Free one-skein knitting pattern – Shakti hat

Who was Shakti?

In this particular case, I’m referring the person this pattern is named after, a brilliant and beautiful Australian friend of mine. Because she lives “down under”, I had to knit this during the summer. I tried several other things, ripping back several times, until I let the design simplify and knit itself, based solely on a stitch pattern from an old Tricot stitch pattern book.

Like Arrow, this one features a twisted rib brim and a simple stitch pattern (in this case, Spiral Stitch) that looks fancy, but it’s easy enough for a beginner who’s comfortable working in the round. The Ravelry pattern page is here. There’s also a handy-dandy little “print-friendly” button at the end of this post so you can print or PDF this pattern easily.

This is not a “professional pattern” and is being offered up for free (and as such, nope, I didn’t gauge, because I hardly ever do when I whip up a hat since I use the same needle size almost every time and  I know myself). Many people have knit it in the past 9+ years with beautiful results, and any errors that may have been encountered in the original pattern were worked out long ago by enthusiastic and courageous knitters like you. 

Materials:

• Yarn: Patons Classic Wool, 100% Pure New Wool; 100g/223 yards; 1 skein (you’ll use less than half!)
• US8 dpns
• US8 16″ circular needle (optional)
• Stitch marker (1)
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Stitches & Abbreviations:

• k: knit
• k1-tbl: knit one stitch through its back loop
• p: purl
• k2tog: knit two stitches together
• yo (increase): yarn over
• kfb (increase): knit into the front and then the backof the stitch
• eor: End Of Round

Instructions:

Using the long-tail cast-on method, cast on 72 stitches, join for working in the round and place marker for end of round. Knit 12 rows of “twisted rib” as follows:

*k1-tbl, p1; repeat from * to eor.

When you’ve knit twelve rows of twisted rib for the brim, knit the increase round:

*k1, kfb; repeat from * to eor. 108 stitches. Begin stitch pattern.

Round 1: *p3, yo, k4, k2tog, k3; repeat from * to eor.
Round 2: *p3, k1, yo, k4, k2tog, k2; repeat from * to eor.
Round 3: * p3, k2, yo, k4, k2tog, k1; repeat from * to eor.
Round 4: *p3, k3, yo, k4, k2tog; repeat from * to eor.

For a more fitted hat (as shown), repeat the above four rows 9 times for a total of 36 rows (not including brim). For a slouchier hat, add additional repeats (per personal preference) of these above four rows.

Begin decreasing for crown:

Round 37: *p2tog, p1, yo, k2tog 4x, k1; repeat from * to eor. 72 sts.
Round 38: *p2tog, k2tog, yo, k2tog 2x; repeat from * to eor. 45 sts.
Round 39: *p1, k2, yo, k2tog; repeat from * to eor. 45 sts.
Round 40: *p1, k2tog 2x; repeat from * to eor. 27 sts.
Round 41: *p1, k2tog, k1, k2tog; repeat from * to last 3 sts, p1, k2tog. 18 sts.
Round 42: *p1, k2tog; repeat from * to eor. 12 sts.
Round 43: *p1, k1, k2tog; repeat from * to eor. 9 sts.
Round 44: *k2tog, k1; repeat from * to eor. 6 sts.

Cut yarn and with tapestry needle, thread through remaining stitches on the needle. Weave in ends. Block if preferred.