Here is a lovely free knitting pattern for an adult sized colourful slouchy pompom hat.

The hat is knit in the round and uses a mosaic knitting technique to achieve the pretty, spotty multi coloured pattern.

Mosaic knitting is a really interesting colour work technique which is also known as the slipped stitch colour work method.

Two or more colours are worked together by slipping stitches.  One colour will be knit and the other one slipped.  This is different to Fair isle knitting where both colours are knit at the same time.

There are a huge variety of mosaic knitting stitches, and endless possibilities for looks and patterns.

This hat knitting pattern is an example of how beautiful and diverse knitting using the mosaic stitch can be.

Our free knitting pattern, coming up soon, is ideal for beginners to mosaic knitting.  You can use between 2 and 7 different colours to knit the hat, and the pattern is ideal for practicing that slipped stitch technique.

Read on to find out more about how to work slipped stitches and to get the free hat knitting pattern.

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How to slip stitches for mosaic knitting

Slipping stitches in mosaic knitting is really easy.  Knitting patterns usually give the abbreviation sl1, sl2 and so on and you simply slip the stated number of stitches from the left to the right needle without actually knitting them.

Sometimes a knitting pattern will show the abbreviations sl1wyib or sl1wyif.  This means slip the stitch(es) with the yarn at the front or the back of the work.  Usually this is about keeping the yarn at the front of the work on purl rows and at the back on knit rows.

The knitting pattern in this article is worked only in knit stitch as it is knit in the round unit stocking stitch.  No purl stitches are used in the pattern. The yarn will therefore always be at the back of the work.

I think this is a great way to learn mosaic knitting. I found a stunning cowl knitting pattern using this technique which also uses this principle, and is therefore also ideal for beginners – probably easier than this pompom hat as there is no shaping involved.

Anyway, here is a video showing how the stitches were slipped when making the hat.

Two stitches are slipped each time in this knitting pattern and the abbreviation sl2 is used to denote this.

Slouch hat free knitting pattern

Ok so now you know a little bit more about how the mosaic knitting technique works.  Now you can practice a little with this cute hat knitting pattern.

I have no idea what the name of the mosaic stitch used to make this hat is.  Quite truthfully, I made it up.  The circles in the pattern get larger further up the hat, because I wanted to see how this looked.

It is very much an experimental knitting project and it was definitely a lot of fun to make.  I hope you enjoy it too!

Materials required

You will need approx 100g of chunky yarn to make this hat.  Mine took around 40g of the grey  (Wool Addicts Earth yarn) and odds and ends of three other colours.

The yellow yarn used to knit this hat is Malabrigo chunky which I have to say is more exciting than any first date that you could possibly go on.  This would even include going to a drive in movie or Chinese buffet with Brad Pitt.  Ok, it might be a close contest, but the wool will win for sure.

This a super knitting pattern for busting that stash yarn!

You will also need a pair each of 5mm and 6mm circular needles (link to the ones I use), 40cm long.  You won’t need to use double pointed needles as you will be able to work all of the shaping on the circular needles.

You will also need a faux fur pompom. I usually buy ready made fur pompoms on Etsy. You can of course alternatively make a pompom from yarn, or indeed sew up your own faux fur pompom.

Pattern

Please note this hat fits an adult head and is reasonably generously sized (I have a lot of thick hair and made it to fit that).  I would cast on 63 stitches instead of 70 for a smaller head.

On 5mm needles and with main colour, cast on 70 (63) stitches.  Join to knit in the round.  Place marker to denote round beginning/end.

Work 8 rounds of 1 x 1 rib.

Switch to 6mm circular needles.

K 2 rounds.

Add in contrast colour.  Do not cut the main yarn.  The main yarn will remain intact thoughout the piece.

In the contrast colour work the following TWICE:

(sl2, k5) to end of round.

In main yarn, k 2 rounds.

Now use another (or the same) contrast colour.  If using more than one contrast yarn, cut and add each new colour as you use it.  As already stated, do not cut the main yarn.

In contrast colour work the following TWICE:

K3, (sl2,k5) to end of round, k2.

In main colour, k 2 rounds.

In contrast colour work the following THREE TIMES:

(sl2, k5) to end of round.

In main colour, k 2 rounds.

In contrast colour work the following FOUR TIMES:

K3, (sl2,k5) to last 2 stitches, k2.

In main colour, k 2 rounds.

In contrast colour work the following FIVE TIMES:

(sl2, k5) to end of round.

In main colour, k 2 rounds.

In contrast colour work the following SIX TIMES:

K3, (sl2,k5) to last 2 stitches, k2.

In main colour, k 2 rounds.

In contrast colour work the following SIX TIMES:

(sl2, k5) to end of round.

In main colour, k 2 rounds.

Shape top of hat

(k3, k2tog) across round.

K 1 row.

(k2, k2tog) across round.

K 1 row.

(k1, k2tog) across round.

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail, and thread through the stitches on the knitting needle.  Carefully remove knitting needle and pull top to gather.  Use tail to sew on a pompom and then tidy up/sew in all of the loose ends.

And that’s it!  A beautiful and very unusual mosaic knit slouch pompom hat!

I hope you enjoyed this free knitting pattern! 

It is very cosy to wear and has just the right amount of slouch.

Please do let me know if you manage to knit up this hat!