Spellcaster Cowl

When spiders spin a web, it seems as if they easily cast a spell and it appears… This fascinating process was the inspiration for this hat design. Featuring timeless textures and complementary stripes, this hat can be your pop of color or standby staple. A fun textured rib leads to slouchy shaping and eye catching color work all the way to the crown.

This pattern is perfect for color experimentation! Use mini skeins, treasured scraps, or create a classic piece with two colors. The design plays with the idea of how much knitters love yarn floats and puts them on display to capture the inspiration of web work. You can pair this with the coordinating Spellcaster Cowl!

This hat is knit in the round from the brim to crown. The pattern includes written instructions for the sample size and a recipe to build your own version with a worksheet and pattern template. If you like modifying patterns and want to learn a little about grading, this pattern is for you! Techniques you’ll enjoy: Grecian plait rib, slipping stitches, twisting stitches, using different needle sizes creatively, and colorwork.

SIZES

Customizable!

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Sample Brim Circumference: 17.5” (44.5 cm) unstretched, customizable
Sample Body Circumference: 20” (50.75 cm) unstretched, customizable
Sample Height: 8.75” (22.25 cm), height customizable

YARN

Approximately 187 - 215 yd (171 - 197 m) total of DK weight yarn for sample size, see pg 5 for calculating yarn amount for a custom size hat
139 - 160 yd (127 - 146 m) of Main Color (64 - 74 g)
48 - 55 total yd (44 - 51 total m) of Contrasting Color(s) (20 - 22 g, < 3 g each)

Sample shown in Greenletterday yarns

• Main color (MC): Greenletterday DK in Wilde, 100% Superwash Merino, 4 ply, 250 yd (115 g)
• Contrasting colors (CC): Greenletterday DK mini kit in Spellbound, 75% Superwash Merino / 25% Nylon, 4 ply, 49 yd (20 g) per skein 10 CCs from top to bottom: Havoc, Cheshire, Jem, Clockwork, All the Way Mae, Smitten Kitten, Anne Boleyn, Smirk, Gilbert Grape, Dorian Gray

As with all knits, yarn requirements will vary based on gauge. The minimum required, as shown above, is the actual usage for the sample at the pattern gauge. To be safe, and to have enough yarn for swatching, plan to use 10-15% more yarn than actual. If you are knitting the Spellcaster Cowl as well, use the hat as your gauge check since 2 skeins of the sample yarn will yield the cowl and sample size hat but will use most of the yarn; the samples left 5 g remaining of MC. Additionally, alternate fiber content may affect final dimensions & stretch.

NEEDLES

Pattern is worked with primarily 2 needle sizes, a smaller needle for the brim and a larger needle for the main body. Due to the nature of some decorative stitches, you will also need needles larger than the brim needle for the ribbing as shown below. Using an interchangeable set, if available and comfortable, can simplify your needle change.

• Main body needle 1: US 6 (4.0 mm) circular needle 16-24” (40-60 cm), or needle size needed to obtain gauge for main stitch pattern
• Brim needle 1: US 4 (3.5 mm) circular needle 16-24” (40-60 cm), or needles .5 mm smaller than main body needle 1
• Brim 2: US 8 (5.0 mm) circular needle 16-24” (40-60 cm), or needle size 1.5 mm larger than collar needle 1

NOTIONS

• Stitch markers (one BOR m, additional m are optional)
• Tapestry needle

GAUGE

• 24 sts and 53 rnds = 4” (10 cm) in main stitch pattern, worked in the round with main body needle 1 and blocked (see yarn notes above regarding Spellcaster Hat as a swatch)
• 22 sts and 35.5 rnds = 4” (10 cm) in Grecian plait rib worked in the round with brim needle 1 & 2 and blocked

*** Please also share your makes by tagging me on instagram @foxfig and using #spellcasterhat & #foxfigknits! I’d love to see your version!***

Did you know there is a matching cowl? Look for the Spellcaster Cowl in my shop! #spellcastercowl