This mosaic hat is perfect for the knitter who has experience making a basic beanie-style hat and is feeling ready to experience mosaic colorwork! This hat pattern provides the perfect palate for that. This project is knit in the round, starting with familiar 1x1 ribbing, moving to a garter stitch mosaic chart, and ending with a short, simple crown decrease.

The mosaic chart is worked one color at a time, and uses simple, equally familiar stitches: knit, purl and slipped. The crown decreases are executed using ssk (slip, slip, knit) to create a left leaning swirl effect, and after you cinche those final stitches, you can add a pom-pom, tassel or go bare, letting the mosaic pattern tell the whole story.

Whatever you choose to do, we highly recommend choosing two highly contrasting colorways for the best results when using this pattern!

This pattern was part of the Fort Vancouver Knitters Guild 2025 KAL and class for our biannual knitting retreat. If you live in Vancouver, WA or Portland, OR or surrounding areas, feel free to check us out here! All are welcome.

Specifications

Sizes: Adult (XS/S , M/L , XL)

Finished Dimensions:
Finished hat circumference: (18, 20, 22) inches
Finished hat length from crown to earlobe: (8, 8.5, 9) inches
To fit head circumferences: (19-20, 21-22, 23-24) inches. To be worn with 1-2” of negative ease

Gauge:
20sts/42rds/4 inches in mosaic chart, wet blocked
20sts/32rds/4inches in stockinette stitch, wet blocked

Estimate Yardage:
MC (46g/115yds / 50g/125yds / 55g/138yds)
CC ( 23g/55yds / 24g/60 yds / 25g/63yds)

Suggested Yarn:

This pattern requires 2 colors. We recommend choosing contrasting colors in a similar DK or worsted weight yarn that achieves gauge can be substituted. 100% wool yarn with a nice spring to it is recommended to best show the colorwork while maintaining spring for the ribbing.

Samples were knit using:
Knitted Wit Victory DK in colorways “Tree Bark” (MC) and “Tugboat”(CC) (Victory DK has been replaced by Knitted Wit DK).
Knit Picks Swish DK in colorways “Cobblestone” (MC) and “Karma Heather”2 (CC)
Coates & Co. Studio DK Superwash Merino in colorways “Dark Teal” (MC) and “Bright Peach” (CC)

Other recommended yarns:
Berroco Ultrawool DK
Malabrigo Rios

Needles:
US6/4mm 16 inch circulars OR a size or two down to firm up the brim more elastic (This pattern is written assuming circular needles and dpns, but you may use Magic Loop method)
US6/4mm dpns, or any combination of needles and yarn that achieve gauge.
Can opt for a needle size down to tighten ribbing as desired

Notions:
1 stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round, and (8, 9, 10) stitch markers to delineate colorwork repeats.

Darning needle, scissors, waste yarn.

Here is a helpful article on mosaic knitting in-the-round over at interweave Knits: https://www.interweave.com/article/knitting/tech-tip-mosa...

This pattern has been tested :slightly_smiling_face: