Vivid Fair Isle Hat

A fair isle knit hat pattern like this one is great for keeping your winter bright and cheery, despite the chill.

Vivid Fair Isle Hat

Everyone loves a good fair isle knit hat! The Vivid Fair Isle Hat brings our favorite stranded colorwork design into brighter territory. The aqua and hot pink complimentary colors really help this knit hat stand out from the crowd, and the fun, bouncy pom pom at the top incorporates all of the shades, giving it a spontaneous and bubbly look. While this pattern is probably a bit too complicated for beginners, it will make an excellent hat for someone who has tried stranded knitting at least once before.

NotesDirections are for size Small; changes for size Large are in parentheses. Hat is worked in St st working in the round with right side facing throughout. Fair Isle pattern is worked from a chart, reading it from right to left. Pick up new yarn from under old to twist yarns and prevent holes. Carry colors not in use loosely along wrong side of work.

Intermediate

Knitting Needle Size8 or 5 mm, 9 or 5.5 mm, Double-Pointed Knitting Needles (DPNs)

Yarn Weight(4) Medium Weight/Worsted Weight and Aran (16-20 stitches to 4 inches)

Gauge16 sts = 4" [10 cm]; 24 rows = 4" [10 cm] in Stockinette stitch and Fair Isle pattern using larger needles. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needles to obtain the gauge.

Finished SizeHat circumference at bottom edge: 21 (23)" [53 (58) cm]

Materials List

RED HEART® With Love®: 1 skein each 1562 Jadeite (A), 1932 Minty (B) and 1701 Hot Pink (C)
Susan Bates® Double Pointed Needles: One set each 5mm [US 8] and 5.5mm [US 9]
Pompom maker
Stitch marker
Yarn needle

Instructions

Hat

With A and smaller needles, cast on 80 (88) sts. Divide sts evenly around double pointed needles. Join to work in rounds, taking care not to twist sts. Place marker for beginning of round

Ribbing Round: [K1, p1] around.

Repeat Ribbing Round for 2" [5 cm].

Change to larger needles and St st and knit 3 rounds.
Begin Chart 1

Beginning with Round 1, repeat 4 sts of Chart 1 around until 14 rounds have been completed.

With A only, knit 1 round, increasing 0 (2) sts evenly space around – 80 (90) sts.

Knit 2 more rounds.
Begin Chart 2

Beginning with Round 1, repeat Chart 2 around until 9 rounds have been completed.

Shape Crown

Decrease Round 1: [K8, k2tog] around – 72 (81) sts.
Decrease Round 2: [K7, k2tog] around – 64 (72) sts.
Decrease Round 3: [K6, k2tog] around – 56 (63) sts.
Decrease Round 4: [K5, k2tog] around – 48 (54) sts.
Decrease Round 5: [K5, k2tog] around – 40 (45) sts.
Decrease Round 6: [K4, k2tog] around – 32 (36) sts.
Decrease Round 7: [K3, k2tog] around – 24 (27) sts.
Decrease Round 8: [K2, k2tog] around – 16 (18) sts.
Decrease Round 9: [K1, k2tog] around – 8 (9) sts.
Decrease Round 10: [K2tog] around, k0 (1) – 4 (5) sts.

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread tail through remaining sts and pull to gather. Secure end.