On My Needles: 1898 Hat

I know you’ve seen it on your feed. Thousands of 1898 Hats have been knitted and I finally had to make one so that I could see what all the fuss is about.

Find the 1898 Hat pattern by Kristine Byrnes here.

To be honest, I was not in love with the look of the hat when I first set out to knit it. It seemed fairly basic, all garter and stockinette, and the pattern called for a single color of yarn. I thought it would be boring to work, too.

It was actually a very enjoyable knit with lovable results!

The most interesting thing about the pattern is its construction. The brim of the hat is worked flat, folded and seamed. The stitches on the side of the brim are then picked up and worked even, eventually decreasing in a familiar fashion to the crown. It’s a brilliantly simple way to add stretch and warmth to the brim, ensuring a single size fits most adults.

There are a few oddities about this pattern, like how the designer, Kristine Byrnes, assigned letters to the rows rather than numbers. Even though it’s unusual, it reads well and the pattern is easy to follow. I rewrote it in my own shorthand to fit on a single page, but it was hardly necessary as I committed the majority to memory by working it over and over.

My first 1898 Hat was knit on US #8/5.00 mm needles with Lion Brand Fishermen’s Wool in Natural Brown. I know the yarn and enjoy working with it, plus I felt it was a reasonable fit for a hat that seems designed for outdoor work in all types of weather.

The results were a bit pointier than I expected, but that seems to flatten out with wear.

My favorite thing about this version is that the stitches are noticeable, but not overwhelming. I think this pattern really shines in a single color.

My second 1898 Hat was knit on US #8/5.00 mm needles with Caron Skinny Cakes in Plum Pudding. The yarn was a bit thinner, which made the hat (especially the brim) much spongier. The colors look interesting together, but I wish I’d selected a variegated yarn that transitioned faster as I don’t feel enough of the colors were showcased.

Overall, I think this is a great pattern! It’s simple and fun with good-looking results, plus it’s fairly easy to customize.

Have you knit an 1898 Hat yet?