About
The Knockmoyle Hat is named for the townland of Knockmoyle in County Mayo, Ireland—a place whose name means “the bare hill.” Its landscape is marked by sweeping boglands and untamed hills, a terrain that whispers with stories of wildflowers and secrets carried on the wind.

When dreaming up this hat, I imagined one of my ancestors pausing atop a windswept knoll, boots rooted in the springy moss, eyes following clouds rolling over wide, open fields. The land here is ancient, shaped by time and weather, and its rare Atlantic bogs have guarded their treasures for generations—just as the art of Irish knitting has quietly endured through the hands of mothers and daughters, passing stitches and patterns from home to home.

This hat is an offering of warmth and shelter, something to pull on against the wild, unpredictable weather, like the home fires that call from cottage windows on stormy Irish nights.

Created in worsted weight and written for three sizes (with beanie and slouchy options), it’s the kind of knit that lets a confident beginner knitter sink in and simply enjoy the journey, while still offering enough interest for the seasoned maker—with both written and charted directions.

May it keep you cozy and connected to tradition, and may every cable and curve remind you of the enduring spirit of places like Knockmoyle—where beauty hides in the open, wild places, and simple things are cherished most of all.

Needles:
US 4 (3.5 mm) and US 6 (4.0 mm), 16” (40 cm) circular needles or needles needed to get gauge. US 6 (4.0 mm) double-pointed needles for crown decreases.

Suggested Yarn: Swans Island, Worsted, 1 skein, 80% Rambouillet Wool / 20% Alpaca; 210 yds (192 m)/ 80 g or any worsted-weight yarn of your choosing

Sample (beanie in medium) uses:
Spruce, approx. 141 yds (129 m) of worsted weight

Gauge: 23 stitches/32 rounds = 4” (10 cm) square in Body Pattern using US 6 (4.0 mm) needles.

Other Notions: cable needle, darning needle, 1 beginning of round marker and 5 (6, 7) stitch markers for repeats

Special Techniques:
Knit, purl, cables, increasing (m1r), decreasing (k2tog, ssk), cast on

Sizes:
S (M, L): To fit approx. 20 (22, 24)”; 50 (55, 60) cm head circumference

Unstretched Circumference (both styles): 14.5 (17, 19)“; 37 (43, 49) cm

Note: Due to the nature of cables, hat has negative ease. Cables expand when worn.

Final Measurements:
Beanie: Approx. 8“ (20 cm) tall.
Slouchy: Approx. 9.5” (24 cm) tall.