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Tiny Stripes Hat in Simply Alpaca + Simply Yak
This new version of our Tiny Stripes Hat pattern is a conversation between our Simply Alpaca and Simply Yak yarns… Two very different undyed yarns, completely true to themselves and naturally beautiful together!
A pared-back design allows these natural fibers to glow, their beauty highlighted by a few thoughtful details. You simply knit the hat in the round, starting with a delicate rolled edge and alternating rows of the two yarns to create fine stripes. Crisp spokes created by centered double decreases in Simply Alpaca make a lovely detail at the crown, and you top things off with a little Simply Yak pom pom!
Simply Alpaca is a fingering-weight yarn while Simply Yak is a DK yarn, and we found that knitting the Tiny Stripes Hat on a US 3 needle—right in the middle of the recommended range for Simply Alpaca and small for Simply Yak—creates a pleasing, dense fabric with plenty of structure for the hat to keep its shape. Knitting two different yarn weights on the same needles gives the fabric a dimensional, handwoven quality. And the wrong side is equally stunning, which is why we suggest cuffing your hat to show it off!
Simply Alpaca comes in just one extraordinary color, a rich, warm ebony grown by black alpacas. These animals make up less than 1% of the global alpaca population, and we are so happy to share this rare and very special fiber with you!
Simply Yak is equally beautiful, incredibly soft and toasty, and available in two yak-grown colors: deep Natural Brown and soft Natural Taupe (above), each a natural match for Simply Alpaca’s midnight black.
Both undyed yarns are a true tactile pleasure to knit with, and they’re even better together! Pick up just one 50-gram ball of Simply Alpaca and one 50-gram skein of Simply Yak to knit a Tiny Stripes Hat… Or knit one in each yak color, one to keep and one to give. It’s a wonderful way to introduce someone you love to these remarkable natural fibers!
Pattern designed and written by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.
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
- Yarn A: 1 ball of Purl Soho’s Simply Alpaca, 100% undyed black alpaca yarn. Each ball of this fingering-weight yarn is 164 yards/ 50 grams; approximately 70 (95, 105, 135, 164) total yards required. This yarn only comes in Natural Black.
- Yarn B: 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Simply Yak, 100% yak yarn. Each skein of this light worsted/dk-weight yarn is 109 yards/ 50 grams; approximately 55 (60, 70, 90, 105) total yards required. We used color Natural Brown for one sample and Natural Taupe for the other.
- US 3 (3.25 mm), 12- or 16-inch circular knitting needles
- A set of US 3 double pointed needles OR US 3, 32-inch circular needles for Magic Loop
- Removable stitch markers, including one unique
- Optional: Purl Soho’s Pom Pom Maker in size Small + Large
GAUGE
26½ stitches and 36 rounds = 4 inches in striped stockinette
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)
To fit actual head circumference of 13–16 (14–17, 16–19, 19–22, 21–25) inches
- Finished Circumference: 13¼ (14½, 15¾, 18, 20½) inches
- Finished Height: 7 (7¾, 8¾, 10, 11) inches, uncuffed and excluding pom pom.
SAMPLE: We knit the Adult Small size.
NOTES
STRIPES IN THE ROUND
For tips on working stripes in the round, check out our Stripes in the Round Tutorial.
SLIP STITCHES
Slip stitches purlwise with yarn in back unless otherwise specified.
S2KP (SLIP 2, KNIT 1, PSSO)
Slip 2 stitches together knitwise with yarn in back, knit 1, pass slipped stitches over knit stitch and off right needle. [2 stitches decreased]
For additional help, please visit our S2kp Tutorial.
PATTERN
With Yarn A, cast 88 (96, 104, 120, 136) 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: With Yarn A, knit to end of round.
Round 2: With Yarn B, knit to end of round.
Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until piece measures approximately 5¼ (6, 6¾, 7¾, 8¼) inches from unrolled cast-on edge or approximately 1¾ (1¾, 2, 2¼, 2¾) inches from desired finished height, ending with Round 1.
CROWN
Set-Up Round: With Yarn B, k10 (11, 12, 14, 16), slip 1 (see Notes), place removable stitch marker on slipped stitch, [k21 (23, 25, 29, 33), slip 1, place removable stitch marker on slipped stitch] 3 times, knit to end of round.
