncuffed): Approximately 9 (10¼, 11¼, 12¼) inches
PATTERN
BEGIN
Cast 72 (84, 96, 108) stitches onto 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.
Round 1: *K1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.
Repeat Round 1 until piece measures 6½ (7¼, 7¾, 8¼) inches from cast-on edge.
CROWN
NOTE: If using 12- or 16-inch circular needles, change to double pointed needles when necessary.
Set-Up Round: Remove unique end-of-round marker, k1, replace marker for new end of round, [(p1, k1) 6 (7, 8, 9) times, place marker] 6 times, omitting final stitch marker. [6 stitch markers placed, including unique end-of-round marker]
Round 1: [*P1, k1, repeat from * to 2 stitches before next marker, knit 2 together (k2tog), slip marker (sm)] 6 times. [6 stitches decreased]
Round 2: [*P1, k1, repeat from * to 1 stitch before next marker, k1, sm] 6 times.
Round 3: [*P1, k1, repeat from * to 3 stitches before next marker, p1, k2tog, sm] 6 times. [6 stitches decreased]
Round 4: *P1, k1, repeat from * to end of round, slipping markers as you come to them.
Repeat Rounds 1–4 two (3, 4, 5) more time(s). [36 stitches remain]
Repeat Round 1 one more time. [30 stitches remain]
Next Round: [P1, k1, p1, k2tog, sm] 6 times. [24 stitches remain]
Next Round: [P1, k1, k2tog] 6 times. [18 stitches remain]
Next Round: [P1, k2tog] 6 times. [12 stitches decreased]
Next Round: [K2tog] 6 times. [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.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Learn About Nigh Aran + All Our Beautiful Yarns
Cast on for this project with Nigh Aran, made with the most exquisite, amazingly soft 100% Mongolian cashmere you can imagine! This generous aran-weight yarn has a buoyant multi-ply structure and knits into a beautiful, even fabric with a lush halo that floats above the fabric’s surface, a distinctive characteristic of fine cashmere yarns. Knitting with Nigh Aran is a very special pleasure… Try it!
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our collection of free Nigh Aran knitting patterns and cast on!
More Worsted/Aran-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of worsted/aran-weight yarn (What does worsted-weight yarn mean, really? Our guide to worsted-weight yarn will answer your questions and more.)
- 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, our Yarn Substitution article, and our Complete Guide To Yarn for lots of helpful information.
More Yarns With Similar Fiber
- Shop Nigh DK + Nigh Fine, this yarn’s DK-weight and lace- to fingering-weight siblings
- Shop cashmere yarn (What makes cashmere so special? Learn all about this amazing fiber in our guide to cashmere yarn!)
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our knitting patterns (including tons of 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!
My wish has come true! Purl Soho cashmere in Aran weight. Now just hope for some more vivid colors in the future….
Thank you!
Hi Natalie,
We’re so thrilled you’re excited about Nigh Aran! Thank you for your kind words and interest in more colors of this yarn. We take your feedback to heart and really appreciate you sharing your thoughts with us!
Kindly,
Cat
Thank you so much for the kind reply! Gosh I feel like I should have included that I do appreciate all the subdued tones (they’re actually right up my usual alley!) and would love to make something with almost any of those colors. And if in the future you introduce some more of the bright Purl Soho colors, I would be really excited for those, too!
Is there a crochet version of this?
Hi Lori,
We’re so glad the Classic Ribbed Hat caught your eye! We don’t have a crochet version of this hat, but I’ll pass the suggestion on to our design team for future ideas. We’re always happy to hear your feedback!
All the best,
Allison
Yarn looks gorgeous, but a $132 hat?!
Hi S,
Thank you for writing in! We totally understand how surprising the cost for this project may seem (especially for something so small), but we promise our pricing was made with special consideration and respect for this yarn, so we wanted to give you an idea of why we priced it the way we did.
Yarn is sold by the gram and cashmere is one of the most expensive fibers in the world, so a yarn made out of 100% cashmere in a heavy worsted/aran weight is always going to be on the higher end! We recommend it as a special treat for yourself or a gift to someone you love, but if you’d prefer a yarn that is still amazingly soft (with a much lower price point), you can make it with just as much care by using our 100% merino fibers such as Plenty instead.
