Hats to Get Your Through the Seasons

As much as I’m thinking about it still being winter for a while, I’m also longing for spring and ready to knit something a little bit cooler than the big bulky wool things I’ve been stitching lately.

No matter which way you’re feeling or how the weather is where you live, this collection of hat knitting patterns will see you through the seasons in style.

For those still living with (or bracing for) winter, the Waves Hat from Yarnspirations and the Retro Ski Hats (PDF, designed by Tanis Gray) from Imperial Yarns both have a great retro appeal, and colors that are sure to make the winter a little less gloomy feeling.

Lion Brand’s Lace Beret kind of straddles the seasons in that it’s worked in a somewhat warm yarn (Vanna’s Sequins) but also includes lace for ventilation.

And speaking of lace, the Lace-Topped Cap by Meg Meyers and the Eyelet Arch Hat by Susan Mills, both for Classic Elite Yarns, speak of spring to me, with their finer yarns and more delicate eyelets.

Thinking of knitting a hat? I’d love to hear what you’re planning.

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It felt like it had been a while since I’d done a roundup of knitting patterns involving sheep, and if search is any indication, that is true. I found a roundup of patterns for knit sheep from a few years ago, but the only one with v I could find is from 2015. So it’s definitely time to revisit this fun genre of knitting patterns.

This all started with a headband. Alyssa Kaat’s Icelandic Sheep Headband (free on Ravelry) to be specific. Ravelry showed it to me as a pattern highlight and I couldn’t resist taking a closer look. It’s worked with two colors of worsted weight yarn and alternates sheep with stars around your head.

Another great sheepy headband is this one from Loch Fyne Crafts on Etsy. These sweet little sheep are worked in bulky yarn and you can make the background look like field and sky or work it in a solid color.

Or make a headband (or a hat, cowl, or all three) covered with a flock of sheep with this set of patterns from New Age Knitting CA. These pieces also use the field/sky coloring, but you can use whatever colors of worsted weight yarn you like.

Speaking of hats, there’s also the sheep hat from Lynann Knits Designs. The sample was worked in Icelandic wool to make the sheep and the hat extra fuzzy and warm, but any worsted weight yarn will work.

There’s also the Wandering Sheep hat from Kat Hudon (on Ravelry), which features a fun collection of speckled sheep that can be worked in different yarn weights to make different sizes of hats for kids and adults.

And lest you think sheep need to be knit in traditional stranded colorwork, check out the Rebel Sheep Mob blanket by Deborah Moore. This one is worked in mosaic knitting using fingering weight yarn. In mosaic knitting you’re only working with one color per row so it’s pretty easy. You can find this pattern on Ravelry.

I can’t possibly share sheep knitting patterns without mentioning the amazing Black Sheep Shadow Shawl by Mark Jamieson. Shadow knitting is a technique I want to do more of, but it involves working two rows alternating in two different colors and the pattern emerges when you look at the design from an angle. It’s so cool and the sheep on this one are amazing! It’s not a beginner project but well worth the work. You can find it on Ravelry or at the designer’s website.

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