Artifact Hat

Artifact Hat by Erica Heusser

What Is Being Made

The Artifact Hat is a versatile, unisex knitted hat designed for both men and women. This downloadable knitting pattern features a lightweight construction accentuated by a folded ribbed band positioned around the ears for added warmth. The hat incorporates an intricate stranded colorwork motif inspired by ancient pottery and architectural design, combined with a subtle slouch for a contemporary, relaxed fit.

Craft and Techniques

This pattern is executed entirely through knitting, specifically using the stranded colorwork technique. Stranded colorwork, also known as Fair Isle knitting, involves carrying two colors of yarn simultaneously while working from a chart, creating intricate patterned designs by switching between colors on each row. The Artifact Hat is designed to be knitted in the round, a technique that creates seamless, tubular fabric ideal for hat construction.

The pattern is recommended for intermediate level knitters who are comfortable with the following skills: reading from knitting charts, managing stranded colorwork tension, and working in the round. The folded ribbed band requires understanding basic ribbing construction and the technique of folding the finished ribbed section to create a double-layered edge that enhances warmth without excessive bulk.

Stitches Used

The Artifact Hat employs fundamental knitting stitches combined with stranded colorwork techniques. The folded ribbed band utilizes knit and purl stitches in alternating patterns to create the characteristic textured appearance of ribbing. The main body of the hat features stockinette stitch as the base fabric, with the stranded colorwork motif created by knitting stitches in alternating colors according to the provided chart. This combination of basic stitches with strategic color changes produces the pottery and architectural-inspired pattern.

Materials and Yarn

The Artifact Hat is designed for fingering/sock weight yarn, which falls into the 3-ply and 4-ply yarn weight categories. The pattern requires approximately 230 yards of Main Color yarn and approximately 50 yards of Contrast Color yarn. The pictured samples were knitted with Malabrigo Sock yarn, with one hat featuring Eggplant as the main color paired with Indiecita as the contrast color, and the second hat using Candombe as the main color with Turner as the contrast color.

The pattern calls for one 16-inch circular needle in 3.0mm (US size 2.5) or the size required to achieve proper gauge, along with 3.0mm (US size 2.5) double-pointed needles (DPNs) or a longer circular needle for the Magic Loop method. The Magic Loop method offers an alternative to DPNs for working small circumferences in the round, allowing knitters to use a single long circular needle instead of multiple shorter needles.

Pattern Format

The Artifact Hat pattern is provided as a downloadable PDF, making it accessible for immediate digital access and printing. This format allows knitters to reference the pattern on screens or printed pages while working, with charts clearly displayed for following the stranded colorwork design throughout the hat's construction.