I hope this helps you decide on a yarn for your next project but we’d always be happy to make further yarn recommendations!
All the best,
Gavriella
I really love 💕😘😘 this, and I can give you a quick suggestion on this your knitting, that you can put the video 📷📷 and then make it slow
Hi!
Thanks for writing in! We’re so glad you love our Classic Ribbed Hat in Nigh Aran.
We have lots of video tutorials if you’d like to check them out! If you’re looking for a video for a particular technique, let us know and we can help you find it.
We hope this helps!
All the best,
Allison
Can this be made in your daily worsted?
Hi Alexis,
Thank you for writing in! Daily Wool Worsted is a bit thinner than this yarn but it could definitely work. We’d recommend knitting a gauge swatch before starting just to check your tension though. If your gauge is resulting in less stitches than recommended in the pattern but you are happy with the fabric, you can make a larger size! Please let us know if there is anything else we can answer for you!
All the best,
Gavriella
Would working this hat in double twisted rib affect the stretch or drape too much?
Hi Jean,
Thank you for writing in! Double twisted rib creates a slightly denser fabric so I’d recommend going up a needle size or hat size to accommodate for the addition negative ease the stitch will create in the fabric. I hope this helps!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
Is it possible to download and print this pattern?
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for reaching out! To print our patterns on desktop, find the “print” icon in the right margin, and on mobile, scroll to the end of the pattern for it. Use the on-screen instructions to remove anything you don’t want to print! I hope this helps clarify but please let us know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Andrea
I’m just curious about the needle size given for this pattern. The yarn Nigh Aran is described as an almost chunky yarn, and yet the pattern calls for a 3.75mm needle, this sounds too small for this thickness?
Could this be an error? I’m needing to make a toddler size (as I want it to last longer than just for a newborn), but would prefer to use a worsted weight yarn. What needle size would you recommend?
Hi Sue!
Thank you for your question! It can definitely feel surprising to use a smaller needle with a yarn as lofty as Nigh Aran, but in this case the downsizing is intentional — it creates a denser, cozier fabric. And although the needle size looks small for the yarn, each needle size change only shifts gauge by about half a stitch per inch, so using a US 5 (3.75 mm) is what allows the pattern to reach the required 6 stitches per inch. Depending on your personal tension, it should work out just fine.
If you’d like to use a worsted-weight yarn instead (like Daily Wool), we’d still recommend starting with a US 5 (3.75 mm) to get that same 6-stitches-per-inch gauge. A quick gauge swatch will tell you right away if you need to adjust up or down a needle size.
Happy knitting,
Megan
I love this pattern and I love the yarn. I’m wondering at what point would you put in the double pointed needles? Do you wait until you can fit even numbers on each of the four needles? I always have trouble when I get to this point in my hat making. I could use a good tip thank you very much.
Hi Odette,
Thanks so much for reaching out!
We like to switch to double pointed needles as soon as the stitches are no longer moving smoothly on our circulars and we are needing to pull or stretch the stitches to reach the next one.
I hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Warmly,
Andrea
Hello,
Would it be possible to use 2 strands of good wool held together for this please? Lovely pattern as always.
Hi Karen,
Thanks for reaching out!
Two strands of Good Wool held together would be lovely in this pattern! As always we recommend knitting and blocking a gauge swatch to make sure you are able to achieve gauge and you like the look and feel of the final fabric.
I hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Warmly,
Andrea
Hi! I’m a beginner and I want to knit this using 5mm straight needles and a similar size yarn. I’ve just knitted the gauge until it reached 4 inches and counted 24 rows, which is 5 rows less than the gauge knit. I will reverse and mirror the instructions for the decrease section, so I think I should be able to do it ( I did it a few days ago when I knitted a similar hat).
I am knitting the small adult size. Should I do anything, or just start knitting the hat? (since for the first section I’m knitting until it reaches 7 3/4 inches).
Hi Richard!
Thank you for your question! It sounds like you’re really thinking things through and you’re right that row gauge matters less here since you’re knitting to a specific length for that first section. But before you start, the most important piece is your stitch gauge. You mentioned getting 24 rows over 4″, but not how many stitches you’re getting.
