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!

Tiny Stripes Hat in Simply Alpaca + Simply Yak | Purl Soho

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

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 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!

Tiny Stripes Hat in Simply Alpaca + Simply Yak