I have this friend with a life-long dream, and after deferring that dream for 20 years, she’s finally going for it. Her name is Lauren (I promise this isn’t a story about myself!), and she’s a sailor. She’s also a mom of two elementary schoolers and a small business owner. After putting aside her Olympic dreams as a college student, she’s going for it now, with sights set on joining Team USA for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
The thing is, chasing down a dream of this magnitude is expensive. There are travel costs, coaches and training, boat rentals for international regattas, and so much more.
That’s why, for the first month of this pattern’s release, I’ll be donating $2 from each pattern sale to the 501(c)(3) nonprofit that’s funding Lauren’s campaign. I’ll also be donating 100% of the ad revenue from this blog post for the first month (the pattern will be free here for a limited time as part of a KAL in my Facebook group). Megs and Co, who dyed this amazing custom colorway to match Lauren’s team branding, is also donating 10% of proceeds if you’d like to order some of the same yarn.
15 knots is Lauren’s favorite wind speed, because it’s just strong enough to sail hard without having to move into survival mode. I also thought it was a fun play on words, because we knitters love our knots of a different sort. This hat is graded to four sizes with an extra deep, fold-up brim to keep your ears warm when the wind picks up.
I try my very best to make sure that all my patterns are error-free and easy to follow. If you have any trouble with this pattern, please let me know! Please send help requests to help@abeeinthebonnet.com.
And of course, if you share photos of your project on social media, I’d love to see them! Please tag your photos with #15KnotsHat and #ABITBKnits to share with others.
Pattern Specs
| SIZES | 1, 2, 3, 4. Finished hat dimensions: 15.5 (18, 20.5, 23.5) in / 39.5 (45.5, 52, 59.5) cm (Note: most people like their hats snug, so if that’s what you’re looking for, choose a finished hat size that is somewhat smaller than your actual head) |
| MATERIALS | Heavy DK/light worsted weight yarn, 180 (205, 230, 265) yds / 165 (188, 211, 243) m Sample shown in Megs & Co. Ghost Town DK, 100% Merino & Rambouillet superwash wool, 228 yds (208 m) per 3.5 oz (100 g) |
| GAUGE | 4” (10 cm) square = 24 stitches x 31 rows in hat body stitch pattern |
| NEEDLES | One set of needles for your preferred style of small-circumference knitting in a size to match gauge listed above Suggested needle size: US 8 (5.0 mm) |
| TOOLS | One stitch marker for beginning of round; optional additional markers between pattern repeats Tapestry needle for weaving in ends |
| SKILL LEVEL | Intermediate. Techniques include knitting in the round, cables, increases, pinhole cast-on, tubular bind-off |
Abbreviations
- 1/1 LC = slip one stitch to cable needle and hold in front of work. Knit one stitch. Place slipped stitch back onto left hand needle and knit.
- 1/1 RC = slip one stitch to cable needle and hold in back of work. Knit one stitch. Place slipped stitch back onto left hand needle and knit.
- k = knit
- kfbf = knit into the front, then back, then front again of the same stitch
- p = purl
- sts = stitches
Pattern Instructions
Using the magic circle cast-on or pinhole cast-on, cast on four stitches. Work the crown increases as follows:
Round 1: Knit to end of round.
Round 2: Kfbf to end of round. (12 sts)
Round 3: *P1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 4: *P1, kfbf, p1; repeat from * to end of round. (20 sts)
Round 5: *P1, k3, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 6: *P1, k1, kfbf, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round. (28 sts)
Round 7: *(P1, k1) × 3, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 8: *P1, k1, p1, kfbf, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round. (36 sts)
Round 9: *P1, k1, p1, k3, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 10: *(P1, k1) × 2, kfbf, (k1, p1) × 2; repeat from * to end of round. (44 sts)
Round 11: *P1, k1, p1, k5, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 12: *P1, k1, p1, 1/1 RC, kfbf, 1/1 LC, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round. (52 sts)
Round 13: *P1, k1, p1, k7, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 14: *P1, k1, p1, k3, kfbf, k3, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round. (60 sts)
Round 15: *P1, k1, p1, k9, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 16: *P1, k1, p1, k2, 1/1 RC, kfbf, 1/1 LC, k2, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round. (68 sts)
Round 17: *P1, k1, p1, k4, p1, k1, p1, k7; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 18: *P1, k1, p1, 1/1 RC, k2, p1, kfbf, p1, k2, 1/1 LC, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round. (76 sts)
Round 19: *P1, k1, p1, k4, p1, k3, p1, k4, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 20: *P1, k1, p1, k2, 1/1 RC, p1, k1, kfbf, k1, p1, 1/1 LC, k2, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round. (84 sts)
Round 21: *P1, k1, p1, k4, (p1, k1) × 3, p1, k4, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 22: *P1, k1, p1, 1/1 RC, k2, p1, k1, p1, kfbf, p1, k1, p1, k2, 1/1 LC, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round. (92 sts)
Size 1 stops increasing here and moves on to the Hat Body section, below. Sizes 2-4 continue increasing as follows.
