Announcing: New Loom Knit Breezy Retreat Hat Pattern

Inside: Free loom knit Breezy Retreat Hat pattern in 2 sizes including written instructions, chart, optional color changes and tutorial videos.

Some like it hot, but most of us like to just be cool. Especially when it’s hot outside.

The Breezy Retreat Hat will keep you cool and stylish. This pattern is the perfect complement to my Retreat Cowl.  The drop stitches in the Indian Cross Stitch pattern gives the body of the hat an open texture making this an ideal hat for spring, summer or early fall.

This intermediate loom knit pattern combines several beautiful stitch patterns including the Diamond Lace Stitch, Indian Cross Stitch and Seagrass Stitch into a stunning work of wearable art.  

Pattern contains written instructions, chart, and links to fully-captioned tutorial videos.  Plus detailed instructions to make the striped hat shown above or a slouchy version of the hat.

The Retreat Cowl is the perfect match for Breezy Retreat Hat. The two together would make a beautiful gift. To get the free pattern click here: Loom Knit Retreat Cowl.

Breezy Retreat Hat

By Kristen Mangus

MATERIALS

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Yarn
Medium (#4) weight yarn
Mary Maxim Starlette (100 g / 3.5 oz.,165 m / 180 yds.) used in sample.

Loom
⅜” small gauge (SG) loom with at least 84 (96) pegs.
KB Flexee Loom Skinny (2 sets) used in sample.

Stitch markers
Tapestry needle
Row counter (optional)

ABBREVIATIONS
Approx = Approximate(ly)
Beg = Begin(ning)
BO = Bind off 
DLS = Diamond Lace Stitch
EK = Ewrap knit
EWYO = Ewrap yarnover
K = U-wrap knit
K2tog = Knit 2 sts together
P = Purl
Rep = Repeat
Rnd(s) = Round(s)
Sl = slip stitch; skip peg with working yarn at the back
St(s) = Stitch(es)
YO = Yarnover

For a refresher on loom knitting basics see the blog posts below to get started:
13 Questions for Beginner Loom Knitters
How to Loom Knit Basics (cast on, knit, purl, & bind off)
How to Loom Knit Basic Stitch Patterns (garter st, seed st and ribbing)
How to Loom Knit in the Round

GAUGE
Gauge is not important for this pattern.

SKILL LEVEL Intermediate

SIZES 
Medium (Large)

MEASUREMENTS
Approx. 22” (26”) circumference x 8.5” (8.75”)  long [56 (66) cm circumference x 21.5 (22) cm long]

NOTES 

Cast on:  I recommend the long tail or the chain cast on for this pattern.

Indian Cross Stitch section:  In the center section of Indian Cross Stitch some rounds do not begin on Peg 1.  Pay close attention during this portion and follow the chart.    See detailed notes in pattern instructions.

Knit stitches: Note that K denotes the U-wrap knit stitch and EK denotes E-wrap knit stitches.  They are not interchangeable in this pattern.

Ewrap Yarnover:  Peg must be Ewrapped to set up the stitch correctly. Do not use a yarnover that wraps only the front of the peg.

K2tog: Move stitch from Peg 2 to Peg 1 and knit together.  This decreases your count by 1 stitch.

Bind off: Bind off in pattern as follows.  Use the 1×1 rib pattern as you bind off alternating K1, P1.  Use an Ewrap Knit (instead of U-wrap knit) when binding off to give your bind off more stretch. The basic bind off in pattern is to Knit Peg 1, Purl Peg 2, move 2 onto 1 and knit off (bottom loop over top).  Since Peg 2 was purled, Knit Peg 3 and bind off.  Then Purl Peg 4 and continue to bind off in pattern.

Color changes: While this pattern is designed in one color, if you choose to switch colors I recommend doing so on “K all.” rounds only.  To duplicate the gray hat shown above see the detailed instructions at the end of the pattern.

To make it slouchy: For the Indian Cross Stitch section wrap each peg 4 times instead of 3 to increase the length of the hat.

INSTRUCTIONS

Cast on 84 (96) stitches in the round.

1×1 Ribbing pattern

Rnd 1: *K1, P1. Rep from * to end of round

Rnd 2-4: Rep Rnd 1 three times. 

Diamond Lace Stitch pattern

Rnd 5: *Sl, EK, EK previous slipped stitch and knit over both. Rep from * until working yarn is coming from last peg and Peg 1 has been worked 1 more time.

Rnds 6: Rep Rnd 5. 

Seagrass Stitch pattern

Rnd 7: *BO 1, EWYO rep from * to end of rnd.

Rnd 8: K all.

Rnds 9-10: Rep Rnds 7-8.

Rnd 11: P all.

Rnd 12: K all.

Rnd 13: P all.

Indian Cross Stitch pattern

*STEP 1 – Set-up Drop stitches

Rnd 14: *EK 1, then wrap same peg 3 times. Rep from * to last peg. EK 1. You do not need to wrap the last peg 3 times.

