The Driftwood Dune Slouch Hat: A Free Knitting Pattern for a Textured, Brioche Beanie

Introducing the Driftwood Dune Slouch Hat

Embrace the cozy, textured allure of brioche knitting with this slouchy beanie, featuring a subtle, two-tone gradient that mimics the shifting sands of a coastal dune. This pattern is perfect for intermediate knitters looking to master a stunning, reversible fabric. The Driftwood Dune Slouch Hat is a modern, minimalist accessory that combines warmth with a sophisticated, handcrafted look. Its lofty, cloud-like texture is achieved through the two-color brioche stitch, creating a piece that is as enjoyable to knit as it is to wear.

Materials Needed

Before you begin, gather the following materials to ensure a smooth knitting experience.

• Yarn: Worsted weight yarn in two colors:
  • Color A (Sand Dune): A warm, light beige. Approximately 150 yards.
  • Color B (Driftwood): A cool, medium gray. Approximately 150 yards.
• Needles:
  • US 7 (4.5 mm) 16-inch circular needle for the body.
  • US 7 (4.5 mm) double-pointed needles (DPNs) for the crown decreases.
• Other: Stitch marker, tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Gauge: 18 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches in brioche stitch (after blocking). Achieving the correct gauge is essential for the hat to fit properly.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Abbreviations

• CO: Cast on
• K: Knit
• P: Purl
• sl1yo: Slip 1 stitch purlwise with yarn over (bring yarn to front, slip stitch, bring yarn over needle to back)
• brk: Brioche knit (knit the stitch together with its yarn over)
• brp: Brioche purl (purl the stitch together with its yarn over)
• k2tog: Knit two together
• ssk: Slip, slip, knit (decrease)
• DPNs: Double-pointed needles

Notes

• This hat is worked in the round from the brim up.
• The brioche stitch creates a reversible, lofty fabric. The two colors alternate every two rows.
• The brim is worked in a twisted rib for a snug fit.

Instructions

Brim

With Color A, CO 96 stitches using the long-tail cast on. Place a stitch marker and join in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.

Round 1: *K1 through the back loop (twisted knit), P1; repeat from * around.

Repeat Round 1 for a total of 10 rounds. This creates a firm, elastic brim that will hold its shape.

Body (Brioche Stitch)

Switch to working brioche stitch in two colors. The pattern uses a two-row repeat for each color. Pay close attention to the color changes.

Setup Round (Color A): *sl1yo, K1; repeat from * around. This round sets up the brioche structure by creating yarn overs on every other stitch.

Round 1 (Color A): *brk, sl1yo; repeat from * around. (Knit the stitch together with its yarn over, then slip the next stitch with a yarn over.)

Round 2 (Color B): *sl1yo, brp; repeat from * around. (Slip the first stitch with a yarn over, then purl the next stitch together with its yarn over.)

Round 3 (Color B): *brp, sl1yo; repeat from * around. (Purl the stitch together with its yarn over, then slip the next stitch with a yarn over.)

Round 4 (Color A): *sl1yo, brk; repeat from * around. (Slip the first stitch with a yarn over, then knit the next stitch together with its yarn over.)

Repeat Rounds 1-4 until the hat measures approximately 8 inches from the cast-on edge, ending after a Round 4 (a Color A round).

Crown Decreases

Switch to DPNs when the stitches become too tight for the circular needle. Continue working in brioche stitch, but now decrease stitches evenly across each round. The decreases are worked on the 'knit' side of the brioche (the brk stitches).

Decrease Round 1 (Color A): *sl1yo, k2tog (knit the next stitch together with its yarn over, and the following stitch together with its yarn over - this decreases 2 stitches into 1); repeat from * around. (48 stitches remain)

Decrease Round 2 (Color B): *sl1yo, brp; repeat from * around. (No decrease, just pattern)

Decrease Round 3 (Color B): *brp, sl1yo; repeat from * around.

Decrease Round 4 (Color A): *sl1yo, ssk (slip next stitch with its yarn over, slip the following stitch with its yarn over, knit them together through the back loops); repeat from * around. (24 stitches remain)

Decrease Round 5 (Color B): *sl1yo, brp; repeat from * around.

Decrease Round 6 (Color B): *brp, sl1yo; repeat from * around.

Decrease Round 7 (Color A): *sl1yo, k2tog; repeat from * around. (12 stitches remain)

Finishing

Cut yarn, leaving a 12-inch tail. Thread the tail through the remaining 12 stitches using a tapestry needle. Pull tight to close the top of the hat securely. Weave in all ends on the inside of the hat. Block the hat gently by wetting it and laying it flat to dry, shaping it to open up the brioche texture and achieve the final dimensions.