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08/13/25 • •

Roy G. Biv – Free Long Color Changing Yarn Knit Hat Pattern

If you’ve been holding onto that skein of gorgeous long color-changing yarn and waiting for the perfect project—this is it! The Roy G. Biv – Free Long Color Changing Yarn Knit Hat Pattern is simple, colorful, and oh-so-satisfying. With a double brim for extra warmth and an embossed chevron design made from purls, this hat lets the yarn do all the work.

No complicated stitch patterns. No fussy color changes. Just pure knitting joy that shows off those smooth gradients in all their glory.

And yes—if you can knit and purl, you can make this hat!

A woman in glasses and a denim jacket presents a colorful knit hat with a pom-pom. The image features her wearing the hat, surrounded by gorgeous yarn skeins labeled “Roll With It,” plus “One Ball Hat Project” and “Free Pattern!” text. -Marly Bird

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

Why This Hat is Perfect for Long Color-Changing Yarn 🧶

Not all yarn color changes are created equal. Let’s break it down:

Long Color-Changing Yarn

Variegated Yarn

  • Colors change every few inches, often creating a speckled or mottled look.
  • Can be stunning but sometimes hides textured stitch patterns or creates pooling.
  • Great examples:

For the Roy G. Biv Hat, long color-changing yarn works best—you’ll see each hue shine through those embossed chevrons without distraction.

Smiling person in glasses and a denim jacket wears a colorful Roy G Biv Knit Hat. Text reads "One Ball Hat Project," "Free Pattern!", Marly Bird logo, with images of gorgeous yarn balls and a circular knitting project on a blue background. -Marly Bird

Love Gradient Yarn? Try These Free Patterns Too

Roy G Biv Easy Knit Hat Pattern – Details

Skill Level

Easy – Must know how to knit, purl, work in the round, and use a provisional cast-on (video linked below).

Finished Measurements

Circumference (unstretched)

  • Child: 19″ (48 cm)
  • Adult Small: 22″ (56 cm) – original size
  • Adult Large: 24″ (61 cm)

Height (without pom-pom)

  • Child: 8.5″ (21.5 cm)
  • Adult Small: 10″ (25.5 cm)
  • Adult Large: 10.75″ (27 cm)

Gauge

18 sts x 23.5 rows = 4″ (10 cm) in Stockinette Stitch

A smiling woman showcases a colorful knit hat with a pom-pom, made from gorgeous yarn. Yarn balls are nearby. Text reads “Free Pattern! One Ball Hat Project.” The woman models the knit hat, wearing glasses and a denim jacket. -Marly Bird
Favorite This Pattern on Ravelry - Marly Bird

Materials

Yarn – Worsted weight, long color-changing or variegated yarn

Needles

  • US 5 (3.75 mm), US 7 (4.5 mm) 16” circular needles
  • US 8 (5 mm) 16” circular needles and set of 5 DPNs
  • Or size needed to obtain gauge

Hook – US H (5 mm) for provisional cast-on

Notions

Smiling person in glasses and denim jacket holds a colorful knit hat with a pom-pom. Text reads “One Ball Hat Project” and “Free Pattern!” Gorgeous yarn skeins and the Marly Bird logo are shown at the bottom. -Marly Bird

Abbreviations

Learn more about knitting definitions and help — Great Information for Your Back Pocket!

(Standard American knitting terms)
BO – Bind Off
CO – Cast On
DPN – Double Pointed Needle
K – Knit
P – Purl
pm – place marker
Sl – Slip
St st – Stockinette Stitch
st(s) – stitches
Tbl – Through the back loop
YO – Yarn Over

Special Stitches & Tutorials

Provisional Cast-On Method – Video Tutorial

M1 (Make 1 Increase) – Insert left needle under the horizontal strand between st just worked and next st, from the front to the back, knit through the back loop.

How to Add a Lifeline to Knitting – Watch Here

Pom Pom Making – Watch Here

Pattern Notes

  • Hat is worked in the round from the brim up.
  • Double brim construction keeps ears extra warm—can be shortened for a single brim.
  • The embossed chevron is created with purl stitches.

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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.

