Shaniko Hat

THE SHANIKO HAT rounds out the Shaniko collection with a quick, wearable project designed to build confidence with colorwork. Like the Shaniko Sweater and Shaniko Cowl, it draws inspiration from Shaniko, Oregon(1)—a place deeply tied to the history of wool production in the American West—and translates that legacy into a modern, accessible knit.

This hat is designed with newer colorwork knitters in mind. The motifs are worked with just two colors per round, floats are kept short and manageable, and shaping is simple and intuitive. The smaller circumference makes it an excellent project for practicing colorwork tension and dialing in gauge before committing to a larger garment. Whether you’re using the Shaniko Hat as a warm-up for the sweater or enjoying it as a standalone project, it offers a satisfying balance of tradition, simplicity, and thoughtful design—perfect for savoring the process as much as the finished piece.

(1)The area around Shaniko, Oregon, is within the traditional territories of several Indigenous peoples, particularly the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (Wasco, Warm Springs, and Paiute), though specific ancestral land claims for the immediate Shaniko site point toward broader Columbia Plateau groups like the Wasco and potentially the Cayuse/Nez Perce who frequented Central Oregon, with later treaties impacting these lands, a common thread for all Oregon tribes being the ancestors of the Grand Ronde and Siletz tribes.

  • Design & Construction: The Shaniko Hat is a classic beanie featuring small-scale, southwestern-inspired motifs designed with newer colorwork knitters in mind. Only two colors are ever used per round, motifs avoid long floats, and all decreases are worked between colorwork sections to keep the knitting intuitive and approachable. The brim feature classic 1x1 ribbing for a clean, structured edge.

    Fit: This hat is designed to be worn with 10 to 15% negative ease. To choose your best size, measure your head circumference at its fullest point. Multiply this number by your preferred ease percentage, then subtract that amount from your head circumference. Select the size with a finished circumference closest to your result.

    Yarn: The yarn estimates provided in this pattern are approximations, calculated to allow for both a sizable swatch and the sweater, with a small margin of error. Your actual yarn usage may vary based on factors such as your personal gauge, the yarn’s characteristics (e.g., fiber content, ply, thickness), and any modifications you make to the pattern.

    Stitch Patterns: The stranded colorwork stitch pattern in this sweater are only charted, so you should be confident in your chart reading skills—or be open to learning!

    Additional Notes: See the Notes section of the pattern for additional info on sizing & fit considerations, choosing colors that make the motifs stand out and helpful tips on knitting stranded colorwork.

  • SIZES
    (1, 2, 3)
    Sized to fit (12 Months/Child, Adult Small/Medium, Adult Large)

  • YARN
    Worsted weight
    MC: (30, 35, 50) g/(70, 85, 120) yds or (65, 80, 110) m
    CC1: (10, 15, 20) g/(25, 35, 50) yds or (25, 30, 45) m
    CC2: (10, 10, 10) g/(25, 25, 25) yds or (25, 25, 25) m
    CC3: (5, 10, 10) g/(10, 25, 25) yds or (10, 25, 25) m

    SUGGESTED YARN
    Wool & Palette Shaniko (100 g/240 yds (219 m)) – 100% non-superwash Merino/Rambouillet
    MC: 1 skein
    CC2: 1 skein
    CC3: 1 skein
    Spincycle Yarns Dream State (65 g/150 yds (137 m)) – 100% superwash American wool
    CC1: 1 skein
    The sample hat is knit in the colorways Salamander (MC), Written in the Stars (CC1), Marmalade (CC2), and Narwhal (CC3).

  • Needle A (body): US 8 (5 mm)
    Needle B (ribbing): US 6 (4 mm)

    For each needle size, you will need circular needles measuring 14 in. (35 cm) or your preferred method for smaller circumference knitting (such as magic loop, short circular needles, or double-pointed needles).

  • Measure gauge on Needle A in the round, after blocking.

    18 sts and 22 rows = 4 in. (10 cm) in stranded colorwork

  • Knitting
    Purling
    Decreasing
    Knitting in the round
    Tubular cast-on
    Stranded colorwork
    1x1 ribbing

Purchase the Shaniko Hat pattern on Ravelry