Northern Gleam Hat – Free One-Day Knit Colorwork Pattern
Looking for a quick and colorful knit that actually fits into your schedule? Say hello to the Northern Gleam Hat—a bold and beautiful colorwork hat pattern you can make in just one day. Whether you’re stash-busting scraps or diving into your favorite palette of worsted weight yarns, this fun knit is packed with personality and designed to deliver instant gratification.
This FREE knit hat pattern is available right here on my website ⬇️ Keep scrolling to find the full chart. written instructions and video tutorial.
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🧶 Why You’ll Love the One-day Colorwork Knit Northern Gleam Hat
The Northern Gleam Hat is the ultimate combo of fast and fabulous. With easy-to-follow colorwork, this pattern is perfect for adventurous beginners who want to try stranded knitting—or experienced knitters who just want a satisfying make that doesn’t take forever.
You’ll work the entire design in worsted weight superwash merino yarn (hello, cozy!) using simple repeats of a mirrored triangle motif that fades through shifting colors like the northern sky. And yes… of course I topped it with a pom pom. You know me. 😉
✨ Key Features of This Pattern
- ✅ One-Day Project – Yes, really. Perfect for a weekend knit, snow day, or Netflix binge.
- 🧵 Colorwork Made Simple – Just six stitches wide, this repeat is beginner-friendly and easy to memorize.
- 🎨 Great for Stashbusting – Use your colorful leftovers or go bold with new shades. Anything goes!
- 💝 Perfect for Gifting – It’s fast, cute, and sized for adults—what’s not to love?
- 🎁 Pom Pom Optional – But let’s be honest, it adds that final pop of joy.
🧶 One-day Colorwork Knit – Yarn & Materials Needed
- Yarn: Worsted weight yarn in multiple colors. You’ll need small amounts of 7 shades (or repeat fewer colors for a different look). 🧶 Sample made with Swish Worsted
- The sample uses:
Color A – Frosting
Color B – Crush
Color C – Indigo Heather
Color D – Haze Heather
Color E – Mint Julep
Color F – Voyage Heather
Color G – Marine Heather
Color H – Arctic
- The sample uses:
- Needles: US 8 (5.0 mm) 16″ circular needles & US 9 (5.5 mm) 16″ circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
- Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle, scissors
- Pom Pom: Optional but highly recommended for extra flair
🎨 Tips for Choosing Colors for Your Hat
This is where you can get creative! The mirrored triangle motif looks amazing in gradients, high-contrast combos, or even holiday colors. Try:
- Rainbow leftovers 🌈
- Monochrome fade (shades of blue, gray, or purple)
- Festive red, green, white for a holiday vibe
- Scrappy, unexpected mixes for true stash-busting magic
💡 Knitting Tips for Successful Knit Hat
- Use short floats (no need to catch!)
- Hold both yarns in the same hand, or try two-handed stranded knitting
- If your stitches are puckering, consider knitting it inside out to stretch out the floats
- Blocking lightly to smooth out the stitches but it will not cure floats that are too tight!
- Add a removable pom pom if gifting, so they can choose their own adventure!
🆓 Free Pattern Below – or Grab the Printable Version!
The full Northern Gleam Hat pattern and chart are available below ⬇️. You can also purchase the ad-free, printable PDF version if you prefer to knit from a paper copy (and support me while you’re at it ❤️).
🛒 Grab the ad-free PDF for 50% off During the Month of July 2025 – No Coupon Needed!
🧵 Let’s Cast On!
Ready to knit your new favorite one-day hat? Scroll down for the chart and step-by-step instructions.
Don’t forget to tag me @themarlybird when you share on social media, and use #MarlyBird and #MMMDI so I can see your beautiful creations!
One-day Colorwork Knit Hat Pattern – Northern Gleam
Designed by: Marly Bird
SKILL LEVEL
Intermediate
MEASUREMENTS
To Fit Size
S (M, L, XL)
Finished Hat Circumference
18.5 (20, 21, 22.5) [47 (51, 53.5, 57) cm]
Gauge
18 sts and 22.5 rounds = 4” [10 cm] in Stranded Colorwork knitting with larger needles.
MATERIALS
Yarn
KnitPicks Swish Worsted (100% Superwash Merino Wool, 110 yds / 100 m, 1.75 oz/ 50 g, CYCA# 4 worsted)
Estuary Heather (c28655) (A)
- 1 ball: Frosting (A)
- 1 ball: Crush (B)
- 1 ball: Indigo Heather (C)
- 1 ball: Haze Heather (D)
- 1 ball: Mint Julep (E)
- 1 ball: Voyage Heather (F)
- 1 ball: Marine Heather (G)
- 1 ball: Arctic (H)
Needles
- U.S. 8 [5 mm] circular knitting needles, 16” [40.5 cm]
- U.S. 9 [5.5 mm] circular knitting needles, 16” [40.5 cm] or size required for gauge.
Notions
- Stitch Markers
- Tapestry Needle
- leather tags (optional)
- leather rivets (optional)
- Faux Pom Pom (optional)
ABBREVIATIONS
K – Knit
K2tog – Knit Two Together
P – Purl
PM – Place Marker
RS – Right Side
St(s) – Stitches
WS – Wrong Side
GROW
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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.