A smiling woman with glasses holds up a colorful knit hat with a pom-pom. Text reads "One Ball Hat Project," "Free Pattern!" and shows Red Heart gorgeous yarn skeins and the Marly Bird logo on a blue background. -Marly Bird

Roy G. Biv Knit Hat – Full Written Free Pattern

Brim

Using scrap yarn and US 7 circulars, provisional CO:

  • Child: 88 sts
  • Adult Small: 100 sts
  • Adult Large: 108 sts

Work 1×1 rib (K1, P1) until brim measures:

  • Child: 3.5″
  • Adult Small: 4″
  • Adult Large: 4″

Remove provisional cast-on and place live stitches on smaller needle. Fold brim in half to the inside, aligning one stitch from each needle. Knit together (1 st from each needle) around.

Body Setup & Increases

Switch to larger circulars and increase:

  • Child: K8, M1 – 96 sts
  • Adult Small: K10, M1 – 110 sts
  • Adult Large: K10, M1 – 120 sts

Place marker for round start.

Begin Chevron Pattern

Follow the 38-round embossed chevron sequence as in original pattern, adjusting knit sections evenly for size.

Knitting chart for the "Roy G. Biv Knit Hat" by Marly Bird, showing a simple pattern with chevron lace. Features symbols for knit, purl, yarn over, decreases, and no stitch—plus a key to guide you while using your gorgeous yarn. -Marly Bird
A person with red nail polish holds up a Roy G Biv Knit Hat, made from gorgeous yarn, while wearing a denim jacket over a pink and gray striped shirt. The cozy indoor background features plants and shelves. -Marly Bird

Crown Shaping

Child Size (96 stitches)

Round 1: *Knit 8, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 87 stitches.
Round 2: Knit around.
Round 3: *Knit 7, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 78 stitches.
Round 4: Knit around.
Round 5: *Knit 6, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 69 stitches.
Round 6: Knit around.
Round 7: *Knit 5, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 60 stitches.
Round 8: Knit around.
Round 9: *Knit 4, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 51 stitches.
Round 10: Knit around.
Round 11: *Knit 3, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 42 stitches.
Round 12: Knit around.
Round 13: *Knit 2, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 33 stitches.
Round 14: Knit around.
Round 15: *Knit 1, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 24 stitches.
Round 16: Knit around.
Round 17: *Knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 12 stitches.
Round 18: Knit around.
Round 19: *Knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 6 stitches.

Cut yarn, leaving a 10” tail. Thread tail through remaining stitches, pull tight to close, and secure on the wrong side.

Adult Small Size (110 stitches) (original pattern)

Round 1: *Knit 9, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 99 stitches.
Round 2: Knit around.
Round 3: *Knit 8, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 88 stitches.
Round 4: Knit around.
Round 5: *Knit 7, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 77 stitches.
Round 6: Knit around.
Round 7: *Knit 6, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 66 stitches.
Round 8: Knit around.
Round 9: *Knit 5, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 55 stitches.
Round 10: Knit around. (Switch to double pointed needles if needed)
Round 11: *Knit 4, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 44 stitches.
Round 12: Knit around.
Round 13: *Knit 3, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 33 stitches.
Round 14: Knit around.
Round 15: *Knit 2, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 22 stitches.
Round 16: Knit around.
Round 17: *Knit 1, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 11 stitches.

Cut yarn, leaving a 10” tail. Thread tail through remaining stitches, pull tight to close, and secure on the wrong side.

Adult Large Size (120 stitches)

Round 1: *Knit 10, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 110 stitches.
Round 2: Knit around.
Round 3: *Knit 9, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 100 stitches.
Round 4: Knit around.
Round 5: *Knit 8, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 90 stitches.
Round 6: Knit around.
Round 7: *Knit 7, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 80 stitches.
Round 8: Knit around.
Round 9: *Knit 6, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 70 stitches.
Round 10: Knit around. (Switch to double pointed needles if needed)
Round 11: *Knit 5, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 60 stitches.
Round 12: Knit around.
Round 13: *Knit 4, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 50 stitches.
Round 14: Knit around.
Round 15: *Knit 3, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 40 stitches.
Round 16: Knit around.
Round 17: *Knit 2, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 30 stitches.
Round 18: Knit around.
Round 19: *Knit 1, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 20 stitches.
Round 20: Knit around.
Round 21: *Knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round – 10 stitches.

