Free Ribbed Knit Hat Pattern — Knit Dip Stitch Tutorial

The Double Dip Ribbed Hat is a free knit hat pattern by Marly Bird featuring an eye-catching dip stitch technique that mimics a fishtail braid. Worked in the round in sizes for adult heads, this Adventurous Beginner pattern includes a full dip stitch tutorial, step-by-step instructions, and a link to the ad-free PDF on Ravelry.

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Why You'll Love This Ribbed Knit Hat Pattern 💖

🎯 One-skein project. You'll use approximately 186 yards of worsted weight — perfect for using up stash yarn or a single new ball.

✨ Teaches a showstopping technique. The dip stitch sounds intimidating, but it's actually straightforward. Once you nail it, you'll have a new skill that elevates every project you make going forward.

👑 One-size-fits-most thanks to ribbing. The 3-knit-2-purl ribbing stretches beautifully, meaning this hat works for most adult head sizes without needing multiple gauge adjustments.

💫 The fishtail braid effect gets real compliments. This texture pattern is visually striking — it looks like a fancy crochet pattern or a designer knit, but you're achieving it with basic stitches and a little strategic dipping.

🎁 Perfect for handmade holiday gifts. Hats work up fast (especially in worsted weight), and the texture makes each one feel handcrafted and special — exactly the vibe people want in a gift made by hand.

Quick Pattern Overview

📐 This pattern is written for one adult size that fits most heads thanks to ribbing flexibility. You'll start with a long-tail cast-on for a clean, elastic edge — perfect for the top of a hat where you want structure.

The hat is built in five sections: First, a K3/P2 ribbing cuff that establishes your gauge and looks polished right from the cast-on. Then the body, where the dip-stitch magic happens — this is where the fishtail braid texture emerges as you work increases that build the hat's volume. Next, you'll decrease the crown with a sequence of decreases that close the top neatly. Finally, a pom pom (optional, but highly recommended) adds a playful finishing touch.

The whole thing works up in the round on circular needles, which means there's no seaming — less finishing work for you, and a cleaner, more professional-looking result.

Love the Pattern but Want an Ad-Free PDF? ⭐

If you'd like to save this pattern in a beautiful, printable, ad-free format — or share it with your knitting friends — head to Ravelry to grab the PDF. No interruptions, no ads, just the pattern you love, ready to print and stitch.

📥 Get the PDF on your favorite platform:

What Is the Dip Stitch in Knitting?

The dip stitch in knitting is a technique where you insert your needle into a stitch several rows below your current working row, pull up a loop, and then knit the next stitch normally — creating two stitches from one operation.

In this hat, you're dipping 4 rows down into the second stitch from the tip of your left needle. The loop you pull up gets combined with the next knit stitch, and the result is a visual “chain” or “braid” effect that weaves through the fabric — that's why it's called a fishtail braid. It sounds complex when you're reading about it, but when you actually try it, your hands figure it out quickly. The magic is in that one deliberate insertion into rows below.

What makes dip stitches so satisfying is that no stitches are dropped or unraveled. You're not taking apart your fabric — you're working into it strategically, and the yarn structure stays intact. The depth you're creating is purely decorative texture, which means your hat stays structurally sound while looking intricate and handcrafted.

One more thing: the dip stitch looks most dramatic in smooth, solid-color yarn. Variegated or heavily textured yarn will hide the pattern. Red Heart Chic Sheep (the yarn in this pattern) is a silky merino blend that lets the dip stitch texture sing.

Video Tutorial

If you are a visual learner, watch my Double Dip Ribbed Hat video tutorial on YouTube — I walk you through every step, including exactly how to work the dip stitches and how to top the hat off with a pom pom.

Yarn & Materials

Yarn:

• Red Heart Chic Sheep by Marly Bird (100% Merino Wool, 186 yd/170m per 3.5 oz ball) in Sangria — the sample yarn, smooth and lustrous so the dip stitch texture shows beautifully

Notions & Tools:

• Size 6 [4 mm] 16″ circular needles
• Size 7 [4.5 mm] 16″ circular needles or Magic Loop
• Set of 5 double-pointed needles (Size 7)
• Stitch marker
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors
• Fluffy pom pom (optional, but highly recommended!)