STEP 2 – Cross (drop) stitches [NOTE: Be sure to hold your working yarn to back of the loom at end of round before crossing.]

1. Unwrap and drop first 12-18 sts and 3-6 sts from end of round. Pull down drop stitches by tugging on knitting to guide the drop stitches to hang evenly. Do not pull down all drop stitch as they will be too loose and can fall off the loom.

2. Right cross 3 under 3 all the way around the loom as follows. The right 3 stitches are picked up with a cable needle or fingers and held back. Move the left 3 stitches to the right 3 empty pegs. Place stitches from cable needle to empty pegs on the left.

3. Repeat 1-2 until all sts are crossed. 

Rnd 15: P all. (These are the stitches you just crossed and they will be loose.)

Rnd 16: K all. 

Rnd 17: P all.

Rnds 18-21: Rep Rnds 14-17 for Indian Cross Stitch pattern but begin Rnd 18 on Peg 4.  You will cross the first 3 skipped stitches when you get to the end of the round.  This repeat of the stitch pattern is staggered from the round above.

Indian Cross Stitch Decreases

Rnds 22-25: 

Rnd 22: Rep Rnd 14 beginning on Peg 1.

Rnd 23: P all.

Rnd 24: *K2tog. Knit 4 moving each st to empty peg as you go. K2tog and move st to empty peg. Remove empty loom link. Knit 4. Place marker on next st. Rep from * around. 70 (80) sts.

Rnd 25: P all.

Rnds 26-29: 

Rnd 26: Work Indian Cross Stitch as in Rnd 14 but begin Rnd 26 on Peg 3 and adjust stitch pattern to cross 5 stitches (not 6):

1. Right cross 3 under 2 all the way around the loom as follows. The right 2 stitches are picked up with a cable needle or fingers and held back. Move the left 3 stitches to the right empty pegs. Place stitches from cable needle to empty pegs on the left.
2. You will cross the last stitches with first 2 skipped stitches, as above, when you get to the end of the round. This repeat of the stitch pattern is staggered from the round above.

Rnd 27: P all.

Rnd 28: K2tog. Knit 3 moving each st to empty peg as you go. K2tog and move to empty peg. Remove empty loom link. Knit 3. Rep from around. 56 (64) sts.

Rnd 29: P all.

Rnds 30-33: 

Rnd 30: Work Indian Cross Stitch as in Rnd 14 begin Rnd 30 on Peg 1 and adjust stitch pattern to cross 4 stitches:

1. Right cross 2 under 2 all the way around the loom as follows. The right 2 stitches are picked up with a cable needle or fingers and held back. Move the left 2 stitches to the right empty pegs. Place stitches from cable needle to empty pegs on the left.

Rnd 31: P all.

Rnd 32: K2tog. Knit 2 moving each st to empty peg as you go. K2tog and move to empty peg. Remove empty loom link. Knit 2. Rep from around. 42 (48) sts.

Rnd 33: P all.

Rnd 34: K2tog. Knit 1 moving each st to empty peg as you go. K2tog and move to empty peg. Remove empty loom link. Knit 1. Rep from around. 28 (32) sts.

Rnd 35: K all.

Rnd 36: K2tog placing st on empty peg. K2tog and move to empty peg. Remove empty loom link. Rep from * around. 14 (16) sts.

Rnd 37: K all.

For size Medium skip ahead to FINISHING.  Size Large only work Rnds 38-39.

Rnd 38: K2tog placing st on empty peg. K2tog and move to empty peg. Remove empty loom link. Rep from * around. (8) sts.

Rnd 39: K all.

FINISHING

Thread end through rem sts and draw up tightly. Fasten securely. Weave in tails

CHART – Breezy Retreat Hat 

(Chart shows 48 stitches only work the number of sts listed in the pattern for your hat size.)

PIN IT!

Video Tutorial

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I’ve got several videos that cover the entire pattern.

First, the Breezy Retreat Hat Pattern Overview & Decreased Crown video includes a complete walkthrough of the entire pattern and chart and demonstrates how to work the crown of the hat. Since decreases on the hat are worked in the Indian Cross Stitch pattern there are some necessary adjustments to the pattern that are shown in detail.

The other videos below show the stitch patterns used at the beginning of the hat. These videos were created for the Retreat Cowl, but aside from the number of stitches you work the hat in the same way.

Breezy Retreat Hat Pattern Overview & Decreased Crown

Clockwise

Counter Clockwise

Retreat Cowl Part 1: Ribbing and Diamond Lace Stitch

Clockwise

Counter Clockwise

Retreat Cowl Part 2: Seagrass Stitch and Indian Cross Stitch

Clockwise

Counter Clockwise

If you you enjoyed the Breezy Retreat Hat, you might also like these loom knit hat patterns:

Seagrass Hat
Edelweiss Hat
Elizabeth Hat
Bobble Button Newsboy
Basic Beanie (beginner pattern)
Boyfriend Hat
Stadium Stripes Hat
Easy Going Loom Knit Hat
Family Fair Isle Hats