Sophie Hood

A cozy ribbed hood with an integrated cowl neck, worked from the neck up in k2, p2 ribbing. The cowl is knit in the round; the hood is worked flat with simple increases, then seamed along the top. Stretchy, warm, and sized to pull on over the head.

Difficulty: Beginner

Sizes

S (M, L)

To fit head circumference 20–21½ (22–23½, 24–25½)" / 51–54.5 (56–59.5, 61–65) cm.

Instructions are written for size S, with M and L in parentheses. When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes.

Finished Measurements

• Cowl circumference (slightly stretched): 16 (19¼, 22½)" / 40.5 (49, 57) cm
• Cowl height: 6" / 15 cm
• Hood height (along face edge, from front bind-off to top seam): 11 (12, 13)" / 28 (30.5, 33) cm
• Hood depth (top seam, slightly stretched): 10 (11¼, 12½)" / 25.5 (28.5, 32) cm

Ribbing is stretchy. The cowl hugs the neck in wear and expands to fit over the head.

Yarn

Worsted weight (CYC 4), 300 (375, 450) yd / 275 (345, 410) m

Approximately 2 (2, 3) skeins of a typical 100 g / 200 yd (183 m) worsted wool or wool blend.

Any worsted-weight yarn that obtains gauge will work. Wool and wool blends have the most bounce in ribbing.

Needles

US 8 / 5 mm, 16" (40 cm) circular needle, or size needed to obtain gauge.

The hood is worked back and forth on the same needle.

Notions

• 1 stitch marker
• Tapestry needle

Gauge

20 stitches and 28 rows/rounds = 4" (10 cm) in k2, p2 ribbing, slightly stretched, with US 8 / 5 mm needles.

Work a circular swatch (or a flat swatch and measure it stretched just until the rib lies in even columns). Match stitch gauge; row gauge is a guide — hood and cowl lengths are measured with a ruler, not by row count.

Abbreviations

Notes

• The pattern is worked in k2, p2 ribbing throughout. In the round, every round is *k2, p2; repeat from * to end. When working flat, knit the knits and purl the purls as they face you, unless a row says otherwise.
• Cast on loosely (long-tail cast-on is recommended) so the cowl stretches over the head.
• The beginning of the round sits at center front.
• On hood increase rows, kfb at each end even if that stitch was a purl in the rib. The extra stitches form a simple knit edge along the face opening; the rib continues as established in the center.
• Try the hood on before binding off the top. If you want more slouch, work extra even rows until the face edge is the length you like.

Pattern

Cowl

Using a stretchy long-tail cast-on and US 8 / 5 mm circular needle, CO 80 (96, 112) sts. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. Pm for beginning of rnd.

(80 sts ÷ 20 sts × 4" = 16" ✓; 96 sts = 19¼" ✓; 112 sts = 22½" ✓. All counts are multiples of 4 ✓.)

Rnd 1: *K2, p2; repeat from * to end.

Repeat Rnd 1 until the cowl measures 6" (15 cm) from the cast-on edge.

Divide for hood

Next rnd: Bind off 20 (24, 28) sts in rib for center front, then work in rib as established to the end of the rnd.

60 (72, 84) sts remain. ✓ (80 − 20 = 60; 96 − 24 = 72; 112 − 28 = 84 ✓)

Turn the work. The hood is now worked back and forth in rows. The two ends of the row are the left and right face edges; the bound-off stitches sit at the chin.

Hood

Row 1 (WS): Work in rib as established (knit the knits, purl the purls) to end.

Row 2 (RS, increase): Kfb, work in rib as established to last st, kfb. (2 sts increased)

Row 3 (WS): Work in rib as established to end, working the new stitches as they appear.

Repeat Rows 2–3 19 more times (20 increase rows total) — 100 (112, 124) sts. ✓

(60 + 40 = 100; 72 + 40 = 112; 84 + 40 = 124 ✓. 100, 112, and 124 are multiples of 4 ✓.)

The increase section measures about 5¾" (14.5 cm).

Work even in rib as established (knit the knits, purl the purls on every row; no more increases) until the hood measures 11 (12, 13)" / 28 (30.5, 33) cm from the front bind-off edge, ending after a WS row.

Join the top of the hood

Bind off all stitches loosely in rib. Cut the yarn, leaving a 24" (60 cm) tail.

Fold the hood in half with right sides together, matching the two face edges. The bind-off edge now runs from the forehead, over the top of the head, to the nape. Using the tail and mattress stitch (or a neat whipstitch), sew the bound-off edges together from the face opening toward the back of the head.

(Each half is 50 (56, 62) sts → 10 (11¼, 12½)" top seam at gauge ✓.)

Turn the hood right side out. The seam sits along the center of the hood from forehead to nape.

Finishing

Weave in all ends on the wrong side.

Block gently: soak in lukewarm water with a little wool wash, press out water in a towel, and lay flat to dry, patting the cowl and hood into shape. Do not stretch the ribbing aggressively — you want it to stay springy so the cowl hugs the neck and still fits over the head.

Wear

Pull the cowl on over your head like a turtleneck, then settle the hood. The ribbing will relax to your head and neck after a few minutes of wear.