Are you getting 24 stitches over 4″ on your 5 mm needles? If not, your hat will come out a different size. Adjusting your needle size up or down is the way to get your stitches per inch to match the pattern. Otherwise, it sounds like you’re on the right track with converting the pattern to knit flat and mirroring the decreases!
Warmly,
Megan
I am making this hat for my son in law for Christmas in an adult large. As get closer to the end I’m wondering if the hat would work with Kitchener stitch at 18 or 12 stitches rather than going all the way to 6. I’m thinking it would be less pointy but it also might be too square and decreases not look as good. Thoughts?
Hi Nina!
Thank you for your question! You can Kitchener the stitches together at the top, but it will change the crown shape — grafting at a higher stitch count flattens the top rather than keeping it nicely rounded. If you do want to stop sooner, I’d recommend stopping at 12 stitches, then finishing as the pattern says by threading the tail through the remaining stitches and cinching it closed. That gives you a smoother rounded top without altering the shape.
Warmly,
Megan
Greetings, this pattern calls for a size 5 needle, which seems small for an Aran weight yarn (and the label on the yarn specifies size 7-9). Can you explain the reason for the smaller needle size?
Hi Kathryn,
Great question! Many hats, including this one, are knit on smaller needles so that the fabric ends up nice and dense for a warm hat. In this case, it’s especially important because cashmere tends to relax a bit with wear but will be less likely to get overstretched if you knit it at a tight gauge. I hope this helps you understand the reason behind the US 5 needle recommendation and gives you the confidence to cast on!
Best,
Whitney
Im knitting it now on size 5 and it’s really beautiful
I just finished this hat in the same color as the picture using a size 5 needle. I had enough yarn with two skeins for Adult large. The yarn is beautiful to work with. The hat is cozy and soft. Expensive hat but worth it. I think my son in law will love it.
Hi Nina!
Thank you so much for sharing! We’re thrilled you enjoyed working with the yarn and that the hat turned out cozy and special. It sounds like a gift made with lots of love, and we hope your son-in-law absolutely adores it.
Warmly,
Megan
Well. My son in law has a big head and the hat is too small. I was going to try and stretch it but I think I’m just going to remake it as I bought an extra skein. My inclination is to just increase needle size to a 7 vs adding stitches or maybe both. Can you help me increase to an XXL?
Hi Nina!
Thanks for writing in again! Totally doable – you don’t need to reinvent the hat, just scale it up thoughtfully. For an XXL, I’d recommend adding stitches rather than only sizing up needles (you can still go up a needle size if you want extra ease). You can keep the original needles for structure, or go up one size in addition to the extra stitches if you want a softer fabric.
A good XXL cast-on would be 120 stitches, which keeps the math clean for the crown. For the crown adjustment, the crown is worked in 6 equal sections, so for 120 stitches you’ll simply make each section a bit larger. Set-Up Round: work (p1, k1) 10 times, place marker — repeat 6 times (20 stitches per section × 6 = 120) Work the crown decrease rounds exactly as written, but repeat Rounds 1–4 one additional time compared to Adult Large. After that, continue with the remaining decrease rounds exactly as written down to 6 stitches. This will keep the crown smooth and proportional while giving you a comfortably larger hat. Please don’t hesitate to write in if anything goes amiss!
Warmly,
Megan
I am knitting the Adult Large (18 inch) and am a bit confused about the number of stitches in the crown… If I am starting with 108 stitches, how do I get to 36 stitches in 20 rounds? Each set of Rounds 1-4 decrease by 12 stitches (60 total), so after 5 rounds, that leaves me with 48 stitches. I’m not sure what I missed? Thank you!
Hi Amanda!
Thank you so much for writing in — that’s a really thoughtful question, and you’re absolutely reading the math correctly!
You’re right that each full repeat of Rounds 1–4 decreases 12 stitches. Starting from 108 stitches, after 5 repeats you’d be at 48 stitches, exactly as you calculated. The step that’s easy to miss is that you actually work Rounds 1–4 a total of 6 times for this size. That 6th repeat brings you down another 12 stitches, landing you at 36 stitches, which matches the pattern.
So nothing is wrong with your counting, you just need one more full repeat of those four rounds.
