Orfeo Hat

The Orfeo Hat’s swirling colourwork motifs are inspired by the decorative stamped motifs found in 17thC books and music scores. I scaled up the tiny, tiling motifs which border the title page of Monteverdi’s opera L’Orfeo (published in Venice in 1609) to create abstract colourwork full of movement and baroque drama. A coordinating cowl pattern is also available—the Orfeo Cowl.

Skills & Techniques

  • Twisted German Cast On (optional)

  • Working stranded colourwork in the round

  • Following colourwork charts

  • Working decreases

Materials Needed

  • 1 skein in each of 2 colours of Outlaw Yarn Bohemia Sport (45% Polwarth, 45% Alpaca, 10% Possum; 183yds/167m per 50g skein), or 101yds/92.5m of sport-weight yarn for the Main Colour (MC) + 102yds/93.5m for the Contrast Colour (CC)

  • US 2 / 2.75mm needles (or needle size that gives you the right gauge) for working in the round, including needles for working a small circumference

  • One end-of-round stitch marker + 3 optional markers for between repeats

  • A needle for weaving in the ends

Finished Measurements

  • 18”/46cm brim circumference, and 8.5”/21.5cm height from brim to crown

  • To fit 19-22”/48-56cm head circumference.

Read more about the Orfeo Hat & Cowl and their inspiration on my blog.