Frosted Evergreen Santa Hat Free Pattern – Knitted Textured Holiday Hat

Frosted Evergreen Santa Hat: A Cozy, Textured Holiday Knit

This isn't your basic Santa hat—it's a cozy, textured masterpiece with a lush ribbed band, a swirling cable body, and a fluffy faux-fur pom that feels like a winter dream. Knit it in deep evergreen with cream accents for a woodland twist on a classic holiday icon. Whether you're crafting for a holiday market, a gift for a loved one, or simply to add a handmade touch to your own winter wardrobe, this pattern is designed to be both beautiful and achievable for knitters ready to try cables in the round.

This free knitting pattern walks you through every step, from casting on to the final pom attachment. The combination of a simple 2x2 ribbed cuff and a repeating cable pattern creates a rich, dimensional fabric that looks far more complex than it is. Let's get started on making your new favorite holiday accessory!

Materials Needed

Before you begin, gather the following supplies. Having everything ready will make your knitting session smooth and enjoyable.

• Yarn: Worsted weight yarn in two colors:
  • Main Color (MC): Deep Evergreen – approximately 200 grams (about 400 yards)
  • Contrast Color (CC): Cream – approximately 50 grams (about 100 yards) for the pom-pom
• Needles: US 7 (4.5mm) 16-inch circular needles for the main body, and a set of US 7 (4.5mm) double-pointed needles (DPNs) for the crown shaping.
• Notions: Stitch markers (at least one), a cable needle, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and scissors.
• Pom-Pom Maker: A 3-4 inch pom-pom maker, or two cardboard circles, to create the faux fur top.

Gauge: 20 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch (knit every round). Always knit a gauge swatch to ensure your hat fits correctly.

Step-by-Step Instructions

This pattern is worked in the round from the bottom up. The finished size is an adult medium, fitting a 21-23 inch head circumference. Follow the steps carefully, and you'll have a beautiful hat in no time.

Abbreviations

Familiarize yourself with these abbreviations before you start:

• CO: Cast on
• K: Knit
• P: Purl
• K2tog: Knit two stitches together (decrease)
• P2tog: Purl two stitches together (decrease)
• C4F: Slip 2 stitches to cable needle, hold in front, knit 2, knit 2 from cable needle
• C4B: Slip 2 stitches to cable needle, hold in back, knit 2, knit 2 from cable needle
• PM: Place marker
• SM: Slip marker
• RS: Right side
• WS: Wrong side

Part 1: The Ribbed Band

This creates a stretchy, snug cuff that will fold up comfortably.

1. With your Main Color (MC) and circular needle, CO 96 stitches.
2. Place a stitch marker (PM) at the beginning of the round. Join in the round, being extremely careful not to twist your stitches. The cast-on edge should lie flat around the needle.
3. Rounds 1-10: *K2, P2*; repeat from * to * around. This creates a 2x2 ribbing. Knit these 10 rounds for a substantial band.

Part 2: The Textured Cable Body

Now we'll build the beautiful, swirling pattern. The body is a repeating 6-round pattern that creates a stunning cable effect.

1. Round 11 (Setup): Knit all stitches around. This plain round helps the ribbing transition smoothly into the cable pattern.
2. Round 12: *K6, P2*; repeat from * to * around. You will have 12 repeats of this 8-stitch pattern.
3. Round 13 (Cable Round 1): *C4F, K2, P2*; repeat from * to * around. The C4F creates a left-leaning cable twist.
4. Round 14: *K6, P2*; repeat from * to * around.
5. Round 15: *K6, P2*; repeat from * to * around.
6. Round 16 (Cable Round 2): *K2, C4B, P2*; repeat from * to * around. The C4B creates a right-leaning cable twist, giving the pattern its "swirl."
7. Round 17: *K6, P2*; repeat from * to * around.
8. Round 18: *K6, P2*; repeat from * to * around.
9. Rounds 19-30: Repeat Rounds 13 through 18 two more times. This will give you a total of three full cable twists in the body of the hat.

Part 3: Crown Shaping (Decreases)

This is where the hat begins to taper to a point. Switch to your double-pointed needles (DPNs) when the stitches become too tight to fit comfortably on the circular needle.

1. Round 31 (Decrease): *K4, K2tog, P2*; repeat from * to * around. (You will have 80 stitches).
2. Round 32: *K5, P2*; repeat from * to * around.
3. Round 33 (Cable Round): *C4F, K1, P2*; repeat from * to * around.
4. Round 34: *K5, P2*; repeat from * to * around.
5. Round 35 (Decrease): *K3, K2tog, P2*; repeat from * to * around. (You will have 64 stitches).
6. Round 36: *K4, P2*; repeat from * to * around.
7. Round 37 (Cable Round): *K2, C4B, P2*; repeat from * to * around.
8. Round 38: *K4, P2*; repeat from * to * around.
9. Round 39 (Decrease): *K2, K2tog, P2*; repeat from * to * around. (You will have 48 stitches).
10. Round 40: *K3, P2*; repeat from * to * around.
11. Round 41 (Cable Round): *C4F, P2*; repeat from * to * around.
12. Round 42: *K3, P2*; repeat from * to * around.
13. Round 43 (Decrease): *K1, K2tog, P2*; repeat from * to * around. (You will have 32 stitches).
14. Round 44: *K2, P2*; repeat from * to * around.
15. Round 45 (Decrease): *K2tog, P2*; repeat from * to * around. (You will have 16 stitches).
16. Round 46 (Decrease): *K2tog*; repeat from * to * around. (You will have 8 stitches).

Part 4: Finishing the Crown

1. Cut your yarn, leaving a 6-8 inch tail.
2. Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle.
3. Slide the needle through the remaining 8 stitches on your needles, removing them from the needles as you go.
4. Pull the yarn tight to cinch the top of the hat closed.
5. Secure the yarn with a knot on the inside of the hat and weave in the end.

Part 5: The Faux Fur Pom-Pom

1. Using your Contrast Color (CC) yarn, create a large, fluffy pom-pom. A 3-4 inch diameter is perfect for this hat. Use a store-bought pom-pom maker or two cardboard circles cut into donut shapes.
2. Wrap the yarn generously around the pom-pom maker until it is thick and plush.
3. Carefully cut the yarn around the edge, tie the center tightly with a separate piece of yarn, and trim the pom-pom into a perfect sphere.
4. Use the long tails from the pom-pom's center tie to securely attach it to the very tip of the hat. Tie a strong knot and weave the ends into the pom-pom to hide them.

Final Finishing Touches

1. Weave in all ends with your tapestry needle, making sure they are secure and invisible from the right side.
2. Block lightly: You can wet-block or steam-block the hat to even out the stitches and give the cables more definition. Lay it flat to dry.
3. Fold up the ribbed band: Fold the bottom 10 rounds of ribbing up to create a cozy, double-thick cuff.

And there you have it—a stunning, handcrafted Frosted Evergreen Santa Hat! This textured piece is sure to become a cherished part of your holiday traditions. Happy knitting!