Candy Panama Hat – Complete Step-by-Step Pattern

1. Materials & Gauge

This section covers everything you need to gather before beginning. Using the recommended materials ensures the correct gauge and a professional, durable finish.

• Yarn (choose one option, held in multiple strands):
  • Mink down 350 m / 50 g — held in 8 main strands (do NOT use the additional companion thread)
  • Angora 450 m / 100 g — held in 5 strands (or 4 strands for a lighter version)
  • Angora 566 m / 100 g — held in 6 strands
  • Angora 650 m / 100 g — held in 7 strands
  • Angora 700 m / 100 g — held in 8 strands
  • Angora 800 m / 100 g — held in 9 strands
  • Angora 850 m / 100 g — held in 9 strands
  • Casagrande Angora 80, 125 m / 25 g — held in 5 strands
  • Casagrande Angora Tweed, 90 m / 25 g — held in 4 strands
• Yardage: Approximately 110–150 g total.
• Needles:
  • Circular needles 5.0 mm, 50 cm cable (for the body and brim)
  • Circular needles 5.5 mm, 80 cm cable (for the crown — 0.5 mm larger for accurate gauge)
• Notions: Stitch markers, crochet hook (for provisional cast-on), scissors, measuring tape.
• Gauge: 13 stitches = 10 cm (4") in stockinette stitch on 5.0 mm needles, measured after wet blocking.
• Finished Sizes & Crown Diameters:

| Size (head circumference) | 50–52 cm | 53–54 cm | 55–57 cm | 58–60 cm | |---|---|---|---|---| | Crown diameter | 15 cm | 16 cm | 17 cm | 18 cm |

• Tip: To calculate the crown diameter for any head size, divide the head circumference by 3.3 (e.g., 57 ÷ 3.3 = 17.3 cm).

What it teaches: Accurate gauge swatching, evaluating yarn substitutions based on meterage, and calculating custom sizing from head circumference.

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2. Abbreviations & Techniques

• k: knit
• yo: yarn over (bring yarn to the front, then over the needle to the back)
• M1L: make 1 left (knit into the left leg of the stitch from the row below)
• BOR: beginning of round
• st(s): stitch(es)
• Wet blocking (ВТО): gentle washing and reshaping of the finished garment

What it teaches: Familiarization with standard international knitting abbreviations and foundational increase techniques.

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3. Crown (All Sizes)

The crown is worked in the round from the center out, using yarn-over increases to create a flat, circular disc. The increase pattern is identical for all sizes through Round 13; larger sizes add extra rounds as noted below.

• Cast On: Using a crochet hook and 5.5 mm circular needles (80 cm cable), cast 8 stitches into a ring. Distribute 4 stitches on each needle tip. Place a BOR marker.
• Tip: Knit the crown on 5.5 mm needles (0.5 mm larger than the body needles) for accurate gauge.

Common Crown Rounds (all sizes):

• R1: 8 k (8)
• R2: k1, yo; repeat around (16)
• R3: 16 k (16)
• R4: k1, yo, k2, yo; repeat around, ending k1 (24)
• R5: 24 k (24)
• R6: k1, yo, k3, yo; repeat around, ending k2 (32)
• R7: 32 k (32)
• R8: k1, yo, k4, yo; repeat around, ending k3 (40)
• R9: 40 k (40)
• R10: k1, yo, k5, yo; repeat around, ending k4 (48)
• R11: 48 k (48)
• R12: k1, yo, k6, yo; repeat around, ending k5 (56)
• R13: 56 k (56)

Size 50–52 cm: Crown is complete at 56 stitches (15 cm diameter). Proceed to the Body section.

Size 53–54 cm — Additional Crown Rounds:

• R14: k1, yo, k14, yo, k14, yo, k14, yo, k13 (60)
• R15: 60 k (60)
• Crown complete at 60 stitches (16 cm diameter).

Size 55–57 cm — Additional Crown Rounds:

• R14: k1, yo, k7, yo; repeat around, ending k6 (64)
• R15: 64 k (64)
• Crown complete at 64 stitches (17 cm diameter).

