From designer’s webite:
The original pattern for a watch cap came from the International Seamen’s House in Georgia. It was knitted flat and sewed up afterwards. I don’t know if they still collect watch caps and give them to sailors, or even if the organization still exists.

I knitted several watch caps flat, then moved to circular needles, and over time, the pattern evolved - fold-up brim (border), rolled brim, no brim; machine washable wool, real wool; sizes from small to extra large; and of course, various colors and stripes. The basic patterns are below. In all I probably made 50 hats. My favorite hats were made of real wool in natural beiges and browns.

The original webpage is no longer available, but for now the pattern is accessible via the Internet Wayback Machine.