Of all the things to miss during this past pandemic winter holiday season, I missed dang workplace Secret Santa. Yes, that thing that most people avoid or throw some Dollar General candy at I actually missed so much that I asked my little side group of crafty friends if they wanted to do a Secret Handmade Santa, and a few of them were nice enough to join in on a porch drop-off or mailed SS.
It was more fun than it maybe should have been, but we are leaning into those small pleasures in this pandemic honey so it was LIT.

Not only did I get a lovely handmade gift from a friend, but I took it as a challenge to not just make a thing, but to design a thing! The result is this hat, which I love because it’s cozy, being made out of wool (which I really do recommend for this pattern), but the stitch creates these open ribs that allow for a little air flow, making this a great hat for hiking, fall, or those South Carolina winters that will hop from 30 at night to 65 in the afternoon.
I tested this out myself and made three sizes (baby, kid, and adult) that are generally going to fit people in those stages. Please, though, modify this pattern based on your actual head circumference. You just need to cast on stitches in multiples of 2, then change your decreases by taking your total number of stitches and dividing by 5 or 6.
Materials
- Yarn: Worsted, 85 to 116 yards
- Shown in Knit Picks Wool of the Andes
- Gauge: 18.0 to 20.0 sts = 4 inches (I encourage swatching)
- Needles: US #6 and #7 circulars and #7 DPNs (optional)
- Notions: Darning needle, stitch marker
Abbreviations
- CO: cast on
- YO: yarn over
- SSK: slip slip knit
- SM: slip marker
Process
Sizing is for baby (kid, adult).
- On size 6 needles, cast on 70 (80, 90) stitches and join in the round.
- Knit in k1, p1 ribbing for 1 (1.5, 1.5) inches, ending at the beginning of a round.
- Knit one round, switching to the size 7 needles.
Body
- Odd rows: *YO, k2, pass YO over two stitches*, repeat this to the end of the round.
- Even rows: Knit all stitches.
- Repeat these two rows until the work measures 3.5 (4.5, 6.0) inches from the CO edge.
Crown Shaping
- Begin this section on an EVEN row.
- Knit a row, placing a marker right AFTER every 10 (16, 18) stitches. Keep your beginning of the round marker on, too. Your markers will be between 2 columns.
- Decrease Row: k2tog, *knit to 2 stitches before the marker, SSK, SM, k2tog*, repeat the stitches between the * until the last 2 stitches, then SKK.
- Next Row: Knit in pattern, SM when needed. Your columns will start to shift, but that is OKAY! It will look just fine in the end.
- Repeat this until you have 10 or fewer stitches left, then cut your working yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing up.
Finishing
Thread your yarn on a darning needle and sew through all remaining stitches, tightening them up and effectively binding off. Pull your tail down inside the hat and either knot it securely and cut or weave in your end. Weave in your beginning end and bask in the comfy softness of your new hat!

Enjoy this pattern for yourself, for loved ones, but not for commercial use. Find me over on Ravelry to chat, save the pattern, and show me your hats! If you make it, tag me on Instagram!
As a recipient of the Eleanore Ribby hat, I can tell you that it is fabulously comfortable and toasty warm in a way that doesn’t get hot. Loving this hat!
I’m so happy you liked it! It was super fun to design a pattern with you in mind!