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I designed the Vancouver Toque because Donatello asked me for a slouchy blue hat. Luckily, I was saving a beautiful light blue yarn called Valentina Colour Works for a special project and this was it! Meinhilde and I found this super soft hand dyed merino in Montreal last summer at a store called Mouline Yarns. This is one of Mouline’s house dyed yarns and has the most rich tonal colours.

This hat is the most simple of designs, which shows off the the gorgeous colour of the wool. It would also be perfect for as a beginner project because the pattern is really just a few rows of ribbing and then stockinette stitch worked in a tube. When the tube is finished, the final thread is used to close the top like a drawstring bag. Since this hat is meant for the coldest of Canadian winters, I added a band of blue polar fleece to block out the wind and keep Donatello’s ears warm.

If you live in a cold climate, I recommend using the fleece lining for the added warmth. Sewing the lining into the hat also adds some structure so that the stitches don’t stretch out. I designed the hat to be extra slouchy but slightly larger than necessary to accommodate the thickness of the lining and for Donatello’s adult man’s head. If don’t plan on using the lining, you must decrease the number of stitches when casting on because the hat will be too big. To reduce the size of the hat for a smaller head, decrease the cast on stitches by multiples of two. For an adult woman, I’d cast on at least 10 less stitches.

I’m curious to try out some more colourful yarn with this design as the stockinette stitch is generally a good choice for a speckled or multicoloured yarn. I’m sure the Northern Bay Fibres wool I used for the Collingwood Cowl would work beautifully for the Vancouver Toque.

DIY: Vancouver Toque and Free Pattern

Supplies

• 1 skein Valentina Colour Works Merino DK in Aquarius (256 yards)
• One set size 3.25mm/ US #3 circular needles (16″/ 40cm)
• One piece of blue polar fleece, 10cm x 62cm (4″ x 24″)
• Sewing needle and blue thread

Gauge

• 19 stitches wide and 28 stitches high = 10 cm / 4″ in square in  stockinette stitch

Size

• Finished width: 28 cm/ 11″
• Finished height: 26 cm / 10″

Directions

• Cast on 106 stitches (See paragraph above- this size is for an adult male. Cast on only 96 for an adult woman).
• Join to work in the round, being careful to not twist the stitches.
• Rows 1-7: * K1, p1; rep from * to end of row.
• Row 8-80 : work in stockinette stitch until the piece measures approximately 22 cm long.
• Row 81: Bind off loosely in stockinette stitch, leaving a 15 cm/6 inch tail (do not trim it).
• Block. Once it is dry, use the tail thread to weave in and out around the edge of the tube like a drawstring. Pull the thread to tighten the top end of the hat and tie the end tight to secure it closed. Knot well. Weave in ends.
• Using needle and tread, arrange the fleece lining in the inside of the hat, about 0.5cm from the inside edge and secure with pins. Sew along the edge closest to the brim. Do not sew the the inner edge of the fleece to the hat, as it will interfere with the generous floppiness.