Full Spectrum is a clever reversible hat with fetching stripes on one side and pleasing geometric colourwork on the other. It’s worked from the crown of one side, through the brim, and to the crown of the other, so that the whole doubled hat is worked in one piece. It was designed in collaboration with Gauge Dye Works - their self-striping yarn makes this an addicting and enjoyable knit!

Get the yarn for this pattern from Gauge Dye Works. The yarn comes in three colourways.

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Finished Dimensions
To fit head circumference 20-23 in/51-58.5 cm

Brim circumference: 20 in/51 cm
Main hat circumference: 22 in/56 cm
Hat length top of crown to bottom of brim: 9.5 in/24 cm

Yarn
Gauge Dye Works Merino Twist
(80% superwash merino, 20% nylon; 443 yd/405 m per 115g skein)
Colour: Full Spectrum; 1 skein

If substituting yarn, you’ll need about 440 yd/402 m fingering weight yarn:
Colour 1 (grey): 70 yd/64 m
Colours 2-6 (rainbow): 30 yd/27 m each
Colour 7 (blue): 220 yd/201 m
Colour 8 (beige for colourwork): 30 yd/27 m

Blocked Gauge
Gauge measurement should be taken after blocking.

20 sts/36 rows = 4 in/10 cm in St st using middle-sized needle

Needles & Notions
Needle Sizes are recommendations only. Always use needle size necessary to obtain gauge.

Suggested Size US 3/3.25 mm 16 in/40 cm circular needle

Suggested Size US 4/3.5 mm 16 in/40 cm circular needle and set DPN’s or long circular needle for magic loop method

Suggested Size US 6/4 mm 16 in/40 cm circular needle

4 stitch markers (including one unique marker to distinguish beginning-of-round)

tapestry needle

Skills
working small circumference using double pointed needles or magic loop method, increasing, ribbing, working stranded colourwork from a chart, decreasing

Blog Posts

Full Spectrum Colourwork Ideas

Full Spectrum Roundup

Reversible Hat Video

Gauge Dye Works post on Twinkle Colourways

FAQ

Does the pattern include the 3-D boxes colourwork chart? Yes! The colourwork is optional, but the chart is included in the pattern.

Can I make it in a different yarn than the one in the pattern?Yes! There are instructions on how to substitute yarn, including how much is needed if you want to do your own rainbow and/or colourwork from fingering weight yarn leftovers.

How hard is this project?The beginning of the hat starts with just a few stitches for the top of one of the crowns. Those first few rounds are finicky, but once you’ve got a few more stitches on the needles, it’s smooth sailing. Other than the colourwork and crown shaping, I consider this to be good, relaxing TV knitting.

How does the reversible/double hat thing work?You’ll begin by casting on for one of the crowns, increase until you get the hat circumference, and then knit to the brim. The brim is worked with fewer stitches to give a good, snug fit, and then you’ll increase again for the other side. Once you’ve worked a bit of Stockinette past the Brim (with optional colourwork section), you’ll decrease for the second crown until you’ve decreased away almost all of the stitches. Draw your tail through those last stitches and your hat is done! Just pull one crown inside the hat to meet the second crown to create the doubled effect. I made a video so you can see how it works.