Yarn Alternatives for the Double Dip Ribbed Hat

Love this pattern but want to try a different yarn? Here are some excellent substitutes that will work beautifully in worsted weight and show off the dip stitch texture:

• KnitPicks Wool of the Andes Worsted (100% wool) — a premium, smooth wool that showcases the fishtail braid pattern perfectly. Slightly different gauge, so you may need to adjust needle size.
• Cascade 220 Superwash (100% superwash wool) — machine washable and silky smooth, great if you prefer a wool option that's easy to care for.
• Berroco Vintage Worsted (52% acrylic / 40% wool / 8% nylon) — a wool-acrylic blend that's affordable and durable, with good stitch definition for texture work.
• KnitPicks Brava Worsted (100% premium acrylic) — budget-friendly worsted that holds stitches beautifully and is machine washable.
• Patons Classic Wool Worsted (100% wool) — widely available at Michaels and online, affordable and reliable for hat projects.

Double Dip Ribbed Hat || Pattern Details

Skill Level

Adventurous Beginner means you've completed a few basic hats and understand how to knit, purl, increase, and decrease. You're ready to learn a new stitch pattern (the dip stitch) that looks fancy but works with basic mechanics. If you've never knitted before, start with a simple ribbed hat first, then come back to this one once you feel confident with the fundamentals.

Finished Measurements

Finished Circumference	20″ [50.8 cm]
Finished Height (not blocked)	8.25″ [21 cm]
Finished Height (wet blocked)	8.5″ [21.6 cm]

Gauge

3 knit × 2 purl ribbing stitch pattern, slightly stretched = 18 sts = 4″ [10 cm]

Gauge is crucial for a well-fitting hat. If your gauge is too loose, the hat will be large and floppy. If it's too tight, the hat will be small and uncomfortable. Take 15 minutes to knit a gauge swatch in ribbing — it's the difference between a hat that fits perfectly and one that doesn't.

Materials

Yarn: Red Heart Chic Sheep by Marly Bird (Art. R170, 100% Merino Wool, 3.5 oz/100g, 186 yd/170m per ball), 1 ball in Sangria

Needles: Size 6 [4 mm] 16″ [40.64 cm] circular needles; Size 7 [4.5 mm] 16″ [40.64 cm] circular needles; set of 5 dpns (Size 7)

Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle, scissors, fluffy pom pom (optional)

Abbreviations

CO	Cast on
K	Knit
P	Purl
PM	Place marker
RS	Right side
WS	Wrong side
rep	Repeat
st(s)	Stitch(es)
rnd(s)	Round(s)
dpn(s)	Double-pointed needle(s)

Special Stitches

Double Dip Stitch: Dip stitches are worked through stitches lower in the established fabric, but no stitches are dropped or unraveled. Identify the 2nd stitch from the tip of the left hand needle and 4 rows down below it. Use your right needle to knit into that stitch from front to back, pulling up a long loop. Then knit the next stitch on the left needle normally. You now have 2 loops from those stitches on the right needle — that's 1 Double Dip Stitch. These steps coincide with the photo tutorial.

sk2tog-tbl: Slip 1 stitch as if to knit, then slip the stitch back to the left hand needle (the stitch is now sitting with the back leg forward), knit 2 together through the back leg — 1 st decreased.

CDD (Center Double Decrease): Slip 2 stitches TOGETHER as if to knit, k1, pass the 2 stitches slipped TOGETHER over the knit stitch — 2 sts decreased.

k2tog-tbl: Insert right hand needle into 2 stitches TOGETHER as if to knit, knit them together — 1 stitch decreased.

🎯 Pattern Notes: This pattern is worked in the round on circular needles using the magic loop method or with the hat switched to double-pointed needles at the crown. The stitch count changes with each round in the body and crown sections — keep a stitch counter handy so you don't lose track. The gauge is taken slightly stretched in ribbing, which means your finished hat will have a nice elastic fit.

Double Dip Ribbed Hat || Pattern Instructions

Cuff

With smaller 16″ circular needle, use the long tail cast on, CO 90 sts. PM, join to work in the round.

Rounds 1–10: *K3, p2; repeat from * around.

Body

Switch to larger 16″ circular needles.

Round 1: *Double Dip Stitch (see special stitches), p2; repeat from * around — 126 sts.

Round 2: *Slip 1 stitch as if to purl, k3, slip 1 stitch as if to purl, p2; repeat from * around.

Round 3: *Sk2tog-tbl (see special stitches), k1, k2tog, p2; repeat from * around — 90 sts.

Round 4: *K3, p2; repeat from * around.

