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.

This simple colourwork technique transforms a simple ribbed hat into something fun, bold, deeply textured and rather splendid. Yet it only requires one pattern row out of six and only one colour is ever worked at a time.

You can knit this in two or more solid colours or use one plain and one multicoloured yarn.

Pattern contains
Pattern is fully written out and charted.

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: 45cm/17 ¾ in (is longer than the S but has same circ)
Adult L 54cm/21 1/4 in
Shown in adult small on a head circ. of 21in/53cm

Needles:
Size US 6 (4 mm) circular for main pattern
Size US 2 ½ (3 mm) circular for ribbing

OR correct needle size to achieve gauge. Pattern assumes magic loop, but you may substitute your preferred method for small circumference knitting when decreasing the crown. I used smaller needles as I am a looser that average knitter).

Gauge:
22 sts and rounds to 10cm/4in over main stitch pattern Alternatively, gauge can be taken over stockinette at 20 sts to 10 cm/4in.

Skills required:
Knitting in the round
decreasing
slipping stitches
one special stitch manoeuvre

Notions
Tapestry needle to weave in ends.

Yarn and yardage
I used Essentials Soft Merino Aran
by Rico Design
Aran / 10 ply
100% Merino
100 meters / 50 grams
Shown in Mint (MC) and Petrol (CC)
4 years- adult small: 110yds/100m of MC and 35yds/32m CC
Adult M:115yds/105m of MC and 35yds/33m of CC
Adult L: 145m/130yds of MC and 45yds/42m of CC