this pattern includes instructions for both a fingering and worsted weight version!

I’m a sucker for patterns that let you knit for stretches of time without looking at the directions… but still look really awesome and complicated.

With effortless amazing-ness as my guide, I came up with this pattern where self-striping yarn and really simple intarsia do all the work! The hat is divided into an even number of sections, each of which stripes at its own pace. So, while it it looks like color changes are happening out the wazoo… you really just knit in stockinette with a handful of predictable yarn swaps on each row.

This hat is designed to be an introduction to intarsia: a (non-stressful) simple pattern of color changes so you can get your feet wet. And it’s worked flat, so it’s a great project for those of you who don’t love working in the round.

My favorite version of this hat is the fingering weight version: there are lots of great self-striping sock yarns available! And, if you’re like me, you’re itching for an excuse to use them that doesn’t result in a pair of socks. For a faster knit, I’ve included a worsted weight version. The finished size is the same, but it works up much faster and has fewer color changes.