Hand-dyed skeins of yarn often contain several distinct colors. “Pooling” happens when the same color appears in the same place in several consecutive rows, causing a “pool” or splotch of color — intentionally or unintentionally! In this pattern, we manipulate the properties of hand-dyed yarn to intentionally create a pooled design.

This pattern contains instructions for achieving a planned pooling effect using the individual knitter’s unique gauge and tension. The optional ribbed brim for the hat is added at the end by picking up stitches from the cast-on.

In September 2024, this pattern was updated to include an alternate assigned pooling version (the “River Ripples” hat), which can be used if knitters are having difficult achieving a planned pooling effect.

The pattern was also re-knit in our 13th anniversary custom March Hare colorways from Wonderland Yarns, Contentment on the Cannon (Colorburst/pooling) and Malt-O-Meal (semi-solid). You will need one skein of each to knit the hat as pictured.

This pattern was originally published in our 10th anniversary pattern collection, Make One: Selected Patterns from the First Ten Years of Northfield Yarn, under the name “Rainbow Pools Hat.”