My Carousel Hat is the second design in my Carousel collection. I hadn’t intended designing this hat at all, but after completing my Carousel Socks and having so much beautiful yarn left over, I decided a set of accessories was definitely in order!

Hand dyed yarn continues to fascinate me as it can look so different depending on whether it’s in a skein, a ball or knitted up in a project. You can also get so many different effects depending on the type and size of project you decide to knit up. Despite using the same stitch pattern as in my Carousel Socks, by using different sized needles and having a larger circumference, the yarn has settled in a spiral, helter skelter like pattern all around the hat. The use of a different mini skein for the brim of the hat shows off different tones within the skein giving a beautiful painterly effect. I hope you enjoy knitting and wearing your own Carousel Hat…I wonder where your journey will take you?

In designing this, my first hat pattern, I had to navigate the challenge of including decreases which would work with the stitch pattern I had decided to include. I have placed the decreases at points throughout the hat which I believe gives the smoothest visual effect whilst also ensuring the hat achieves a good fit. The fit is also helped by the flexible ‘stretchy’ nature of the mock cable stitch pattern used in the design.

Additional notes are given in the form of USEFUL TIPS in the pattern to help you adjust the size of your hat outside of the included S, M and L sizes should you wish to do so.

In writing this pattern, I have tried to give clear and simple instructions to help knitters work through the design smoothly. The first part of the hat is knit to length which enables you to make any size adjustments should you wish to do so. I have written the remainder of the pattern in table form so that you can tick off each row as you go.

I hope you enjoy knitting this pattern as much as I enjoyed designing it!