This free pattern has previously only been available via my blog. As the blog is temporarily unavailable I have added the downloadable PDF file to Ravelry for the duration. I don’t charge for my patterns but I do ask those who knit my designs to consider making a small donation to Medecins san Frontiers/Doctors without Borders..

French translation available here, with thanks to Christine73

There is now a video tutorial for this pattern available at VeryPink, with many thanks to Staci :)

The Downton hat is modelled on a vintage WW1 baby design. Knitted in cozy double moss stitch, it has an invisible rib band inside the reverse stocking stitch brim which will hold the hat snugly on the head. A knit for mother and child that’s perfect for a wintry day. Requires just 100g to 150g of woollen double knit yarn.

In response to your various questions …

A note re. the yarn. There is a note below re. the measurements you will achieve if knitting to gauge. If substituting an alternative please check you gauge/tension and adjust needle size accordingly to ensure a good fit for your head measurement.

A note re. the purling. A lot of knitters are questioning the instruction to purl the brim rows rather than knit them in the opposite direction. Either is fine. I am a UK knitter and knit Continental style in the round (as do many knitters across Europe). Purl stitches can actually be easier than knit when using that technique, hence the construction. Following the instruction to purl is however more likely to ensure a good fit as the fabric will be be tensioned slightly differently.

A note re. sizing. In response to demand this hat has now been sized from baby to adult but please note that only sizes baby, toddler and medium adult have been test knitted at this time.

A note re. measurements. As given in the gauge 24 stitches equals 4 inches/10 cm in the textured stitch pattern, so working with a figure of 6 stitches to the inch or 2.4 stitches to the cm it is easy to calculate the circumference of the hat when you know how many stitches you have.

The number of stitches on the needle for each size - (baby to adult) 96/104/112/120/128/136 - translates to a hat circumference of 16/17.3/18.6/20/21.3/22.6 inches.

This pattern is my copyright and is provided to you for your personal use only.