Round 23: *P1, k1, p1, k4, p1, k1, p1, k3, p1, k1, p1, k4, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 24: *P1, k1, p1, k2, 1/1 RC, (p1, k1) × 2, kfbf, (k1, p1) × 2, 1/1 LC, k2, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round. (100 sts)
Round 25: *P1, k1, p1, k4, (p1, k1) × 5, p1, k4, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 26: *P1, k1, p1, 1/1 RC, k2, (p1, k1) × 2, p1, kfbf, (p1, k1) × 2, p1, k2, 1/1 LC, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round. (108 sts)
Size 2 stops increasing here and moves on to the Hat Body section, below. Sizes 3 and 4 continue increasing as follows.
Round 27: *P1, k1, p1, k4, (p1, k1) × 2, p1, k3, (p1, k1) × 2, p1, k4, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 28: *P1, k1, p1, k2, 1/1 RC, (p1, k1) × 3, kfbf, (k1, p1) × 3, 1/1 LC, k2, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round. (116 sts)
Round 29: *P1, k1, p1, k4, (p1, k1) × 7, p1, k4, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 30: *P1, k1, p1, 1/1 RC, k2, (p1, k1) × 3, p1, kfbf, (p1, k1) × 3, p1, k2, 1/1 LC, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round. (124 sts)
Size 3 stops increasing here and moves on to the Hat Body section, below. Size 4 continues increasing as follows.
Round 31: *P1, k1, p1, k4, (p1, k1) × 3, p1, k3, (p1, k1) × 3, p1, k4, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 32: *P1, k1, p1, k2, 1/1 RC, (p1, k1) × 4, kfbf, (k1, p1) × 4, 1/1 LC, k2, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round. (132 sts)
Round 33: *P1, k1, p1, k4, (p1, k1) × 9, p1, k4, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 34: *P1, k1, p1, 1/1 RC, k2, (p1, k1) × 4, p1, kfbf, (p1, k1) × 4, p1, k2, 1/1 LC, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round. (140 sts)
Hat Body
For the body of the hat, each size has its own instructions. Find the instructions for the size you’re knitting and work them a total of 5 times. Charts for each size are included at the end of this pattern.
Size 1:
Round 1: *P1, k1, p1, k4, p1, k1, p1, k3, p1, k1, p1, k4, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 2: *P1, k1, p1, k2, 1/1 RC, p1, k1, p1, k3, p1, k1, p1, 1/1 LC, k2, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 3: *P1, k1, p1, k4, p1, k1, p1, k3, p1, k1, p1, k4, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 4: *P1, k1, p1, 1/1 RC, k2, p1, k1, p1, k3, p1, k1, p1, k2, 1/1 LC, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Size 2:
Round 1: *P1, k1, p1, k4, (p1, k1) × 2, p1, k3, (p1, k1) × 2, p1, k4, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 2: *P1, k1, p1, k2, 1/1 RC, (p1, k1) × 2, p1, k3, (p1, k1) × 2, p1, 1/1 LC, k2, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 3: *P1, k1, p1, k4, (p1, k1) × 2, p1, k3, (p1, k1) × 2, p1, k4, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 4: *P1, k1, p1, 1/1 RC, k2, (p1, k1) × 2, p1, k3, (p1, k1) × 2, p1, k2, 1/1 LC, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Size 3:
Round 1: *P1, k1, p1, k4, (p1, k1) × 3, p1, k3, (p1, k1) × 3, p1, k4, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 2: *P1, k1, p1, k2, 1/1 RC, (p1, k1) × 3, p1, k3, (p1, k1) × 3, p1, 1/1 LC, k2, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 3: *P1, k1, p1, k4, (p1, k1) × 3, p1, k3, (p1, k1) × 3, p1, k4, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 4: *P1, k1, p1, 1/1 RC, k2, (p1, k1) × 3, p1, k3, (p1, k1) × 3, p1, k2, 1/1 LC, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Size 4:
Round 1: *P1, k1, p1, k4, (p1, k1) × 4, p1, k3, (p1, k1) × 4, p1, k4, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 2: *P1, k1, p1, k2, 1/1 RC, (p1, k1) × 4, p1, k3, (p1, k1) × 4, p1, 1/1 LC, k2, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 3: *P1, k1, p1, k4, (p1, k1) × 4, p1, k3, (p1, k1) × 4, p1, k4, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 4: *P1, k1, p1, 1/1 RC, k2, (p1, k1) × 4, p1, k3, (p1, k1) × 4, p1, k2, 1/1 LC, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Hat Brim
Knit a k1, p1 ribbing for 5 in (13 cm). Bind off using the tubular bind-off or your preferred stretchy bind-off method. I strongly encourage you not to use the regular knitted bind-off, which will almost certainly be too tight for a folded-up brim and will result in the bound-off edge digging into your head.
Weave in all ends and block.
Chart A
Work each line 4 times to complete one round. For Size 1, stop after Round 22 and move on to Chart B. For Size 2, stop after Round 26 and move on to Chart C. For Size 3, stop after Round 30 and move on to Chart D. For Size 4, work all of Chart A and then move on to Chart E.
Chart B – Size 1 Body
Work each line 4 times to complete one round.
Chart C – Size 2 Body
Work each line 4 times to complete one round.
Chart D – Size 3 Body
Work each line 4 times to complete one round.
Chart E – Size 4 Body
Work each line 4 times to complete one round.
Credits
Tech editing: Bonnie Davis of Blue Crab Knits
Photography: Lauren Rad
Yarn Support: Megs and Co.
I try my very best to make sure that all my patterns are error-free and easy to follow. If you have any trouble with this pattern, please let me know! Please send help requests to help@abeeinthebonnet.com.
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