Classic Ribbed Hat: Free Hat Knitting Pattern

Введение

Classic Ribbed Hat

If you had to pick (or pack) one knit piece to see you through whatever the day throws your way, it would be hard to choose more wisely than our Classic Ribbed Hat.

In our cozy Cashmere Merino Bloom yarn, it is the most perfect be-warm, go-anywhere, look-good head topper we can imagine!

Wear it cuffed, wear it slouchy. Wear it bright, wear it neutral. Throw it in your bag just in case or don’t take it off all weekend. Wherever it goes, however it rolls (or doesn’t), the Classic Ribbed Hat knitting pattern is sized for everyone, from babies to adults, and only requires one skein to make it (okay, except for the largest size, which requires two).

Cashmere Merino Bloom is a combo of incredibly soft and toasty cashmere, along with extra fine merino, a good addition for keeping the hat in shape! Plus, we just added 16 colors to the palette, so now you can go vivid with something like potent Red Poppy or purple-y Lotus Flower, or keep your warm head cool in Gray Pearl or Blue Rust. A classic among classics, this is the one!

Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 55 thoughtfully designed yarns in nearly every natural fiber and in every spectacular color you can imagine. Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn store, where every skein is created with care and your creativity in mind!

UPDATE: NOW IN NEW COLORS

FEBRUARY 2023

We now have over twenty colors of Cashmere Merino Bloom and with sizes from tiny baby to big grandpa, you’re going to want more than one Classic Ribbed Hat. So pick a palette and cast on!

UPDATE: NOW IN NEW COLORS + STYLES

SEPTEMBER 2023

We’re so in love with this hat in Cashmere Merino Bloom that we whipped up a few more colors and added some striped and colorblocked versions to the mix, as well! If you’re opting to play with color, try a Classic Ribbed Hat Bundle for color combinations that have already been perfectly matched!

UPDATE: NOW IN NIGH ARAN

OCTOBER 2025

Enjoy a new version of our all-time most popular hat pattern, now in Nigh Aran, our incredibly soft and special 100% Mongolian cashmere yarn. It’s the same truly classic, beginner-friendly hat you love, but using a thicker aran-weight yarn that’s light and lofty enough to feel surprisingly airy in your hands. The Classic Ribbed Hat in Nigh Aran knits up super quickly, a perfect quick gift knit or a very special treat for yourself!

Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Want to print this pattern? On desktop, find the “print” icon in the right margin, and on mobile, scroll to the end of the pattern for it. Use the on-screen instructions to remove anything you don’t want to print!

Materials

1 (1, 1, 1, 2) skein(s) of Purl Soho’s Cashmere Merino Bloom, 75% extra fine merino and 25% cashmere. Each skein of this light worsted/DK yarn is 218 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 94 (138, 181, 202, 264) yards required. We used the colors Bright Flamingo, Pink Apricot, and Autumn Oak.
US 3 (3.25 mm), 16-inch circular knitting needles
A set of US 3 double pointed needles OR US 3, 32-inch circular needles for Magic Loop
Stitch markers, including one unique

Gauge

32 stitches and 33 rows = 4 inches in 1×1 rib unstretched

Size

UPDATE December 5, 2022: We’ve increased the range of stretch these hats have. In reality, that 1×1 rib is pretty stretchy!

Baby (Kid, Adult Small, Adult Medium, Adult Large)

Finished Circumference (unstretched): 10½ (12, 13½, 15, 16½) inches, comfortably stretching to approximately 13–16 (15–18, 17–20, 19–23, 21–25) inches
Finished Height (uncuffed): 8 (9¼, 10½, 11½, 12½)

SAMPLES: The hats shown here are sizes Baby (in Bright Flamingo), Kid (in Pink Apricot) and Adult Medium (in Autumn Oak).

For help choosing a hat size, check out our complete guide on How to Knit the Right Hat Size!

Pattern

Begin

Cast 84 (96, 108, 120, 132) stitches onto circular needles. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Place unique stitch marker and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.

Round 1: *K1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Round 1 until piece measures 6¼ (7, 8¼, 9, 9½) inches from cast-on edge.

Crown

NOTE: Change to double pointed needles when necessary.

Set-Up Round: Remove unique end-of-round marker, k1, replace marker for new end-of-round, *[p1, k1] 7 (8, 9, 10, 11) times, pm (place marker), repeat from * to end of round, omitting final stitch marker which is end-of-round marker. [6 stitch markers placed, including unique end-of-round marker]

Kid, Adult Small, Adult Medium, Adult Large Sizes Only

Round 1: [*P1, k1, repeat from * to 2 stitches before next marker, k2tog] 6 times. [6 stitches decreased]

Round 2: [*P1, k1, repeat from * to 1 stitch before next marker, k1] 6 times.

Round 3: [*P1, k1, repeat from * to 3 stitches before next marker, p1, k2tog] 6 times. [6 stitches decreased]

Round 4: *P1, k1, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Rounds 1-4 – (0, 1, 2, 3) more time(s). [84 stitches remain]

All Sizes

Round 1: [*P1, k1, repeat from * to 2 stitches before next marker, k2tog] 6 times. [6 stitches decreased]

Round 2: [*P1, k1, repeat from * to 3 stitches before next marker, p1, k2tog] 6 times. [6 stitches decreased]

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 four more times. [24 stitches remain]

Next Round: *P1, k1, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. [18 stitches remain]

Next Round: *P1, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. [12 stitches remain]

Next Round: *K2tog, repeat from * to end of round. [6 stitches remain]

Cut yarn and thread tail onto a tapestry needle. Thread tail through remaining stitches. Pull taught and bring tail to inside of hat to weave in.

Weave in the ends and block as desired.

Learn About Cashmere Merino Bloom + All Our Beautiful Yarns

Soft, supple, and toasty warm, Cashmere Merino Bloom is an absolute knitting joy! A light worsted/DK-weight yarn, it is made with 25% of the most exquisite cashmere in the world and 75% extra fine merino wool and benefits from both fibers: cashmere for over-the-top softness and beautiful bloom and merino for resilience, durability, and even more softness. Cashmere Merino Bloom has an incredible hand feel with a gentle halo that illuminates your knitting… A gorgeous choice!

More Knitting Patterns

Be sure to explore our collection of (mostly free!) Cashmere Merino Bloom patterns and cast on!

More Light Worsted/ DK Weight Yarns

Shop our entire collection of light worsted/DK-weight yarns (What does DK-weight yarn mean, really? Our guide to DK yarn will answer your questions and demystify.)
If you want to use a different yarn, be sure to take the time to get the correct gauge. Need help? Check our All About Gauge Tutorial, our Yarn Substitution article, and our Complete Guide To Yarn for lots of helpful information.

More Yarns With Similar Fiber