Free Knit Hat and Cowl Pattern – Afternoon Delight Set by Marly Bird

If you love a good grab-your-needles-and-go project, the Afternoon Delight Knit Hat and Cowl Set is going to be your new favorite. This pattern duo was originally released as a paid set (and it’s still one of my best-selling PDFs!), but now you can knit both the hat and the cowl for free right here on the blog.

Two people wearing matching colorful knit hats and scarves, inspired by a Marly Bird Knit Hat Pattern, smile at the camera. The hats and scarves feature stripes in neon pink, blue, yellow, green, gray, and taupe. The background is blurred. -Marly Bird

Table of Contents

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. To learn more please visit my privacy policy here💖

These designs were created to be:

Fast to knit
Easy to wear
And fun to customize with color

Whether you’re knitting for yourself, for gifts, or to build a cozy winter wardrobe, Afternoon Delight is that sweet spot of “potato chip knitting” — just one more round, one more stripe, one more repeat. 😉

Free Knit Hat and Cowl Pattern – Afternoon Delight Set

If you’ve been searching for a free knit hat and cowl pattern that works for gifts, stash busting, or fast winter accessories, the Afternoon Delight Quickie Set is for you. Both patterns are written out in full below, with step-by-step instructions, yarn details, and tips to help you get a great fit. You can knit just the hat, just the cowl, or make the complete matching set.

What You Will Love

Two patterns in one: This post includes both the Afternoon Delight Hat and the Afternoon Delight Cowl, so you can make a perfectly coordinated set.
Beginner-friendly construction: Worked in the round with simple ribbing, basic decreases, and an easy slip-stitch pattern. If you’re comfortable knitting and purling, you’re ready.
“Butterfly” slip-stitch texture: The pattern uses slipped stitches and floats to create that beautiful Butterfly Stripes look — no stranded colorwork, no juggling multiple yarns at once.
Worsted-weight for a quick finish: This isn’t a forever project; you can absolutely knit the hat in a weekend and the cowl soon after.
Great for gift knitting: The classic silhouette + modern texture makes this set an easy “yes” for teens, adults, and anyone who loves a cozy winter accessory.
Perfect stash buster: Use a solid for the main color and a pop of contrast from your stash for the Butterfly Stripes.
Ad-free PDF option: If you love to print, highlight, and scribble notes, there’s still a beautiful, ad-free PDF set available for purchase (details below).

About the Afternoon Delight Set

The Afternoon Delight Hat and Cowl were designed as a coordinated pair, featuring the same Butterfly Stripes slip-stitch pattern and cozy ribbing.

The hat is snug, warm, and looks amazing with or without a pom pom.
The cowl sits comfortably around the neck — not too tight, not too loose — and shows off the Butterfly texture beautifully.

Because both pieces use the same stitch pattern and gauge, you can knit them as a matching set or mix up your colors for a fun, coordinated look.

If you enjoy simple projects with a little bit of stitch interest (and you like that “I’ll just do one more round” feeling), this set is absolutely in your wheelhouse.

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Yarn for the Afternoon Delight Hat & Cowl

The original samples were knit in Chic Sheep by Marly Bird™, a superwash merino worsted-weight yarn that has since been discontinued. 😭

The good news? There are several excellent worsted-weight substitutes that work beautifully with this pattern’s gauge and texture.

Colorful yarn scraps and knitting materials, including circular needles, a striped knit project—perfect for a new Knit Hat Pattern—a pink tape measure, and Marly Bird stitch marker, are spread on a light wooden surface. -Marly Bird

Choosing a Different Yarn (Chic Sheep Substitutes)

Look for a CYCA #4 / worsted-weight yarn that works well at the pattern gauge and has good stitch definition so the Butterfly Stripes really pop.

Here are some great options:

Knit Picks Swish Worsted
Super soft superwash wool that feels amazing next to the skin and blocks beautifully.
👉 https://tidd.ly/4qL6Zxt
Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted
A classic wool option with great body and crisp stitch definition — perfect if you love a woolly, traditional feel.
👉 https://tidd.ly/4orBKWr
Knit Picks Brava Worsted
Budget-friendly, easy-care acrylic with lots of color options. Great for gift knitting and for those who prefer non-wool fibers.
👉 https://tidd.ly/3Jj67zn
Universal Yarn Deluxe Worsted
A workhorse 100% wool that holds up well and shows texture beautifully.
👉 https://tidd.ly/3JGXmPK
Premier Yarns Everyday
Anti-pilling acrylic that’s soft, washable, and super practical for family knits.
👉 https://tidd.ly/3Z7N52T

💡 Tip:
Whichever yarn you choose, be sure to check your gauge in Butterfly Stripes (or at least in stockinette) so your hat and cowl come out with the intended fit and drape.