Decrease Round 1: With Yarn A, [knit to 1 stitch before next marked stitch, remove stitch marker, s2kp (see Notes), place stitch marker on resulting stitch] 4 times, knit to end of round. [8 stitches decreased]
Next Round: With Yarn B, [knit to next marked stitch, slip 1] 4 times, knit to end of round.
Repeat last two rounds 4 (3, 4, 4, 6) more times. [48 (64, 64, 80, 80) stitches remain]
Repeat Decrease Round 1 one more time. [40 (56, 56, 72, 72) stitches remain]
Decrease Round 2: With Yarn B, [knit to 2 stitches before next marked stitch, slip slip knit, slip 1, knit 2 together] 4 times, knit to end of round. [8 stitches decreased]
Repeat Decrease Rounds 1 and 2 one (2, 2, 3, 3) more time(s). [16 stitches remain]
Repeat Decrease Round 1 one more time. [8 stitches remain]
FINISHING
Cut yarns and thread both tails onto a tapestry needle. Sew tails through remaining stitches, pull taut, and bring tails to inside of hat to weave in.
Weave in all ends and gently wet block.
POM POM
If you’re using Purl Soho’s Pom Pom Maker Set, use the Small Pom Pom Maker and the 1¾-inch Trim Guide to make a 2-inch pom pom. Use Yarn B and follow the instructions for fingering-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.
Wear your hat cuffed, or uncuffed for a slouchier look!
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 Simply Alpaca, Simply Yak + All Our Beautiful Yarns
To knit your Tiny Stripes Hat, you’ll need just one 50-gram ball of Simply Alpaca and one 50-gram ball of Simply Yak. Each of these natural fiber undyed yarns come only in colors naturally grown by the animals: Fingering-weight Simply Alpaca is 100% black alpaca, inky as an endless night sky; while DK-weight Simply Yak is 100% yak available in two magnificent toasty browns. Cast on for this free knitting pattern and experience the natural beauty of knitting with two very special yarns so deeply connected to their origins!
More Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our collections of (mostly free!) Simply Alpaca knitting patterns and Simply Yak knitting patterns and cast on!
More Fingering-Weight Yarns + DK-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of fingering-weight yarns (What does fingering-weight yarn actually mean? Our guide to fingering-weight yarn will answer your questions and more!)
- Shop our entire collection of DK-weight yarns (What does DK-weight yarn mean, really? Our guide to DK yarn will answer your questions and demystify.)
- 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 Fibers
- Shop alpaca yarn
- Shop yak yarn
- Shop undyed 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 55 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 1,000s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
I would love to do this pattern with some Icelandic yarn I have left over from a shawl project. The yarn I have is more worsted weight. Could you point me to the best way to adapt the pattern for that yarn weight?
Hi there,
Thank you so much for reaching out. We’re so glad the Tiny Stripes Hat caught your eye.
Sadly, this pattern is written for a DK-weight yarn staggered with a fingering-weight yarn for a chic rippling effect in the fabric. I’m so sorry to share that reworking this pattern for a new gauge would be beyond our resources at this time. For an item that’s fitted, like a hat or a sweater, we suggest matching your yarn to the pattern, rather than modifying the pattern to match your yarn.
You might consider taking a look at the Essential Hat, the Classic Ribbed Hat, or the Mixed Rib Hat.
I hope you find the perfect pattern for your very special yarn! Feel free to reach back out anytime.
All the best,
Hills
thanks!
Does one ball of Simply Alpaca and one ball of Simply Yak make 2 of the Tiny Stripes Hats?
Hi Peggy,
Thank you so much for reaching out. I’m so glad to see that you’re considering the Tiny Stripes Hat as your next project, and I’m happy to help you take a look at the yardage requirements.
Unfortunately, it looks like you wouldn’t have enough yarn to work an additional hat in any of the sizes. To make 2 hats, you would need 110 yards of Simply Yak, and you only have 109 yards in a skein. You would have enough yarn from the Simply Alpaca skein to make 2 of the smallest size, but any size beyond that would require another skein.