Cut yarn, leaving a 10” tail. Thread tail through remaining stitches, pull tight to close, and secure on the wrong side.

Finishing

Cut yarn, leaving 10” tail. Thread tail through remaining stitches, cinch tight, and weave in ends. Wash and block if desired. Add pom-pom for extra fun.

Pin It & Share It!

Love this free hat pattern? Pin it to your knitting board and share with your yarn friends! Favorite this project on Ravelry!

Collage showing a woman wearing and displaying a colorful knit hat with a pom-pom, made from gorgeous yarn. The images promote a free "One Ball Hat Pattern" using Red Heart Roll With It Melange yarn by Marly Bird. -Marly Bird

The Roy G. Biv Knit Hat is proof that sometimes the simplest knitting is the most satisfying—especially when you’ve got yarn that’s already doing the heavy lifting in the color department. Whether you go for a bold rainbow, a soft ombré, or a dramatic gradient, this pattern will show it off beautifully.

It’s a great stash-busting project, a fantastic beginner-friendly hat, and a relaxing knit for seasoned stitchers who just want something colorful and meditative. Plus, the double brim means your ears will thank you on those blustery days.

So grab that skein you’ve been saving for “something special” and get knitting—your Roy G. Biv Hat will be off the needles and onto your head in no time. 🧶💖

❤️ Your BiCrafty Bestie,
Marly Bird

A cartoon avatar of a person with glasses and a brown bun smiles warmly. Their green shirt and black jacket add a stylish touch, while colorful hearts surround them like loving temperature blankets, stitching together an aura of love and positivity. -Marly Bird

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Roy G. Biv Knit Hat?

Roy G. Biv (Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet… the classic rainbow mnemonic!) is a free knit hat pattern by Marly Bird designed to showcase long color-changing yarn. The hat is a rainbow celebration… each color of the spectrum appears in sequence as the self-striping yarn progresses around the hat. The pattern is specifically designed to work beautifully with long-color-change yarns where each stripe color gets enough rows to really show before transitioning to the next. It’s a joyful, vibrant hat pattern.

What is long color-changing yarn?

Long color-changing yarn transitions through colors very gradually over a large length of yarn… instead of stripe-width color changes, you get gentle ombre-style transitions or long sections of each color. These yarns are designed so that when knit in a project, each color gets enough rows to show clearly before the next color appears. They’re often marketed for shawls and larger accessories where you can see the full color progression. For this hat pattern, the long color changes create neat horizontal stripes in each rainbow color.

What yarn weight and hook/needle size does this pattern use?

Check the pattern materials section for specifics! Long color-changing yarns come in various weights. For a hat, a worsted weight that works up efficiently while showing clear stripes is typical. The gauge determines how many rows each color section covers, which affects how well the rainbow reads… too many rows per color (loose gauge) and colors may blend; too few rows (tight gauge) and each color may be too narrow to read clearly. Swatch with your specific yarn to see how the color transitions interact with your gauge.

Can I use regular striped yarn instead of long color-changing?

You can, but the effect will be different! Regular self-striping yarn with shorter color sections creates narrower stripes and a different stripe rhythm than long color-changing yarn. For a true rainbow hat where each color has several clear rows, you want yarn specifically designed with long color sections. If you use short-repeat striping yarn, the rainbow colors will cycle multiple times around the hat rather than appearing once each. Both are beautiful… just different effects. Choose the yarn based on the specific rainbow effect you want.

How long does this hat take to knit?

A basic worsted weight hat takes most knitters 2-4 hours. The color-changing aspect adds visual excitement that makes the knitting feel faster than a plain hat! Watching each new color emerge is genuinely motivating. This is an excellent “movie night” hat… settle in with a good film, start from the cast-on, and you might just have a finished rainbow hat by the credits. Great for gift knitting too since the rainbow theme makes it universal and joyful.

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  1. Edith Scott says:

    Love watching you on YouTube I am a knitter and a crocheter as well but my first love is knitting,I started out as a crocheter I leaned how to knit in high school and loved it ever since I still love crochet to

    Reply
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Marly is a knitwear and crochet designer (and yarn addict) that is here to help you learn how to knit and crochet in a way that's fun and approachable.

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