A smiling woman wearing a colorful Quickie Knit Hat and matching scarf stands indoors in front of shelves filled with yarn, dressed in a blue denim jacket. -Marly Bird

Skill Level and Techniques

The Afternoon Delight set is a confident beginner to intermediate knit, but don’t let that scare you if you’re newer. If you can:

Knit and purl in the round
Work basic decreases (like k2tog and ssk)
Slip stitches with the yarn held in front

…you’re ready to give this a try.

The Butterfly Stripes pattern is worked by slipping stitches and carrying floats across a few rows, then later catching those floats. It looks fancy, but it’s very rhythmic once you get into it — and you’re only working with one color at a time.

If you’ve worked through BiCrafty Bootcamp – Knitting or similar beginner content, this is a nice next step to add texture and interest without overwhelming your brain.

Banner with cartoon bird knitting, text reads "Marly Bird's BICRAFTY Knitting Bootcamp" in bold, colorful fonts on a blue background with yellow and pink accents and starburst designs—perfect for learning stash busting or new knit hat patterns. -Marly Bird

Prefer a Printable Version? Get the Ad-Free PDF Set

If you’re the kind of knitter who loves:

A clean, ad-free layout
Both patterns together in one place (hat and cowl)
A printer-friendly PDF you can mark up, highlight, and keep in your project binder

…then you’ll definitely want the Afternoon Delight Knit Hat & Cowl ad-free PDF.

🧶 Ad-Free Pattern Set Includes:

Complete written instructions for both the hat and the cowl
All materials, gauge, and notes in one place
Easy-to-read formatting for tablet or print

You can purchase the Afternoon Delight Hat & Cowl PDF set in the Marly Bird Store, Ravelry, and on Etsy.

A smiling woman wearing glasses and a colorful striped knit hat and cowl holds matching knitting instructions. Text reads “Afternoon Delight KNIT HAT AND COWL Pattern by Marly Bird, Ad-Free PDF!” and “BUY NOW” with previewed pages beside her. -Marly Bird

Etsy

Shopify

Ravelry

⭐️ Use the free blog version to test the pattern, and grab the PDF when you’re ready to keep this set in your forever pattern library. 💕

How the Afternoon Delight Set Fits into Your Wardrobe

Think of this pair as your “instant cozy” set:

Throw on the hat with a jean jacket for a casual day out.
Add the cowl with a winter coat for extra warmth on truly cold days.
Knit the set in a neutral for everyday wear, or choose bold colors for a statement look.

It’s also a fantastic gift set — one project for the hat, one for the cowl, and you’ve got a complete handmade present that looks way more complicated than it is.

If you love quick knits, you might also enjoy:

Seed Stitch Chic Hat (another worsted-weight hat I designed originally for Chic Sheep)
👉 https://marlybird.com/free-knitting-patterns/seed-stitch-chic-hat/

Seed Stitch Chic Hat in color light mint green - Marly Bird

Afternoon Delight Knit Hat & Cowl – Free Pattern Details

Designed by: Marly Bird

To Fit Size

One size fits most

Finished Measurements

Hat circumference: 22.5″ [57 cm]
Cowl: 30″ [76 cm] around x 11.5″ [29 cm] after blocking

Gauge

16 sts = 4″ [10 cm]; 29 rows = 4″ [10 cm] in Butterfly Stripes pattern after blocking.
CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needles to obtain the gauge.

Yarn

Red Heart, Chic Sheep by Marly Bird
(100% Superwash Merino Wool, 186 yds / 170 m, 3.5 oz / 100 g, CYCA #4 worsted)

1 ball: Suede (A)
1 ball: Velvet (B)
1 ball: Green Tea (C)
1 ball: Dragon Fruit (D)
1 ball: VIP (E)
1 ball: Creme de Mint (F)
1 ball: Sunset (G)

How Much Yarn Do I Need for the Afternoon Delight Set?

The original Afternoon Delight knit hat and cowl set was designed in Chic Sheep by Marly Bird, using one ball each of seven colors (Suede, Velvet, Green Tea, Dragon Fruit, VIP, Creme de Mint, and Sunset). Each ball has 186 yards of worsted weight yarn, so you’ll have plenty of yardage to complete both the knit hat pattern and the knit cowl pattern with leftovers for other small projects. If you’re substituting yarn, choose a worsted weight yarn with similar yardage and make sure you have at least this much on hand before you cast on.