CHART
NOTES
- Directions are for the smallest size; changes for larger sizes are in parentheses. When only one number is given then that number applies to all sizes.
- The adult medium size will fit most adults, especially since the project has a generous stretch. If concerned about size, measure one of your favorite hats first and choose a size based on that.
- When working in Fair Isle technique, carry yarn not in use loosely across WS of work but never over more than 5 sts. When it must pass over more than 5 sts, weave it over and under color in use on next st or at center point of the sts it passes over. The colors are never twisted around one another.
- When a color is finished being used in a section, cut it and carry on. Do not carry colors up the inside of work.
- 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. Just to make sure you have a point to rip back to if something goes wrong. (video help).
VIDEO TUTORIALS
- Long Tail Cast-On >> Click Here for Video Help <<
- Knit Stitch (continental style) >> Click Here for Video Help <<
- Purl Stitch (continental style) >> Click Here for Video Help <<
- Perfect Ribbing >> Click Here for Video Help <<
- How to Add Lifeline >> Click Here for Video Help <<
- How to Tink >> https://youtu.be/c7Gud7k4Y8k <<
- Duplicate Stitch >> Click Here for Video Help <<
- Bury Ends >> Click Here for Video Help <<
- Fair Isle vid >> https://youtu.be/OaJg_hh1VVw <<
- How to add a Removable Faux Fur Pom Pom >> Click Here for Video Help <<
NORTHERN GLEAM KNIT HAT PATTERN
Brim
With color A and smaller circular needles, cast on 84 (90, 96, 102) stitches, place marker then join to work in the round.
Rounds 1-8: *K1, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Work in 1×1 ribbing for 1 (1, 1.5, 1.5)” [2.5 (2.5, 3.8, 3.8) cm] for a single brim; or 2 (2, 3, 3)” [5 (5, 7.6, 7.6) cm] for a folded over double brim.
Body
Switch to larger needles and begin working the colorwork stitch pattern using the chart (6-stitch repeat).
Knit rounds 1-24 of the chart, then repeat each section as needed until your hat measures approximately:
- 8 (9, 9, 10)” [20.25 (22.75, 22.75, 25.4) cm] from cast-on edge, or to desired height.
Crown Shaping
With the color yarn used most on last round
Round 1: Knit
Round 2: K 0 (1, 0, 1), *K2tog; repeat from * around — 42 (45, 48, 51) sts
Round 3: Knit
Round 4: K 0 (1, 0, 1), *K2tog; repeat from * around — 21 (23, 24, 26) sts
Round 5: Knit
Finishing
Thread the tail into a tapestry needle, insert tapestry needle into each stitch on left hand needle as if to knit and off until the tail has been thread through each stitch.
Pull tight like a drawstring.
Secure tail to the wrong side of the hat.
Weave in all loose ends.
(Optional) Add Pom Pom to top of hat.
(Optional) Add Leather Tag with Leather Rivets
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Northern Gleam Hat?
The Northern Gleam is a free one-day colorwork knit hat by Marly Bird, designed to be completed in a single day… hence the “one-day” in the name. It uses stranded colorwork in a simple, beautiful pattern inspired by the aurora borealis. The hat is designed for adventurous beginners who want to try colorwork knitting without committing to a multi-week project. Make it on a Saturday and wear it Sunday!
Can I really finish this hat in one day?
Yes! It’s specifically designed for achievability. The pattern uses worsted weight yarn which works up faster than finer weights, a simple colorwork motif that becomes memorizable after the first repeat, and a basic hat construction that experienced hat knitters can move through quickly. If you knit for 4-6 hours in a day, this is very achievable. Beginners to colorwork may need longer as they get comfortable managing two yarns, but the “one day” goal is genuinely realistic for most knitters at or above intermediate level.
What skill level is needed for stranded colorwork like this?
Adventurous beginner is exactly right. You need to know how to knit in the round… that’s the main requirement. The colorwork technique (carrying two yarns and knitting with each as the chart indicates) is new for many knitters but very learnable. The hat’s short length means you have many rounds to practice the technique before you run out of hat. Marly includes video support and tips for managing two yarns that make this accessible even if you’ve never done colorwork before. It’s designed as a gentle first colorwork project.
What colors should I use for the Northern Gleam Hat?
Aurora borealis colors are the inspiration… deep teal, bright green, blue-purple, or any colors that evoke those northern lights. But the pattern works beautifully in any high-contrast two-color combination. Classic neutral backgrounds (dark navy, black, deep grey) with a bright contrasting main color look stunning. Test your color choices by holding the two yarns together and checking contrast… if they clearly read as different colors, you’re good. The colorwork motif shows best with strong value contrast between the two colors.
How much yarn do I need for this hat?
Being a worsted weight hat, you’re looking at roughly 100-150 yards of main color and 50-100 yards of contrast color depending on the size. Check the pattern materials section for exact requirements. This is a great stash-busting colorwork project since you need relatively small amounts of two colors rather than a full skein of each. Those partial skeins from other projects? Perfect for a Northern Gleam Hat.