Here is the materials breakdown:
I hope this helps. Please feel free to reach back out anytime.
All the best,
Hills
I love the marled brown sweater the model is wearing with the striped hat in the last large image above. Do you have a pattern for it?
Hi Nancy,
Thank you so much for reaching out! We’re so glad the Tiny Stripes Hat project (and the lovely sweater worn by our model) caught your eye!
This sweater is a taupe cashmere sweater from Uniqlo. You might consider the Classic Crewneck in Cashmere Merino Bloom.
I hope this helps, and please feel free to reach back out anytime!
Happy knitting,
Hills
Is the fingering weight yarn doubled or used as a single strand?
Hi Tanya,
Thank you so much for reaching out about the Tiny Stripes Hat!
The entire hat is worked on a US 3 needle, which is right in the middle of the gauge ranges between Simply Alpaca and Simply Yak. You can hold Simply Alpaca, a fingering-weight yarn, single as well as Simply Yak, a DK-weight yarn, for the entire hat.
I hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any other questions.
Happy knitting,
Hills
LOVE THIS! I recently started the tiny strip hat in the old pattern using linen quill. Will linen quill work with this pattern. I love that the needle is #3 instead of #1 that I was using. I would never have finished it using such a small needle.
Hi Camille,
Thank you so much for reaching out with your kindness. I’m happy to help you consider yarn substitutes.
I’m a bit unsure which pattern you’re working from… you reference an old pattern? This pattern is written for a combination of a light fingering weight yarn and a light worsted/dk-weight yarn. It’s unlikely you’d be able to meet the gauge with one strand of Linen Quill in both places. You might be able to substitute with one strand of Linen Quill and 2 strands for the other color. You might also consider taking a look at Cashmere Merino Bloom in place of Simply Yak.
I would always recommend knitting and blockinga gauge swatch to give yourself the chance to adjust your needles to reach gauge, and ensure you love the look and feel of the finished fabric.
I hope this helps point you in the right direction! Please feel free to reach back out with any other questions.
All the best,
Hills
I purchased the yarn to make the Tiny Stripes Hat in Simply Alpaca + Simply Yak. Why do I need the US 3 , 12 inch or 16 inch circular knitting needles?
Hi Susan,
Thank you so much for reaching out. We’re so glad to see you’re starting the Tiny Stripes Hat, and I’m happy to help.
We recommend a 12- or 16-inch circular needle in size US 3 as the suggested needle to achieve the gauge listed in the pattern. If you don’t match the gauge, your hat will be a different size than indicated in the pattern. Since knitting tension is unique to each knitter, you may find you need to go up or down one (or more) needle sizes. US 3 falls right at the edge of both Simply Alpaca and Simply Yak’s listed suggested needles. Simply Alpaca, a fingering-weight yarn, works on a US 3 as the largest suggested gauge. Simply Yak, a light worsted/DK-weight yarn, works on a US 3 at its lowest suggested gauge.
The length of these needles would ensure you could work in the round without pulling your work and creating ladders. If you prefer to work with Magic Loop, that would also work well!
I hope this helps point you in the right direction. Please feel free to reach out with any other questions.
Happy knitting,
Hills
I have a question about gauge. In order to get an accurate gauge in the stripe pattern one would have to cast on a whole hat, since knitting in the round probably yields a different gauge than back and forth. It would be much simpler if the gauge was determined from one or the other yarn, so the knitter could knit a swatch as usual and extrapolate. For instance, if you know that a gauge of 5 sts/in in the yak yarn translates to 6 sts/in in the stripe one could be sure that we had the correct size needle for the pattern by knitting a yak swatch to the specifications noted. Just a thought. What do you think?
Hi Ellen,
Thank you so much for reaching out! This is a great question, and I’m happy to help.
You’re definitely on the right track in thinking your gauge will differ when knitting in the round than when knitting flat. Luckily, there’s a solution! If you check out our article on Swatching For Circular Gauge, you’ll see that you can swatch in the round while working flat. This process involves sliding your work instead of turning, leaving a very long float in the back, and snipping through the floats at the end.
I hope this helps! Please feel free to reach back out anytime.
Happy knitting,
Hills