Reversible Hat + Cowl In New Colors: Free Knitting Patterns

Введение

Reversible Hat + Cowl In New Colors

A beautiful hat whose color can suit your mood and whose double-layer fabric feels as soft and cozy as a lamb… And a cowl that does the same? Now we’re talking!

Our Reversible Hat + Cowl are fun and surprising little knits. You start by knitting an entire hat (or cowl) in the round in one color, work a purl turning round, and then knit the whole thing again in a second color. For the hat, you tuck one color inside the other and join them with a tassel, and for the cowl, you graft the beginning to the end with Kitchener Stitch.

While our Reversible Cowl pattern has always been free, we’re happy to say that the Reversible Hat pattern is now zero dollars as well. With instructions for sizes baby to adult large, that’s a bargain!

Both the Hat and Cowl are still knit up in our absolutely gorgeous Line Weight yarn. An elegant single ply of 100% merino wool, it is very lightweight and exceedingly soft, with a lovely downy halo. Two layers of it are just right for keeping you warm but unladen.

But the best part of all? We think it’s the opportunity to play with color! We just added five pretty new colors to the Line Weight collection (and used newbies Clear Sky and Lilac Fog here), making the entire palette is a playground filled with fun choices and unexpected combinations!

Do a little color dance, and cast on for some double trouble!

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!

Pattern designed and written by Purl Soho designer, Whitney Van Nes.

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

Hat

Color A: 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Line Weight, 100% merino wool yarn. Each skein of this fingering weight yarn is 494 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 110 (130, 165, 200, 240) yards required. We used Heirloom White for one hat and Clear Sky for the other.
Color B: 1 skein of Line Weight; approximately 110 (125, 160, 195, 235) yards required. We used River Rock with Heirloom White and Super Pink with Clear Sky (some colors are no longer available).
A set of US 3 (3.25mm) double pointed needles OR US 3, 32-inch circular knitting needles for Magic Loop
A US 3, 16-inch circular needles (Adult sizes only, if not working Magic Loop)
Stitch markers, including one unique

Cowl

Color A: 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Line Weight; 100% merino wool. Each skein is 494 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 173 (235) yards required. We used Lilac Fog for one cowl and Kiln Red for the other (some colors are no longer available).
Color B: 1 skein of Line Weight; approximately 182 (247) yards required. We used Peony Pink with Lilac Fog and Bright Flamingo with Kiln Red (some colors are no longer available).
US 4 (3.5 mm), 16-inch circular knitting needles
Stitch markers

For the Provisional Cast On you will also need…

A few yards of smooth scrap yarn
A crochet hook to fit the size of the scrap yarn
Spare circular needles, US 3 (3.25 mm) or smaller, 16 inches or longer

NOTE: To make a Hat and Cowl set of any size, using the same colors, you’ll need just one skein of each color.

GAUGE

Hat

31 stitches and 40 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Cowl

28 stitches and 38 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

SIZES

Hat

Baby (Toddler, Kid, Adult S/M, Adult M/L)

Finished Circumference: 12¾ (14, 16¼, 18½, 21) inches
Finished Height: 7 (7¾, 8½, 9¼, 10) inches

Samples: We knit both of our samples in the Adult S/M size.

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

Cowl

Toddler/Kid (Adult)

Finished Circumference at Top: 17¾ (20) inches
Finished Circumference at Bottom: 20 (22¼) inches
Finished Height: 11 (12½) inches

Samples: We knit both of our samples in the Adult size.

Hat Pattern

Update, October 14, 2025: We accidentally had too many knit rounds between decreases at the top of the Color B Hat. We corrected that section, below!

Color A Hat

With Color A and using a Long Tail Cast On, loosely cast on 9 stitches, leaving a 3-foot tail. Distribute evenly onto 3 double pointed needles, or arrange on long circular needles for Magic Loop.

Join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.

Round 1: Knit into front and back (kfb) 9 times. [18 stitches]

NOTE: In Round 2, when you place the first marker, use a unique one to indicate the first needle (see above).

Round 2: *[K1, kfb, place marker (pm)] 2 times, k1, kfb, repeat from * to end of round. [27 stitches]

Round 3 (Increase Round): *[Knit to 1 stitch before next marker, kfb] 2 times, knit to last stitch on needle, kfb, repeat from * to end of round. [9 stitches increased]

Round 4: Knit to end of round.

Repeat Rounds 3 and 4 four more times. [72 stitches]

Next Round: Repeat Round 3.

Knit 2 rounds.

Repeat last three rounds 2 (3, 5, 5, 5) more times. [99 (108, 126, 126, 126) stitches]

Sizes Adult S/M + Adult M/L Only

NOTE: In the following round, replace the old unique marker with one that’s the same as the others.

Changing to 16-inch circular needles if necessary…

Next Round: *[Knit to 1 stitch before next marker, kfb] 2 times, knit to last stitch on needle, kfb, pm, repeat from * to end of round, place unique marker to indicate beginning of round. [– (–, –, 135, 135) stitches]

Knit 2 rounds.

Next Round: *Knit to one stitch before next marker, kfb, repeat from * to end of round. [[– (–, –, 144, 144) stitches]

Adult M/L Only

Repeat last three rounds 2 more times. [162 stitches]

All Sizes

Removing all but the beginning-of-round marker, knit every round until piece measures 7 (7¾, 8½, 9¼, 10) inches from the cast-on edge.

Cut Color A and join Color B.

Color B Hat

With Color B, knit 1 round.

Purl 1 round.

Continue even in stockinette stitch until the Color B piece measures the same as from the end of the Color A increases to the Color B purl round; or until point A to B equals point B to C. (See above, and please note that we used these colors for our original version of this hat. They are Heirloom White and Super Pink.)

