WWI and WWII Knitted Hat  

This hat pattern is accurate for both WWI (from comparing original patterns) and WWII (from original photographs).

This hat pattern is a reconstruction from a photograph held by the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum in Brandon Manitoba. The member of the ground crew is arming an aircraft wearing a 2x2 ribbed skull cap. 

In his 1987 book, A History of Hand Knitting, author Richard Rutt states, “Knitting [for the allied]…armed forces in the Second World War could be done in three colours, for ‘Air Force Blue’ had been added to navy blue and army khaki.”

Knitting in WWII was very prominent on the home front. There are many surviving knitting patterns for “service” cardigans, vests, scarves, hats, gloves and more. During the war multiple yarn companies and other organizations from the Red Cross to the Salvation Army released patterns or pattern books under the slogan “Knit for Victory.”

This hat pattern is based off Beanie No. 212 from Bucilla Yarn Booklet, Volume 318, dated to 1940. I also took some adaptations from Helen Waittes’s interpretation, Classic World War II Watch Cap, also available on Ravelry.

Terms:

K: Knit

P: Purl

Sts: Stitches

K2tog: knit two stitches together decrease

Ssk: Slip two stitches knit wise, insert the left needle through the back loops and knit the two stitches together through the back loop.

BOR: Beginning of round

Dpn/dpns: Double pointed needles

Materials:

• Approx. 60 grams or 138 yards of worsted weight yarn. I used Cascade 220 Superwash in Colour 904 for “Air Force Blue”

• US size 7 (4.5mm) circular needles 16’’ 

• 4 US size 7 (4.5mm) double pointed needles

• 3 stitch markers. One different, for BOR.

• Yarn needle

Gauge:

5 sts/inch stockinette (wet blocked)

Knitting Instructions:

Hat Body:

CO 104 Sts.

Join in the round being carful not to twist the sts.

K2, P2 for 6 to 7.5 inches. 6 inches for a WWI hat and up to 7.5 inches for a WWII hat.

Decreases:

Divide the sts into three sections using stitch markers. One section of 34 sts and two sections of  35 sts.

Decrease 1 stitch at both sides of each marker, as follows: k1, ssk  knit to within 3 stitches of next marker, k2tog, k1, slip marker, repeat from At some point you will need to switch to dpns. 

Put each section on their own dpn and continue decreases until 11 sts remain.

Break off yarn, thread end into the yarn needle, and draw yarn through all 11 stitches twice. Tighten and then weave in ends.

Wet block hat.