Snabela

Snabela Knit Hat by Helena Granholm

What is Being Made

Snabela is a knitted hat design created by independent designer Helena Granholm. This intermediate-level project combines colorwork and shaping techniques to produce a finished hat suitable for various head sizes. The design features a patterned body section worked in the round, followed by a shaped crown that tapers to a fitted finish.

Craft and Primary Technique

This project uses knitting as its primary craft method. The hat is worked primarily in the round using circular needles, with a transition to double-pointed needles (DPNs) when the circumference becomes too small for circular needles to work comfortably. This construction method is typical for seamless, tubular garments like hats and ensures a polished, professional finish without seaming.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The pattern employs several fundamental knitting stitches and techniques:

• Knit (K) – the basic stitch forming the foundation of the fabric
• Purl (P) – used in combination with knit stitches to create textural variation
• Knit 2 Together (K2tog) – a right-leaning decrease used to shape the crown and reduce stitch count as the hat tapers toward the top
• Colorwork from chart – the body features a charted pattern worked in two colors, allowing for decorative stranded or intarsia techniques

The main body is worked from a repeating 8-stitch pattern chart that is worked for 18 rounds, then the contrast color is introduced and the chart is repeated for 9 additional rounds before the contrast color is cut. The crown shaping begins with a decrease round of [K6, K2tog] repeated to establish the taper.

Needles and Tools

The Snabela pattern requires the following needle sizes:

• 4.0 mm/US 6 circular needle, 40 cm (16") length – for the initial body ribbing or cast-on edge
• 4.5 mm/US 7 circular needle, 40 cm (16") length – for the main body pattern section
• 4.5 mm double-pointed needles – for working the crown decreases when the stitch count becomes too small for circular needles

Always use needle sizes that achieve the correct gauge after blocking to ensure proper fit and finished dimensions.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern suggests WEST WOOL Tandem yarn for the body, a DK weight yarn containing 90% Falkland merino and 10% Texel fiber. This yarn is available in 230 m/250 yds per 100 g skein. The yardage requirements are approximately 55 grams of main color (MC) and 10 grams of contrast color (CC), making this a relatively yarn-efficient project.

Gauge

The correct gauge for Snabela is 24 stitches and 30 rows over 10 cm (4 inches) when measured in the main body pattern after blocking. Achieving gauge is essential for proper fit, as the hat is sized based on stitch and row counts. Always swatch and block your gauge swatch before beginning the project to verify your needle size will produce the intended dimensions.

Difficulty Level

Snabela is rated as an intermediate difficulty project. Knitters should be comfortable with circular needle techniques, reading charts, working with two colors, and executing decreases. While not a beginner project, it does not require advanced techniques such as cable work or complex lace patterns, making it accessible to knitters with some foundational experience.