Sage Hat: A Sun Hat Knitting Pattern You’ll Love


Looking for the perfect sun hat knitting pattern? Scroll down for The Sage Hat Free Pattern! Check out all of my free hat patterns here.

Sage Hat: A Sun Hat Knitting Pattern You’ll Love

I’ve been on a quest for the perfect sun hat knitting pattern for years. Last summer, I learned my lesson the hard way at our church’s annual campmeeting in Wyola, MT. Picture this: 95 degrees, almost no shade, and me walking away with sunburned ears that made me question all my life choices. This year, I decided I wouldn’t be caught unprepared—I knit myself the Sage Hat, a lightweight and shape-holding sun hat knitting pattern that is officially my summer lifesaver.

The Sage Hat is worked in Premier Yarns Raffia (affiliate link) on KnitPicks 9 (5.5mm) interchangeable needles (affiliate link), and it has some really fun features that make it stand out from your typical floppy sun hat. The pattern itself is at the bottom of this post, but I’ve also linked to my full hat pattern page here where you can find tons of other options if you’re as obsessed with knitting summer hats as I am.

Why I Love This Sun Hat Knitting Pattern

The Sage Hat is knit top-down, which is a little different from most sun hats. I start right at the crown, using simple yarn overs to increase in a way that forms four sweet little leaf shapes at the top of the head. Not only is it cute when you’re knitting it, but it also gives the hat that perfect structure that keeps it from looking like a pancake on your head.

The brim is long enough to cover my face and the back of my neck but not so long that it sags. That was a big win for me—no one wants to look like they’re wearing a collapsing frisbee. This sun hat knitting pattern hits the perfect balance: protective, but still stylish and structured.

And let’s talk about Raffia yarn for a second. If you’ve never worked with it, prepare yourself: it’s stiffer than any cotton yarn and will test your patience a little. My hands were like, “Excuse me, what is this?” the first time I started. But here’s the thing—Raffia is incredible once you steam block it. It softens just enough to make the hat comfortable, and it holds its shape beautifully. That’s exactly what you want for a sun hat knitting pattern like this.

Materials I Used for the Sage Hat

Steaming your hat is a must! It not only relaxes the stiff Raffia but also locks in the shape of the brim. I gave my Sage Hat a good steam after binding off (I used my own Bind Off Knitwise tutorial which you can find here) to finish the hat.

How I Designed the Sage Hat

I originally designed the Sage Hat out of necessity. After last year’s sunburn at campmeeting, I knew I needed a sun hat knitting pattern that was practical, lightweight, and packable. I wanted something that wouldn’t get in the way of singing, wrangling kids, cooking for 200 people, or chasing shade between services.

The top-down approach was intentional. It let me customize the crown depth perfectly for my head before I even thought about the brim. Once I reached the point where the brim begins, I used gradual increases to keep it firm but not floppy. Raffia’s natural stiffness does a lot of the work here, so even though the brim is modest, it doesn’t sag at all.

After finishing, I wore it the entire weekend at camp, and I walked away with zero sunburn. My ears and the back of my neck were completely safe, and I didn’t feel overheated wearing it. Mission accomplished!

Tips for Knitting with Raffia Yarn

Knitting with Raffia is a different experience than your usual soft cotton or wool yarns. Here are my top tips if you’re trying this sun hat knitting pattern:

  1. Loosen your tension. Raffia doesn’t stretch, so forcing tight stitches is a recipe for sore hands.
  2. Use wooden or bamboo needles. My KnitPicks interchangeable needles (affiliate link) grip the Raffia better than metal, preventing slipping.
  3. Steam block. After you’re done if it feels too stiff just run some steam over it and it’ll soften right up making it so much more comfortable to wear.
  4. Be patient. The stiffness is worth it—the finished hat is feather-light and perfectly shaped for summer wear.

If you want to see another Raffia project I’ve done, check out my Wyola Hat. It’s another great sun hat knitting pattern if you’re looking to expand your summer hat wardrobe.

👉 Wyola Hat Free Pattern

Blocking and Finishing the Sage Hat

The real magic happens in the finishing. Once you’ve completed the last round, bind off (I recommend using my Bind Off Knitwise tutorial) and prepare your steamer. Give the entire hat a light steam to relax the stitches and shape the brim.