Knitting Needles

U.S. 7 [4.5 mm] 16″ [41 cm]
U.S. 9 [5.5 mm] 16″ [41 cm], and double pointed needles for the hat
U.S. 9 [5.5 mm] circular knitting needles, 24″ [61 cm] for the cowl

Notions

Stitch markers
Tapestry needle
Leather tags (optional)
Leather rivets (optional)
Faux pom pom (optional)

⭐️ Marly Bird Amazon Storefront ⭐️

Abbreviations

K – knit
K2tog – knit 2 together
P – purl
Pm – place marker
RS – right side
Sl – slip stitch
St(s) – stitch(es)
WS – wrong side

Special Stitches

Slip (sl)
Slip the stitch from left hand needle as if to purl to the right hand needle.

With Yarn In Front (wyif)
Hold the yarn to the front of the needles as you slip the next stitch(es). This results in a float bar on the front of the work.

Center Double Decrease (CDD)
Slip 2 sts, at the same time, as if to knit, k1, pass the 2 slipped sts over the knit stitch at the same time.

Slip, Slip, Knit (SSK)
Slip 1 st as if to knit, slip another stitch as if to knit, put the left hand needle in the front leg of those two stitches on the right hand needle, knit them together.

Knit Two Together (K2tog)
Insert right hand needle into the two stitches on the left hand needle, at the same time, as if to knit, knit them together.

Videos

How to Long Tail Cast On in the Round >> Click Here for the Video <<
How to Center Double Decrease >> Click Here for the Video <<
How to Add a Life Line to a Knit Hat >> Click Here for the Video <<
How to Tink >> Click Here for the Video <<
How to Bury in Ends >> Click Here for the Video <<
How to Knit Afternoon Delight Butterfly Stitch >> Click Here for the Video <<

Notes

Using the long tail cast on for the start of both projects is recommended.
If you want to be sure you have a safety net as you knit, adding a lifeline to your project every so often will be helpful, so you have a point to rip back to if something goes wrong.
Cut the yarn each time you change colors and rejoin when it is time to use that color again. Leave a nice tail so you can weave in or bury your ends.
Be sure to block your gauge swatch to see if the yarn you are using grows or shrinks after being washed. It is important to note that Chic Sheep does grow a bit after blocking. Plan accordingly for whatever yarn you use.

colorful cowl in a butterfly stitch knit pattern image of blocked and pre-blocked -- Marly Bird

The pre-block gauge on the cowl was 18 sts and 34.5 rows = 4″ [10 cm]. After blocking, the cowl is approximately 4″ larger around and 1.5″ longer than the pre-blocked cowl.

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I’m thrilled to share this amazing pattern with you, many patterns on my blog are absolutely free! I kindly request that you don’t copy and paste or distribute this pattern. Prefer an ad-free experience? Buy a digital PDF pattern for a small fee from one of my online stores for a seamless crafting journey.

I appreciate your support and readership. You are the reason I can keep doing what I love and sharing it with others. So, thank you from the bottom of my yarn-loving heart! Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links at no cost to you.

Afternoon Delight Knit Hat and Cowl – Written Patterns

AFTERNOON DELIGHT QUICKIE KNIT HAT PATTERN

Brim

This stitch pattern is a multiple of 10 sts and 12 rounds.

With Color A and smaller circular needle

Cast-on 90 sts. Place marker on right hand needle to indicate the start of round, join round being careful to not twist cast on edge.

Rounds 1-9: *K1, p1; repeat from * around.

This should be a little more than an inch of ribbing. You can make this larger if you want.

Body

With Color B (see notes) and larger circular needle

Rounds 1, 3, 5: *Knit 5, Slip 5 wyif; repeat from * to end of round.

Round 2, 4: Knit around.

With Next Color

Round 6: K7, *insert the right hand needle under the three floats and knit in the next stitch on the left hand needle bringing the new stitch out under the floats to “catch” them, K9; repeat from * to last 2 sts, K2.

Rounds 7, 9, 11: *Slip 5 wyif, k5; repeat from * to end of round.

Rounds 8, 10: Knit around.

Round 12: K2, **insert the right hand needle under the three floats and knit in the next stitch on the left hand needle bringing the new stitch out under the floats to “catch” them, K9; repeat from * to last 7 sts, K7.

