by Laura Chau November 14, 2019

Three hats hanging on a wall.

Looking for a perfectly warm winter hat this year? Our gift to you today is a free pattern for a simple hat in super squishy brioche rib that that'll look great on everyone! It's named after our team member Daniel, who recently left to pursue a career in music production — we made this as a leaving gift for him.

Shown, top to bottom: Adult M in Gilliatt; Adult L in Nightshades; Baby in Gilliatt

A skein of Harrisville Nightshades, with circular and double pointed needles on wooden surface

Yarn

Worsted weight yarn, 100[130, 155, 185, 210, 230] yds / 91[118, 142, 169, 192, 214] m
Shown in De Rerum Natura Gilliatt in Poivre et Sel (Baby and Adult M) and Harrisville Nightshades in Insomnia (Adult L)

Gauge

20 sts and 36 rounds = 4"/10cm in 2x2 rib in the round
15 sts and 46 rounds (23 visible brk) = 4"/10cm in brioche rib in the round

Notions

Stitch markers

Sizing

Baby[Toddler, Child/Adult S, M, L, XL]
Finished Size: 14 1/2[16, 17 1/2, 19 1/4, 21, 22 1/2]"

Needles

Size A: US 8 / 5mm 16" / 40cm circular needle and dpns or your preferred method of knitting small circumferences in the rnd.
Size B: US 6 / 4mm 16" / 40cm circular needle, for brim

A wooden tabletop with a baby sized Daniel's hat in the centre, a plant and books on the left and Sophie the bunny on the right.

Abbreviations

brk: k the st that was slipped in the previous row together with its yo
brp: p the st that was slipped in the previous row together with its yo
brLsl: sl1 brk knitwise, brk the following 2 sts and yarn over tog, pass slipped brk over (a L leaning double dec)
brRsl: sl1 knitwise, k next st, pass slipped st over, place stitch on left needle and pass second stitch over it (a R leaning double dec)
EOR: end of rnd
k: knit
k2tog: knit 2 together (a R leaning dec)
p: purl
p2tog: purl 2 together
pm: place marker
rnd(s): round(s)
sl1yo: with yarn in front, sl next st, bring yarn to the back over the needle, then back to the front between needles. The sl st and yo are considered one st.
ssk: slip, slip, knit – sl 2 sts knitwise individually, insert L needle into slipped sts from L to R, k these 2 sts tog (a L leaning dec)
st(s): stitch(es)

Ysolda facing the camera and smiling while wearing Daniel's Hat.

Directions

Brim

Alternating cable cast on for Daniel's Hat.

With needle size B cast on 72[80, 88, 96, 104, 112] sts. Shown with an alternating cable cast on for 2x2 rib. Join in round, place marker to mark EOR.

Work in 2x2 rib (k2, p2) until work measures 1 3/4[2, 2, 2 1/4, 2 1/2, 2 1/2]” / 4.5[5, 5, 5.5, 6.5, 6.5]cm from cast on edge when lightly stretched.

Next rnd: (k2tog, p2) to EOR. 54[60, 66, 72, 78, 84] sts.

Working k2tog to decrease for brioche.

Hat Body

Click here for our video tutorials on working brioche stitch in the round.

Switch to larger needles and work brioche set-up round.

Set up rnd: Switch to needle size A, (k1, sl1yo) to EOR.

Brioche purl round.

Rnd 1: (sl1yo, brp) to EOR.

Rnd 2: (brk, sl1yo) to EOR.

Rep last 2 rnds until brioche section measures 4 1/4[5, 5 1/2, 6, 6 1/4, 6 1/2]" / 10.5[12.5, 14, 15, 15.5, 16.5]cm.

Next rnd, place markers for decreases: *(sl1yo, brp) 9[10, 11, 12, 13, 14] times, pm, rep from * twice more.

Crown Decreases

How to Decrease in Brioche - BrLsl (a left leaning double decrease)

Ready to work a BrLsl decrease.
1. Ready to work a BrLsl at the beginning of the round.

Slip brk knitwise with yarn over.
2. Slip the next stitch, together with its yarn over, knitwise.

K2tog next two stitches and yarn over.
3. Knit the 2nd stitch on the left needle, and its yarn over, together with the first stitch on the left needle.

Pass slipped brk and yarn over over the stitch and off the needle.
4. Pass slipped stitch, together with its yarn over, over the stitch and off the needle.

BrRsl (a right leaning double decrease)

1. Slip the first stitch and its yarn over knitwise.

2. Knit the next stitch and pass the slipped stitch, together with its yarn over, over it and off the needle.

3. Slip the stitch back to the left needle.

4. Slip the second stitch on the left needle, together with its yarn over, over the first and off the needle.

5. Here's the completed BrRsl on the left needle tip.

6. Slip the completed decrease to the right needle to finish.

Work Crown Decreases:

Decrease rnd: *BrLsl, sl1yo, (brk, sl1yo) to 4 sts before m, BrRsl, sl1yo, slm, rep from * twice more. 12 sts decreased.

Next rnd: (sl1yo, brp) to EOR, slipping markers as you come to them.

Rep last 2 rnds 2[3, 3, 4, 4, 5] more times. 18[12, 18, 12, 18, 12] sts rem.

Sizes Baby, Child/Adult S, Adult L only:
Next rnd: *brk, sl1yo, BrRsl, sl1yo, slm, rep from * twice more. 12 sts rem.

ALL sizes: Next rnd: (sl1 with yarn in back, brp) to end.

Daniel's Hat in large, shown in Harrisville Nightshades

Finishing

Break yarn and draw through 12 remaining sts, going around all sts twice. Pull up tightly and fasten securely on inside. Weave in ends and block.

Optional: make pom-pom from leftover yarn and sew to hat securely.

Asha wearing Daniel's Brioche Hat

Download a print friendly pdf here.

Laura Chau

Laura is a Canadian knitter, designer, and editor.

Also in Blog

Garter Tab Cast-on Tutorial

by Laura Chau November 29, 2019 0 Comments

How to knit a garter tab cast on for top down shawls.

Moss DK and Moss Light - New Yarns from our Dye Studio

by Ysolda support@ysolda.com November 22, 2019 0 Comments

new product

Our latest Ysolda brand yarn is Moss, available as Moss DK and Moss Light (a fingerinf 4 ply). We chose the name because this 2-ply blend of British Blue Faced Leicester and Masham is soft, pillowy, and lustrous; it truly reminds me of walking on a mossy forest floor.

How to work Brioche Stitch in the round

by Laura Chau November 14, 2019 0 Comments

Brioche stitch is stretchy, squishy, fun to knit and oh so warm! Here are some helpful video tutorials from Ysolda to demonstrate how to knit brioche stitch in the round.

Daniel's Hat, a free pattern