Aquilegia

Aquilegia Hat by Mathieu Arnold

What is Being Made

The Aquilegia hat is a knitted design inspired by the aquilegia plant genus, featuring a sophisticated crown construction with pleated details. This downloadable PDF pattern offers two distinct size options: a fitted Medium version and a slouchy Large version, allowing knitters to customize the fit and drape of the finished hat.

Techniques Used

The Aquilegia hat employs several intermediate-level knitting techniques to create its distinctive aesthetic. The design features simple eyelet panels that are strategically folded into pleats, resulting in a crown that showcases seed stitch as the primary textural element. This combination of eyelets and pleating creates visual interest while maintaining structural integrity. The pattern requires careful attention to shaping and folding instructions, making it suitable for knitters with intermediate experience who are comfortable working with stitch manipulation and garment construction.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch: Used as the foundation fabric and for gauge measurement
• Seed Stitch: Featured prominently in the eyelet panels and as the primary texture on the finished crown
• Eyelets: Simple eyelet stitches create decorative openings in the panels that are later folded into pleats

Materials and Specifications

This pattern calls for DK weight yarn, with yardage requirements varying by size: the Medium size requires 140 meters (130 yards), while the Large slouchy version requires 180 meters (175 yards). The original pattern was worked in La Fée Fil DK merino yarn in the colorway Cyanocitta cristata.

Needles and notions required include: US 6 (4 mm) circular needles or double-pointed needles for the main knitting, sized to achieve the specified gauge. Knitters should also have two additional double-pointed needles or cable needles in a size equal to or smaller than the main needles for stitch manipulation during the pleating and crown construction.

Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 18 stitches and 24 rows over 10 centimeters (4 inches) when measured in stockinette stitch. Achieving accurate gauge is essential for proper fit, particularly given the two distinct sizing options offered in this design.

The designer strongly recommends reading all instructions and the abbreviations and techniques section completely before casting on, ensuring knitters understand the pleating construction and crown shaping before beginning the project.