If your brim feels a little too perky, steam it again and let it dry in a gentle curve. Don’t be afraid to pin it like any other knitting project just be careful to pin in a hole not through the raffia. I like to stuff mine with a small upside-down mixing bowl to help the crown keep its shape. After that, you’re ready to take your hat on its first sunny adventure.

Get the Sage Hat Pattern

The Sage Hat pattern is my go-to sun hat knitting pattern now, and I’m thrilled to share it with you. You’ll find the full free pattern at the bottom of this post.

If you’re looking for more sun hat knitting patterns, don’t forget to check out all the other hats I’ve collected here. There’s truly a hat for every sunny day scenario.

Final Thoughts

Knitting a sun hat knitting pattern like the Sage Hat is so satisfying because it’s a project that’s functional, lightweight, and perfect for outdoor events. I designed this hat for our campmeeting, but I’ve already worn it to the park, gardening in the backyard, and even while running errands.

If you want a hat that keeps you cool, protects your skin, and looks effortlessly summer-ready, this is the one to try. Don’t forget to peek at the Wyola Hat if you’re feeling adventurous and want to knit an entire collection of Raffia sun hats.

Sage Hat Free Knitting Pattern

Materials Needed: 2 balls (approximately 140yds) of Premier Yarns Raffia 131y/3.5oz)

size 9 (5.5mm) dpn or circular, yarn needle, stitch markers

Gauge: 16sts x 24 rows/10cms or 4ins   

Sizes (appx head circumference

ladies adult (51cms, 20ins)

Description

This hat is knit top down in the round. The yarn is VERY STIFF and does take some getting used to, but it creates a perfect straw style hat for keeping the sun off. It uses a leaf motif for the increases adding a special touch.

SAGE HAT

Cast on 8. Join in the round.

Round 1 – knit around

Round 2 – [yo, k1] around (16sts)

Round 3 – knit around

Round 4 – [k1, yo, k1, yo, k2] around (24sts)

Round 5 – knit around

Round 6 – [k2, yo, k1, yo, k3] around (32sts)

Round 7 – knit around

Round 8 – [k3, yo, k1, yo, k4] around (40sts)

Round 9 – knit around

Round 10 – [yo, ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, k1] around (48sts)

Round 11 – knit around

Round 12 – [k1, yo, ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, k2] around (56sts)

Round 13 – knit around

Round 14 – [k2, yo, ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, k3] around (64sts)

Round 15 – knit around

Round 16 – [k3, yo, ssk, k5, k2tog, yo, k4] around

Round 17 – knit around

Round 18 – [k4, yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, k5] around

Round 19 – knit around

Round 20 – [k5, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k6] around

Round 21 – knit around

Round 22 – [k6, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, yo, k7] around

Rounds 23-32 – knit around

Round 33 – [yo, k8] around (72sts)

Round 34 – [ktbl, k8] around

Round 35 – [yo, k9] around (80sts)

Round 36 – [ktbl, k9] around

Round 37 – [yo, k10] around (88sts)

Round 38 – [ktbl, k10] around

Round 39 – [yo, k11] around (96sts)

Round 40 – [ktbl, k11] around

Round 41 – [yo, k12] around (104sts)

Round 42 – [ktbl, k12] around

Round 43 – [yo, k13] around (112sts)

Round 44 – [ktbl, k13] around

Round 45 – [yo, k14] around (120sts)

Round 46 – [ktbl, k14] around

Round 47 – [yo, k15] around (128sts)

Round 48 – [ktbl, k15] around

Round 49 – [yo, k16] around (136sts)

Round 50 – [ktbl, k16] around

Round 51 – [yo, k17] around (144sts)

Round 52 – [ktbl, k17] around

Bind off loosely. Pull yarn at the top through cast on hat stitches and cinch the top tight.

Weave in ends. Block as desired.

Stitch Key:

K – knit                   

p – purl

st – stitch               

yo – yarn over

k2tog – knit 2 stitches together

ssk – slip the next stitch as if to knit, slip the next stitch as if to knit, knit the 2 slipped stitches together

sl – slip the next st as if to knit

psso – pass the slipped stitch over the k2tog you just completed

tbl – through back loop

Sage Hat PDF Download

Sage HatDownload

Affiliate Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase through my links.

I’d love to see your Sage Hat! Leave me a comment below if you’ve ever tried a sun hat knitting pattern, or tag me on Instagram when you finish yours!

The post Sage Hat: A Sun Hat Knitting Pattern You’ll Love appeared first on The Knit in the Womb Blog.



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