Happy Knitting!
Megan
Hi! If I wanted to do this using Note yarn, what size needles should I use and any other adjustments for the Adult Large size? Thanks!
Hi Colby!
Thanks so much for your question! If you’d like to use Note yarn, I’d recommend following the original Classic Ribbed Hat pattern, which is written specifically for a DK-weight yarn like Note. That pattern will give you the correct needle size, gauge, and sizing details for the Adult Large, so you won’t need to do any guesswork or major adjustments.
Happy knitting!
Megan
Hello!
This is my first time knitting in the round so I’m not sure if this is possible but I’m knitting the adult large size and would like to knit a shorter crown (closer to 3″ instead), how would I go about doing so?
Thank you!
Hi TJ,
Thanks for reaching out about this! It is possible to shorten the crown, but it will change the overall look of the hat. To maintain the shape of the hat and shorten it, I recommend making the body of the hat shorter.
If you’d like to shorten the crown, the simplest way is to work the decrease rounds at closer intervals. However, working the decreases closer together will make the hat pointier.
We hope this helps! Let us know if you have any questions.
Kindly,
Allison
My head measures 22in, do you recommend sizing up?
Hi Allison!
Thank you for your question! With a 22″ head, you’re right on the cusp. If you prefer a snug, classic fit, the Adult Small should stretch to fit you nicely. If you’d rather have a bit more ease or a slouchier feel, sizing up to the Adult Large would be a great choice. I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Megan
Is it possible to adjust to use US 2 needles?
Hi Erin!
Thank you for your question! If your goal is to use smaller needles intentionally, I’d recommend looking at the Classic Ribbed Hat version written for a finer gauge, which is designed with smaller needles in mind. Otherwise, try a gauge swatch on US 2s and compare it to the pattern gauge to see how far off it is.
If you want help interpreting your swatch or adjusting sizes, feel free to reach out again! We’re happy to help!
Warmly,
Megan
When you switch to the crown, it says to take out your unique marker, k1, then replace the unique marker for a new start of row. So should the unique marker be on a knit or purl stitch? I feel dumb asking this but I keep rereading the pattern & am still confused. My initial marker has remained on that first knit stitch column as I do each row. Are you meant to k1 over that stitch as with the body, then k1 on top of the next purl, placing the marker there? Should you start knitting purls & purling knits for the crown? For that matter, are all 6 markers meant to be on knits or purls?
So sorry for the flurry of questions, I just want to make 100% sure since this is my first (successful, lol) hat! Tried to examine the pictures, but still wasn’t sure and I’m not positive how to google this question. 😭 I hope this question even makes sense.
Hi Annabelle!
Thank you so much for writing in, and please don’t feel dumb at all! This is a great question, and you’re clearly reading the pattern very carefully!
Here’s what’s happening at the transition to the crown: When the pattern tells you to remove the unique marker, k1, and then replace the marker, that means you knit that first knit stitch as usual, and then place the marker between that knit stitch and the following purl stitch on the needle. So yes, your new beginning-of-round marker now sits between a knit and a purl, not directly on a stitch column.
You are not switching knits and purls for the crown. You continue knitting knits and purling purls exactly as established in the ribbing. The marker move is just about shifting where the round begins so the decreases line up correctly.
For the other markers: they will naturally fall between stitch groups (often between a k1 and p1), and that’s totally fine. They don’t need to be all on knits or all on purls. Their job is simply to mark between the decrease sections, not to sit on a specific stitch type.
You’re doing everything right, and it’s completely normal for this part to feel a little brain-bendy on a first hat. You’re very much on track and congrats on your first successful one!
Warmly,
Megan
I am wondering if you think it’s possible to knit this without making a gauge swatch or if I need to make a gauge swatch, do I have to then block the swatch? With such expensive yarn it’s hard to swallow dedicating a chunk of it to a gauge swatch.
Hi Emily!
Thank you for your question! For a hat, a gauge swatch isn’t strictly necessary, but it’s still a good idea, especially with special yarn. If you do swatch, it’s best to block it so you know how the fabric will behave. The good news is you can always unravel your swatch and use the yarn in your project, so nothing goes to waste!
Warmly,
Megan