Reverse stockinette stitch doesn’t get enough credit! The Retrowhirl Hat is a slightly slouchy, endlessly customizable reverse stockinette hat that can be knit in as few or many colors as your little heart desires.

The magic is that the entire hat is knit inside out, helix style, so there’s absolutely no purling, no carrying yarn up the inside, and no unsightly jogs between stripes. (Ok, I lied, there’s a little bit of purling in the ribbed cuff and the crown decreases. But only a little!)

Instructions are provided for both a single-color version, as well as a multicolored stripey version for using up scraps.

There’s also a matching cowl! Find the Retrowhirl Cowl pattern here: RETROWHIRL Cowl

Save $2 by adding both the hat and cowl patterns to your cart! No coupon needed! Discount applies automatically at checkout.

US knitting terminology used throughout.

Join the Yarn Hellions podcast first ever knit-along May 21 through July 2, 2021!

We’ll be casting on our Retrowhirl hats & cowls in Episode 13 which airs May 21, 2021, will share our progress in Episode 14 on June 4 and on Instagram all month long using hashtag #YHRetrowhirlKAL, and we’ll show our finished projects in Episode 15 on July 2!

More information on our YouTube channel or Instagram.

SIZES Baby Toddler, Kid, Teen

TO FIT HEAD CIRCUMFERENCE 15 16, 18, 20 in / 38 40.5, 45.5, 51 cm

YARN REQUIRED Approximately 132 164, 216, 252 yards / 121 150, 198, 230 m

SINGLE COLOR PURPLE SAMPLE SHOWN IN Teen size, approximately 252 yards / 230 m of Superfine Yarn Co. Erie Single (100% superwash merino, 400 yards / 367 m) fingering weight yarn in colorway Pennyroyal

SCRAPPY RED SAMPLE SHOWN IN Teen size, approximately 252 yards / 230 m of various fingering/sock weight yarn scraps from my stash

SUGGESTED NEEDLES US 3 / 3.25 mm or size needed to obtain gauge in preferred needles for small circumference knitting, and one size smaller for ribbed band; DPNs (optional)

ADDITIONAL NOTIONS Tapestry needle; scissors; 1 stitch marker in a unique color to indicate BOR, 2 stitch markers for helix color changes; 7 8, 9, 10 additional stitch markers for decreases (optional)

GAUGE 28 sts and 40 rnds = 4 in / 10 cm in stockinette stitch in the round on larger needles, gently blocked

SKILLS REQUIRED Casting on stitches, knowledge of basic knitting stitches including simple increases and decreases, helix knitting on circular needles (instructions & video tutorial provided)

I love seeing your finished projects! Please share on social media using hashtag #RetrowhirlHat and #ChristineParkerCo and tag me on Instagram @ChristineParkerCo so I can see & share it!