Sizes Baby, Toddler, + Kid Only

Next Round: *[K9 (10, 12, –, –), knit 2 together (k2tog), pm] 2 times, knit to last two stitches on needle, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. [90 (99, 117, –, –) stitches remain]

Sizes Adult S/M + Adult M/L Only

Next Round: *K – (–, –, 14, 16), k2tog, pm, repeat from * to end of round. [– (–, –, 135, 153) stitches remain]

Knit 2 rounds.

Next Round: *Knit to 2 stitches before next marker, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. [9 stitches decreased]

Repeat last three rounds – (–, –, 0, 2) more times. [– (–, –, 126, 126) stitches remain]

Knit 2 rounds.

Changing to double pointed needles if necessary…

Next Round: *[Knit to 2 stitches before next marker, k2tog] 3 times, remove last marker, starting with next double pointed needle, repeat from * to end of round. [– (–, –, 117, 117) stitches remain; 39 stitches on each needle]

All Sizes

Turn the entire piece inside out and weave in just the ends where you changed colors. Turn the piece back to right side out.

Knit 2 rounds.

Decrease Round: *Knit to 2 stitches before next marker (or end of needle), k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. [9 stitches decreased]

Repeat last three rounds 0 (1, 3, 3, 3) more time(s). [81 stitches remain]

Knit 1 round.

Next Round: Repeat Decrease Round.

Repeat last two rounds 4 more times. [36 stitches remain]

Knit 2 rounds.

Next Round: Repeat Decrease Round.

Repeat last three rounds 2 more times. [9 stitches remain]

Cut a 3-foot tail and thread it onto a tapestry needle. Sew the tail through the remaining stitches and pull taut.

Finishing

With the Color B tail still on the tapestry needle, insert the needle through the top of the Color B hat and out the top of the Color A, pulling the Color B hat inside of Color A hat.

Using the Color B tail, make a tassel at the top of the Color A hat. Our Tiny Attached Tassel tutorial explains how.

Repeat for the other side of the hat: Thread the Color A tail onto a yarn needle and insert the needle through the top of the Color A hat, and flipping so Color B hat is on the outside, bring the needle out the top of the Color B hat. Make a tassel and the two hats are securely in place!

Weave in any remaining ends. Since only the right sides are accessible at this point, sew tails diagonally under the knit stitches, come back the other way, and trim.

Gently wet block and enjoy your hat (hats?)!

Cowl Pattern

Begin At Bottom

With Color B, use a Provisional Cast On to cast 140 (156) stitches onto circular needles.

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

Work in stockinette stitch, knitting every round, until piece measures ¼ (½) inch from cast-on edge.

Purl 1 round.

Knit 1 round.

Cut Color B and join Color A.

Continue in stockinette stitch until piece measures 2¼ (2½) inches from purl round.

Decrease To Top

Decrease Round 1: [K33 (37), knit 2 together (k2tog)] 4 times. [136 (152) stitches]

Continue in stockinette stitch until piece measures 4½ (5) inches from purl round.

Decrease Round 2: [K32 (36), k2tog] 4 times. [132 (148) stitches]

Continue in stockinette stitch until piece measures 6¾ (7½) inches from purl round.

Decrease Round 3: [K31 (35), k2tog] 4 times. [128 (144) stitches]

Continue in stockinette stitch until piece measures 9 (10) inches from purl round.

Decrease Round 4: [K30 (34), k2tog] 4 times. [124 (140) stitches]

Continue in stockinette stitch until piece measures 11 (12½) inches from purl round.

Cut Color A and join Color B.

Knit 1 round.

Purl 1 round.

Increase Back To Bottom

Continue in stockinette stitch until piece measures 2 (2½) inches from second purl round.

Increase Round 1: [K31 (35), make 1 right (m1R)] 4 times. [128 (144) stitches]

Continue in stockinette stitch until piece measures 4¼ (5) inches from second purl round.

Increase Round 2: [K32 (36), m1R] 4 times. [132 (148) stitches]

Continue in stockinette stitch until piece measures 6½ (7½) inches from second purl round.

Increase Round 3: [K33 (37), m1R] 4 times. [136 (152) stitches]

Continue in stockinette stitch until piece measures 8¾ (10) inches from second purl round.

Increase Round 4: [K34 (38), m1R] 4 times. [140 (156) stitches]

Continue in stockinette stitch until piece measures 10¾ (12) inches from second purl round.

Cut Color B, leaving a 42-inch tail.

Finishing

Weave in all ends, except 42-inch tail.

Removing scrap yarn, slip live Provisional Cast On stitches onto spare needles.

Bring Color B section inside Color A tube, wrong (purl) sides facing each other. (See above, and please note that we used these colors for our original version of this cowl quite a few years ago. Unfortunately, they are no longer available.)

Thread 42-inch tail onto a tapestry needle and holding working needles and spare needles parallel, use Kitchener Stitch to graft edges together.

Weave in remaining end. Since only right side is accessible at this point, sew tail diagonally under knit stitches, come back the other way and trim.

Block your cowl and when it’s dry, enjoy it!

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

LEARN ABOUT LINE WEIGHT + ALL OUR BEAUTIFUL YARNS

Line Weight is a lovely choice for this project because it is sumptuously soft with a subtle luster. A lithe single ply of 100% merino wool, this fingering-weight yarn knits up into a smooth fabric that blooms beautifully when you hand wash it. Enjoy 494 yards of beautiful knitting with every 100-gram skein and choose from over two dozen riveting colors!

More Knitting Patterns

Be sure to explore our collection of (mostly free!) Line Weight patterns and cast on!

More Fingering-Weight Yarns

Shop our entire collection of fingering-weight yarns (What does fingering-weight yarn mean, really? Our guide to fingering-weight yarn will answer your questions and more!)
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 Fibers