Repeat rounds 1-12 three times more, then rounds 1-11 once more changing colors when indicated.

Crown

With Color F

Round 1: *Ssk, insert the right hand needle under the three floats and knit in the next stitch on the left hand needle bringing the new stitch out under the floats to “catch” them, k2tog, ssk, k1, k2tog, ssk; repeat from * around — 54 sts.

Change to double pointed needles on next round.

Round 2: Knit around.

Round 3: *CDD; repeat from * around — 18 sts.

Round 4: Knit around.

Round 5: *CDD; repeat from * around — 6 sts.

Round 6: Knit around.

Finishing

Cut yarn leaving 10” (25.4 cm). Use yarn needle to thread tail through each remaining st knitwise. Pull tail tight to close top. Weave tail in on the wrong side of hat to secure.

Weave in/Bury all tails.

Wash and lightly block

AFTERNOON DELIGHT KNIT COWL PATTERN

Beginning Ribbing

This stitch pattern is a multiple of 10 sts and 12 rounds.

With Color A, cast-on 120 sts. Place marker on right hand needle to indicate the start of round, join round being careful to not twist cast on edge.

Rounds 1-6: *K1, p1; repeat from * around.

This should be about an inch of ribbing. You can make this larger if you want. But make a note of the measurement so you can make the ending rib the same size.

Body

With Color B (see notes)

Rounds 1, 3, 5: *Knit 5, Slip 5 wyif; repeat from * to end of round.

Round 2, 4: Knit around.

With Next Color

Rounds 7, 9, 11: *Slip 5 wyif, k5; repeat from * to end of round.

Rounds 8, 10: Knit around.

FAQ – Afternoon Delight Knit Hat & Cowl

Do I have to knit both the hat and the cowl?

Nope! You can absolutely knit just the hat or just the cowl. The patterns are designed to coordinate, but each piece also works as a standalone project. The nice thing about this post is that you have both patterns in one place.

Is this a good first colorwork or texture project?

Yes — this set is perfect if you’re ready to move beyond plain stockinette or garter. The Butterfly Stripes are created using slipped stitches and floats, which means:

You’re only ever using one color per row
You get a colorwork effect without stranded colorwork

As long as you’re comfortable knitting in the round and working basic decreases, you can absolutely tackle this.

Can I use acrylic yarn for this pattern?

Yes! Acrylic (or acrylic blends) like:

Knit Picks Brava Worsted – https://tidd.ly/3Jj67zn
Premier Yarns Everyday – https://tidd.ly/3Z7N52T

are great options, especially for gift knitting or for people who prefer non-wool fibers. Just remember that acrylic doesn’t block the same way wool does, but for a hat and cowl, that’s totally fine.

How do I adjust the size of the hat or cowl?

The pattern is written to a specific gauge and finished measurement. To adjust:

For a slightly larger or smaller hat:
- Swatch and adjust your needle size to get a looser or tighter gauge, or
- Add or subtract a multiple of the stitch repeat (if the pattern is written that way) while keeping the ribbing and crown shaping logical.
For the cowl:
- You can often add or remove cast-on stitches in multiples of the pattern repeat, or
- Work more or fewer rounds to change height.

Always check your gauge first so your adjustments behave the way you expect.

Can I knit these as travel projects?

Definitely. The hat and cowl are both compact, in-the-round projects, which makes them perfect for road trips, waiting rooms, and flights.

If you’re wondering about bringing your knitting on a plane, I’ve got a full post on that here:
👉 Can I Take Knitting Needles on an Airplane?
https://marlybird.com/blog/can-i-take-knitting-needles-on-an-airplane/

A colorful Quickie Knit Hat and cowl set with a bright geometric chevron pattern in blue, red, green, yellow, purple, and black, both with gray ribbed edges, displayed on a wooden surface. Text reads "Afternoon Delight Quickie Set. -Marly Bird

Final Thoughts

The Afternoon Delight Knit Hat and Cowl set is one of those patterns that keeps earning its place in your library:

It’s approachable enough for confident beginners.
It’s interesting enough for experienced knitters who want something relaxing but not boring.
And it’s versatile enough to gift, wear daily, or use as your go-to winter set.

I’m so happy to be able to offer both patterns for free here on the blog, while still giving you the option to support my work with the ad-free PDF set.

However you choose to knit it, I hope this set adds a little extra cozy, colorful delight to your knitting time. 🧶💕

❤️ Your BiCrafty Bestie,
Marly Bird