The Shaniko Hat rounds out the Shaniko collection with a quick, wearable project designed to build confidence with colorwork.

This hat is designed with newer colorwork knitters in mind. The motifs are worked with just two colors per round, floats are kept short and manageable, and shaping is simple and intuitive. The smaller circumference makes it an excellent project for practicing colorwork tension and dialing in gauge before committing to a larger garment.

Whether you’re using the Shaniko Hat as a warm-up for the sweater or enjoying it as a standalone project, it offers a satisfying balance of tradition, simplicity, and thoughtful design—perfect for savoring the process as much as the finished piece.

If you’re looking for something simpler you might enjoy the Shaniko Cowl, and if you’re up for more of a challenge—the Shaniko Sweater.

NOTES
Design & Construction: The Shaniko Hat is a classic beanie featuring small-scale, southwestern-inspired motifs designed with newer colorwork knitters in mind. Only two colors are ever used per round, motifs avoid long floats, and all decreases are worked between colorwork sections to keep the knitting intuitive and approachable. The brim feature classic 1x1 ribbing for a clean, structured edge.

Fit: This hat is designed to be worn with 10 to 15% negative ease. To choose your best size, measure your head circumference at its fullest point. Multiply this number by your preferred ease percentage, then subtract that amount from your head circumference. Select the size with a finished circumference closest to your result.

Yarn: The yarn estimates provided in this pattern are approximations, calculated to allow for both a sizable swatch and the sweater, with a small margin of error. Your actual yarn usage may vary based on factors such as your personal gauge, the yarn’s characteristics (e.g., fiber content, ply, thickness), and any modifications you make to the pattern.

Stitch Patterns: The stranded colorwork stitch pattern in this sweater are only charted, so you should be confident in your chart reading skills—or be open to learning!

Additional Notes: See the Notes section of the pattern for additional info on sizing & fit considerations, choosing colors that make the motifs stand out and helpful tips on knitting stranded colorwork.

SIZES
(1, 2, 3)
Sized to fit (12 Months/Child, Adult Small/Medium, Adult Large)
#sizeinclusive

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
The circumference as measured at the widest point of the crown is as follows.
(16, 18.75, 21.25) in.
(40, 47, 53) cm

This hat is designed to be worn with 10 to 15% negative ease. The sample is shown in Size 2 with 11% negative ease.

YARN
Worsted weight
MC: (30, 35, 50) g/(70, 85, 120) yds or (65, 80, 110) m
CC1: (10, 15, 20) g/(25, 35, 50) yds or (25, 30, 45) m
CC2: (10, 10, 10) g/(25, 25, 25) yds or (25, 25, 25) m
CC3: (5, 10, 10) g/(10, 25, 25) yds or (10, 25, 25) m

SUGGESTED YARN
Wool & Palette Shaniko (100 g/240 yds (219 m)) – 100% non-superwash Merino/Rambouillet
MC: 1 skein
CC2: 1 skein
CC3: 1 skein
Spincycle Yarns Dream State (65 g/150 yds (137 m)) – 100% superwash American wool
CC1: 1 skein
The sample hat is knit in the colorways Salamander (MC), Written in the Stars (CC1), Marmalade (CC2), and Narwhal (CC3).

NEEDLES
Needle A (body): US 8 (5 mm)
Needle B (ribbing): US 6 (4 mm)

For each needle size, you will need circular needles measuring 14 in. (35 cm) or your preferred method for smaller circumference knitting (such as magic loop, short circular needles, or double-pointed needles).

GAUGE
Measure gauge on Needle A in the round, after blocking.

18 sts and 22 rows = 4 in. (10 cm) in stranded colorwork

SKILLS TO USE (OR LEARN!)
Knitting
Purling
Decreasing
Knitting in the round
Tubular cast-on
Stranded colorwork
1x1 ribbing

Perfect for newer colorwork knitters that are looking for an approachable and beautiful accessory to practice their stranded knitting skills.