Repeat rounds 1–4 fourteen more times (15 total repeats). Adjust repeat count for custom fit.

Crown

Switch to larger 16″ circular as magic loop or switch to double pointed needles.

Round 1: *CDD, p2tog; repeat from * around — 36 sts.

Round 2: *K1, p1; repeat from * around.

Round 3: *K2tog-tbl; repeat from * around — 18 sts.

Cut yarn leaving a long tail. Thread yarn through the loops as if to purl, then pull loops together like a drawstring. Secure tail to inside of hat.

Finishing

Weave in all ends.

Add pom pom for added flair. Enjoy!

More Knit Hat Patterns You'll Love

If you loved making the Double Dip Ribbed Hat, check out these other beautiful knit hat patterns from Marly Bird. Each one teaches you a new technique or uses a yarn you might already have in your stash:

• 30+ Free Knit Hat Patterns — the complete collection of every hat pattern I've designed
• Chill Out Winter Hat with Latvian Braid — another texture-focused knit hat using a different braiding technique
• Firmament: A Modern Knit Workbook — if you love working with new techniques, this book by Hunter Hammersen is a fantastic resource

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the dip stitch in knitting?

The dip stitch is a knitting technique where you insert your needle into a stitch several rows below your current working row, pull up a loop, and knit the next stitch normally. This creates a decorative “chain” or “braid” texture that weaves through your fabric without any stitches being dropped. In this hat, you're dipping 4 rows down, which creates that beautiful fishtail braid effect.

Is the Double Dip Ribbed Hat pattern good for beginners?

It's designed for Adventurous Beginners — that means you should already be comfortable knitting, purling, increasing, and decreasing, and have completed at least a couple of simple projects. The dip stitch is a new technique, but it's straightforward once you understand how to insert your needle into a stitch below. If you're brand new to knitting, start with a basic ribbed hat first, then come back to this one when you're ready to learn something new.

What yarn do I need for this ribbed hat pattern?

The pattern calls for Red Heart Chic Sheep by Marly Bird — 1 ball (186 yards) in Sangria. It's a 100% Merino wool worsted weight that's silky and smooth, so the dip stitch texture shows beautifully. If you don't have Chic Sheep, any smooth worsted-weight yarn will work — KnitPicks Wool of the Andes, Cascade 220 Superwash, and KnitPicks Brava Worsted are all great options. Just make sure you knit a gauge swatch to ensure the hat fits properly.

How do I keep my ribbing even in a knit hat?

The key to even ribbing is consistent tension. Try to keep your yarn tension the same as you knit the knit stitches and purl stitches — novice knitters often purl tighter than they knit, which makes the ribbing look uneven. As you work a few rounds, your hands will find the rhythm, and your tension will naturally even out. Don't overthink it; just pay attention to how the yarn feels in your fingers and aim for a steady, relaxed hold.

Can I adjust the size of this knit hat?

Yes! The easiest adjustment is to repeat the body section more or fewer times. If you want a longer hat, repeat the 4-round body pattern 16 or 17 times instead of 15. For a shorter hat, do 13 or 14 repeats. You can also try a different needle size to adjust the overall circumference — going up one needle size will make the hat larger, and going down one size will make it smaller. Just make sure you knit a new gauge swatch if you change needles, so the hat still comes out to about 20″ circumference (or your preferred size).

Where can I get the ad-free PDF of the Double Dip Ribbed Hat pattern?

Head to Ravelry and grab the PDF — it's a beautiful, printable, ad-free format that you can save to your phone or computer, or print and bring to your knitting chair. The PDF version also includes all the pattern notes and special stitch definitions, so you have everything you need in one place.

Final Thoughts

The Double Dip Ribbed Hat is one of those patterns that looks way more complicated than it actually is — and that's part of the magic. Once you understand how to dip, you've unlocked a whole new world of textured knitting. You'll start seeing the dip stitch everywhere, and you'll want to add it to sweaters, shawls, and blankets.

The fishtail braid texture is stunning, the hat works up in just one skein, and knowing you made this beautiful piece with your own hands? That feeling never gets old. 💛

If you cast it on, please please please share your progress! Tag me @marlybird on Instagram or Facebook and use #MMMDI (Marly Made Me Do It), #MarlyBird, or #DoubleDipRibbedHat so I can see your finished hat. I love seeing what you all create. 🧶

❤️ Your BiCrafty Bestie,
Marly Bird