Size 58–60 cm — Additional Crown Rounds:

• R14: k1, yo, k7, yo; repeat around, ending k6 (64)
• R15: 64 k (64)
• R16: k1, yo, k16, yo, k16, yo, k16, yo, k15 (68)
• R17: 68 k (68)
• Crown complete at 68 stitches (18 cm diameter).

Finishing the Crown: Pull the cast-on tail tight to close the center hole. Switch to 5.0 mm circular needles (50 cm cable) for the body.

What it teaches: Top-down circular construction, yarn-over increases for flat crown shaping, and calculating crown diameter from head circumference.

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4. Body (Тулья)

The body is worked straight in stockinette stitch (all knit rounds) to create the vertical wall of the hat. The length is designed to cover approximately half the ear.

• Size 50–52 cm (56 sts): Knit 22 rounds (approximately 10.5–11 cm).
• Size 53–54 cm (60 sts): Knit 23 rounds (approximately 11–11.5 cm).
• Size 55–57 cm (64 sts): Knit 25 rounds (approximately 11.5–12 cm).
• Size 58–60 cm (68 sts): Knit 26 rounds (approximately 11.5–12 cm).

Tip: Try the hat on at this stage. You can add or remove rounds to adjust the body length to your preference.

What it teaches: Maintaining consistent tension in circular stockinette stitch and customizing garment length through try-on adjustments.

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5. Brim (Поля)

The brim is created with a single round of evenly spaced increases, followed by straight knitting and a decorative bind-off.

Size 50–52 cm (56 sts → 84 sts):

• Brim R1 (Increase Round): k2, M1L; repeat around (84)
• Brim R2–8: 84 k (84) [7 rounds]
• Brim R9: Bind off all stitches using the decorative bind-off method (see Finishing section).

Size 53–54 cm (60 sts → 90 sts):

• Brim R1 (Increase Round): k2, M1L; repeat around (90)
• Brim R2–8: 90 k (90) [7 rounds]
• Brim R9: Bind off all stitches using the decorative bind-off method.

Size 55–57 cm (64 sts → 96 sts):

• Brim R1 (Increase Round): k2, M1L; repeat around (96)
• Brim R2–10: 96 k (96) [9 rounds]
• Brim R11: Bind off all stitches using the decorative bind-off method.

Size 58–60 cm (68 sts → 102 sts):

• Brim R1 (Increase Round): k2, M1L; repeat around (102)
• Brim R2–10: 102 k (102) [9 rounds]
• Brim R11: Bind off all stitches using the decorative bind-off method.

What it teaches: Evenly spaced M1L increases for flared shaping and decorative bind-off techniques for a polished edge.

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6. Blocking & Finishing (ВТО)

Proper wet blocking is essential for this pattern, especially when working with mink down or angora yarns, which contain significant chemical sizing that must be washed out to achieve the final fluffy texture.

• Washing: Machine wash on a gentle cycle at 30°C (86°F), 400–700 RPM spin, for 15–30 minutes. Use a mild children's detergent (fragrance-free) or a dedicated wool wash. Place the hat in a fine-mesh laundry bag to prevent excess fluff from clogging the machine.
• Caution: The hat may shrink 1–2 cm in length after washing. Always wash your gauge swatch first to anticipate any shrinkage.
• Drying: Shake the hat vigorously after washing. Brush both sides with a medium-bristle clothing brush or a hair-teasing comb to remove excess fluff and encourage the halo. Shake again. Lay flat on a towel on a horizontal surface, reshape, and allow to air dry. Turn periodically.
• Fluffing: Once completely dry, blow-dry the hat on the highest heat setting to fully fluff the fibers. Repeat if necessary until the desired loft is achieved.
• Final Cleanup: Use a 2.0 mm crochet hook to weave in any remaining loose ends on the wrong side.

What it teaches: Machine-washing techniques for delicate animal fibers, fiber blooming and fluffing, and the transformative power of proper blocking on natural-fiber garments.

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Final Section: Where to Go from Here

Congratulations! By completing the Candy Panama Hat, you have mastered top-down circular construction, yarn-over crown increases, flared brim shaping, and professional wet-blocking techniques for luxury fibers. This project is an excellent foundation for working with mink down and angora yarns. From here, try experimenting with different strand counts to create a lighter summer version or a denser winter bucket hat, or adapt the crown diameter formula to design custom-fit hats for any head size. Happy knitting!