This free hat release celebrates the launch of the Hastar ebook which I collaborated with Knotions to produce. Find out how to design your own hats and improve your hat knitting, with everything from the right cast on to how to calculate crown decreases for the shape of hat you want. Preview it now from the link above.

Ever get tired of hats that need pushing back off your brow or having to tug them down over your ears? This hat is shaped with short rows to be longer at the sides and back so that it covers the ears and base of your neck, but won’t fall into your eyes. It gives the hat a slightly cloche-like shape (but not so much that you feel like you need to be in costume). With the twenties in mind, let’s say that it makes this hat the cat’s pajamas!

Pattern contains
Pattern is fully written out. Links to tutorials for cast on and off techniques and short rows. Links to tutorials for embellishments used on the sample

Sizes
Choose a size approx. 5 cm (2 in) less than your actual head size for a snug fit.

Finished circumference
4 years- adult small 45cm/17 ¾ in
Adult M 50cm/19 ¾ in
Adult L 55cm/ 21 ¾ in

Needles:
5mm (US 8) or correct needle size to achieve gauge (you’ll see on my project page I used smaller needles as I am a looser that average knitter). You can use DPNS if you prefer. Pattern assumes magic loop, but you may substitute your preferred method for small circumference knitting when decreasing the crown.

Gauge:
16 stitches and 24 rows over 10cm/4 in over stockinette

Skills required:
Knitting in the round
decreasing
slipping stitches
short rows (you may use your preferred method, pattern assumes wrap and turn)

Notions

Tapestry needle to weave in ends.
Scraps of yarn for embellishments if desired.
Waste yarn or spare cable for cast on.

Yarn and yardage
I used New Lanark Donegal aran tweed (90 wool 10% silk) in colourway Blue Lovage. One 100g ball is sufficient for all sizes. Testers successfully substituted a range of wool and acrylic aran weight yarns.

Yardage is for guidance only. Always allow some extra yarn. If you change the suggested yarn or use yarns of different weights you may need to allow greater yardage.

4 years- adult S: 70m/75yds
Adult M:75m/80yds
Adult L: 85m/95yds