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Fair Isle Hat Knitting Pattern

THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS THAT SUPPORT HANDY LITTLE ME CONTENT AND FREE PATTERNS.


This fair isle hat pattern is an excellent project for anyone who is learning how to knit in the round.

I wanted to share with you an easy hat to knit, that has two colours and a holiday vibe!

This hat is perfect for the colder weather, as it has been knit with super bulky yarn.

woman wearing a red and white knitted hat

An Easy Level Knitting Pattern

This is an easy pattern for those of you who are advanced beginner level, and the techniques you will need to know are knit, purl, k2tog and knitting in the round.

Using mainly knit and purl stitches, it will also introduce you to decreasing and shaping.

If you have never knit in the round before you can watch my video tutorial here.

There is also stranded colourwork in the pattern, this means that you will knit with more than one colour.

*Please scroll down to see the free pattern*

Fair Isle Hat

What Is Fair Isle Knitting?

Fair Isle knitting, which also known more accurately as stranded knitting, is a technique for working two (or more) colours of yarn in the same row.

The colour changes in Fair Isle are close together, as this allows you to simply carry the yarn you aren’t knitting with across the back of the piece as you go.

You will pick up each strand as you need it and this leaves a strand of yarn on the inside of the work.

red and white fair isle hatThe Terms

  • Fair Isle knitting is pretty easy to do and in this case, makes a nice warm knitted hat because all those strands of yarn add extra bulk and warmth.
  • Stranded knitting is often worked in the round, and it’s even easier to do that way than flat.

fair isle hat knit in super bulky yarn

The Yarn I Used…

I made the beanie hat using two yarns the first was 1 skein of super bulky yarn – Yarn Art Alpine Alpaca in red.

I also used Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick yarn in fisherman 099 for the coordinating colour and for the pom-pom.

This was knit up quite quickly and used only one skein of yarn from the red and scraps of the fisherman (white).

Any super bulky weight yarn 06 will be okay to use for this pattern.

hat with pom pom knit with super bulky yarn

Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this pattern:

This pattern is great for any advanced beginner knitters.

stranded knitting hat in super bulky yarn

More Hat Patterns

If you would like to make more knitted items/hats for women, please take a look at the other patterns in the women’s knitting pattern library.

There are also hat patterns for women, men, baby and kids in the hat pattern library.

You may also like these free patterns for adult-sized hats:

woman wearing a red and white knitted hat

The Fair Isle Hat Pattern

Grab the inexpensive ad-free, PDF printable pattern in my shop here.

Notes

The hat knits up quickly in super bulky yarn, and the simple design makes for a relaxing and enjoyable knit.

  • Please do not copy, sell, redistribute or republish this pattern. 
  • If you wish to share this pattern, link to the pattern page only.
  • You may sell items produced using this pattern.
  • Do NOT use the copyrighted photos for your product listing.
  • For the copyright T&C’s please read my Terms of Use.

Skill Level – Easy

Size –

  • Adult woman
  • Height w/o pom = 8.5 inches / Width (flat and unstretched) = 9 inches
  • To fit a head with circumference size – around 22-26 inches.

Gauge – 10 sts and 15 rounds = 4in/10cm

The Supplies You Need…

Yarn

  • 1 skein or scraps of super bulky yarn – white (LionBrand wool ease thick and quick in fisherman) – you don’t need a full skein of this, just enough for the accent color and the pom pom.
  • 1 skein of super bulky yarn – Red – Yarn Art Alpine Alpaca.
  • Suitable for size 10.00mm (US 15) needles.
  • Super Bulky/Super Chunky/14 Ply.
  • Yarn weight guide

Yarn Substitute List

  • Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick
  • Lion Brand Hometown USA
  • Rowan Big Wool
  • Bernat Softee Chunky
  • Paintbox Yarns Simply Super Chunky
  • Paintbox Yarns Wool Mix Super Chunky
  • MillaMia Naturally Super Soft Super Chunky
  • King Cole Big Value Super Chunky

Needles

Notions

Other Tools

free womens hat patternsPattern

Abbreviations / Knitting Abbreviations List

  • Approx = Approximately
  • Beg = Begin(ning)
  • Cont = Continue(ing)
  • K = Knit
  • K2tog = Knit next 2 stitches together
  • M1 = Make one stitch
  • P = Purl
  • PM = Place marker
  • Rem = Remaining
  • Rep = Repeat
  • Rnd(s) = Round(s)
  • St(s) = Stitch(es)

Hat Pattern

Yarn A – Red / Yarn B – White

  • Cast on > 38 sts in Yarn A, join in the round and pm, being careful not to twist the sts.
  • 1st rnd: *K1, P1* every round to form 1×1 ribbing.
  • Cont to knit in rib until the work measures 2 inches from the co edge.
  • Next row: M1 stitch and knit the round / so you now have 39 sts.
  • Next row: (Add in Yarn B) *Knit 2 Yarn A, Knit 1 Yarn B / add in the accent colour by knitting normally and knit those stitches loosely so that when the hat is worn, those stitches don’t get lost in the fabric.
  • Knit 2 rounds Yarn A*

These three rounds from * to * form the pattern – continue until the hat measures 8 inches from the cast-on edge.

Decrease >

  • Shape top: 1st rnd: *K1. K2tog. Rep from * to the end of the round, K1.
  • 2nd rnd: Knit to the end of the round.
  • 3rd rnd: *K2tog. Rep to the end of the round.

Break yarn.

Draw end through rem sts and fasten securely.

Sew in any loose ends.

Make a pom pom and securely fasten it to the top of the hat.

easy fair isle hat pattern

I love seeing your finished projects!

If you enjoyed making the hat, I’d love to see yours on Instagram, be sure to tag me @handylittleme.

If you are on Facebook, stop over to the handylittleme Facebook page and share a photo!  I’d love to see your work!

Happy Knitting! xoxo

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2 Comments

  1. I am new to selling my items and am working on starting an Etsy page. I love your Fair Isle Hat Knitting Pattern and was wondering if it is okay with you if I sell the hat I made from this pattern. I would gladly give you credit as the designer on my sales tag. Do you have a preference as to which name to use to give you credit? Would like your name or handylittleme.com?
    Thank you for your time.
    GIna

    1. Hello Gina, yes you can sell the finished items that you make from the hat pattern.
      But you must use your own photographs.
      You can say in your shop listing that you got the pattern from handylittleme.com.
      Happy knitting and good luck with your Etsy shop 🙂
      Louise