Wave Hat + Wrap in Mode at Rowan Softest Alpaca - Downloadable PDF

Wave Hat + Wrap in Mode at Rowan Softest Alpaca — Pattern Summary

This downloadable PDF pattern from Quail Studio for Mode at Rowan includes instructions for two coordinating accessories: a seamless knitted Wave Hat and a Wave Wrap. Both pieces are worked in Mode at Rowan Softest Alpaca, a chunky-weight yarn sold in 50g balls, and are rated advanced beginner — making them an excellent next step for knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques and ready to explore colorwork and simple shaping.

Yarn and Materials

Both the hat and the wrap are knitted in Mode at Rowan Softest Alpaca, a chunky yarn available in three colorways used across both projects:

• Yarn A – Black 010
• Yarn B – Ash 012
• Yarn C – Pebble 013

The hat requires one 50g ball of each color, while the wrap requires two balls each of Black 010 and Ash 012, and one ball of Pebble 013. The softness of alpaca fiber makes these accessories particularly luxurious to wear, offering warmth without excessive weight — ideal for hats and wraps designed to drape and sit comfortably.

Both projects are worked on 5.5mm (US 9) needles. The hat uses a 5.5mm circular needle measuring 40cm in length to accommodate working in the round, while the wrap is worked flat on a standard pair of 5.5mm needles.

Tension

The stated tension for both pieces is 18 stitches and 24 rows to 10cm, measured over stocking stitch using 5.5mm (US 9) needles. Achieving correct tension is especially important for the hat, where fit depends on accurate stitch count, and for the wrap, where the finished dimensions are precise.

The Wave Hat

The Wave Hat is a seamless, in-the-round knitted hat designed to fit an average adult woman's head, with a finished circumference of approximately 50cm (19¾ inches). It is constructed entirely in the round using a circular needle, eliminating any seaming and producing a smooth, professional finish.

Construction and Techniques

• Cast on and ribbed brim: The hat begins by casting on 88 stitches in Yarn A (Black 010) and joining to work in the round. A 2x2 rib (knit 2, purl 2) is worked for 12cm, creating a stretchy, structured brim that sits snugly on the head.
• Color transition and increase round: After the rib, Yarn A is broken off and Yarn C (Pebble 013) is joined. A simple increase round using M1 (make one) increases the stitch count from 88 to 90 stitches, spacing the increases evenly to prepare for the colorwork section.
• Intarsia colorwork: The defining feature of the Wave Hat is its decorative wave motif, worked using the intarsia technique. Intarsia is a method of knitting with separate sections of color, where individual yarn lengths or bobbins are used for each color block rather than carrying yarn across the back of the work. This technique is particularly suited to bold, graphic motifs like the wave design. The 18-stitch chart repeat is worked 5 times across the round, incorporating Yarn A (Black 010) and Yarn B (Ash 012) alongside the background Yarn C. Only 7 rounds of the chart are worked, creating a striking but compact wave band on the body of the hat.
• Stocking stitch body: After the colorwork section, the hat continues in Yarn C only, knitting every round in stocking stitch until the hat measures 24cm from the cast-on edge.
• Crown shaping: The crown is shaped through a series of decrease rounds using K2tog (knit two together), alternating with plain knit rounds. The decre