Aslyn by Vanessa Smith

Aslyn

Knitting
April 2019
Sport (12 wpi) ?
26.5 stitches and 71 rows = 4 inches
US 3 - 3.25 mm
US 5 - 3.75 mm
3.25 mm (D)
190 - 240 yards (174 - 219 m)
S (M, L)
English
This pattern is available for $8.00 USD buy it now

It all started during a dream weekend in Victoria, British Columbia—live music, incredible food, and an afternoon spent wandering through Victoria’s oldest yarn store, the Beehive Wool Shop (because obviously). I was there with one of my favorite people in the world—the kind of person who makes every moment brighter, every adventure more fun, and who appreciates handmade gifts like no one else.

That’s when she spotted it: a skein of rich, golden yarn, glowing like the late afternoon sun. She’s not a knitter, but I could see the way her eyes lit up, the way she held onto that skein just a little longer than necessary. That was all I needed. I just had to offer to make her something with it, and she excitedly said she’d love a hat. Something with an all-over, diamond-like stitch.

She also happens to love pineapples, and by pure coincidence the stitch pattern I chose for this hat actually made it look like one. So it was only fitting that this golden, textured beauty became affectionately known as her pineapple hat—a little bold, a little unexpected, and a whole lot of fun to wear.

Even to this day, she tells me when she’s worn it and received compliments. People always ask where she got it, and she proudly tells them her cousin made it for her. And now? You can knit it for someone you love (or yourself) too.

What makes Aslyn special?

  • A hemmed, twisted rib brim that flows seamlessly into a striking lattice texture—the kind of stitch that’s engaging to knit and satisfying to look at.

  • Smooth transitions throughout: brim to stitch pattern, stitch pattern to crown. No awkward bumps or jarring changes. The design feels intentional all the way through.

  • A finished hat that looks polished. Wear it snug or slouchy, in solids or variegated yarns. It holds up beautifully either way.

  • A result that gets noticed. Expect people to ask where you got it (and yes, you can say you made it).

  • For extra fun, add a pom pom! I sewed a ring and toggle clasp into the crown, making it easy to swap pom poms on and off.

What you get

  • Three comfy sizes, so you can dial in the fit for whoever’s wearing it.

  • Clear, detailed instructions + a video tutorial for the chained provisional cast on; step-by-step guidance for the lattice stitch; and both charted and written directions, so you can follow your preferred style.

  • A pattern that teaches you something. Test knitters consistently mentioned learning new techniques that translate to other projects.

  • Instant PDF download. Start tonight if you want.

The Knitty-Gritty

Description
Aslyn is a fun-to-knit and easy-to-wear hat featuring beautifully simple textures that together have a dramatic effect. The hemmed, twisted rib brim transitions uninterrupted into a unique, allover lattice texture, which then blends organically into the crown shaping. This hat looks great in both variegated and solid colorways and worn either snug or slouchy!

Sizes
S (M, L)

Finished Measurements
14½ (16½, 18)” / 37 (42, 46) cm circumference at brim, unstretched; 7 (8¼, 8¼)” / 18 (21, 21) cm tall

Hat shown in size M on 21¼” (54 cm) head.

Yarn
190 (215, 240) yards / 174 (197, 219) meters plied sport weight yarn

Hat shown in Malabrigo Arroyo sport weight, 100% superwash merino wool in colorway ‘Glitter.’

Needles & Hooks

  • US 5 (3.75 mm) circular needle, 16” (40 cm)
  • US 3 (3.25 mm) circular needle, 16” (40 cm)
  • Spare US 3 (3.25 mm) or no more than 2 sizes smaller circular needle, 16” (40 cm)
  • Appropriate needle(s) of the same size for your preferred method of knitting small circumferences in the round
  • Size D (3.25 mm) crochet hook (for provisional cast on)

Change needle size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.

Gauge

Main Stitch Pattern: 26.5 sts and 71 rnds = 4” (10 cm), in the rnd using larger needles, unblocked and unstretched

Notions

  • (1) Stitch marker for beginning of round
  • Waste yarn (in a contrasting color; smooth; and no thicker than working yarn)
  • Cable needle
  • Tapestry needle

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