The Hudson Hat by Lindsay Baker is a classic earflap hat worked seamlessly in the round, with i-cord ties, optional stripes and sizes ranging from newborn through adult.
The design begins at the lower ties and grows upward through the earflaps and body before closing at the crown. Its simple worsted-weight construction makes it a practical cold-weather project with plenty of room for color customization.
The Hudson Hat pattern is currently available as a paid download from Lindsay Baker's Ravelry store.
Design and original pattern © Lindsay Baker.
The Hudson Hat Pattern Overview
- Designer: Lindsay Baker
- Pattern: The Hudson Hat!
- Craft: Knitting
- Category: Earflap hat
- Published: November 2007
- Construction: Bottom up and worked in the round
- Finishing: Seamless
- Style: Unisex
- Sizes: 0–6 months, 6–18 months, Toddler, Child and Adult
- Yarn weight: Worsted
- Suggested yarns: Family Roots Cestari Fine Merino, Willow Merino and Mountain Meadow Wool
- Yardage: Approximately 100–300 yd / 91–274 m
- Needles: US 7 / 4.5 mm circular and DPNs; US 5 circular for smaller sections
- Gauge: Approximately 5 stitches × 7 rows = 1 in in stockinette
- Main techniques: Knitting in the round, i-cord, earflap shaping, decreases and tassel finishing
- Skill level: Advanced beginner and up
- Language: English
- Pattern availability: Paid pattern
A Classic Seamless Earflap Hat
The Hudson Hat is designed as a practical cold-weather earflap hat with a simple silhouette and flexible styling.
The earflaps extend downward to provide extra coverage, while the i-cord ties allow the hat to be secured comfortably.
Because the hat is worked seamlessly in the round, there is no long vertical seam to sew at the end.
Worked From the I-Cord Ties Up
One of the most distinctive construction details is that the hat begins with the i-cord ties.
From there, the earflaps are built and then joined into the main body of the hat.
The knitting continues upward in the round toward the crown.
Why I-Cord Works Well for Earflap Hats
I-cord creates a narrow, rounded knitted cord that is stronger and more finished-looking than a simple chain of yarn.
On The Hudson Hat, the ties are integrated into the overall construction rather than being added as an afterthought.
They can also be finished with tassels for a classic winter-hat appearance.
Five Sizes From Baby to Adult
The current pattern includes:
- 0–6 months
- 6–18 months
- Toddler
- Child
- Adult
This wide size range makes the same pattern useful for family knitting and gift projects.
Worsted-Weight Yarn
The Hudson Hat is designed for worsted-weight yarn.
The pattern currently lists several Family Roots wool and merino yarns as suggested options.
A smooth worsted-weight wool is a natural choice for this project because it provides warmth, elasticity and good stitch definition.
Yardage
The published yarn requirement ranges from approximately:
100–300 yards / 91–274 meters.
Smaller baby sizes naturally require less yarn, while adult sizes and multi-color versions may need more.
If you plan to add multiple stripes or large tassels, allow a little extra yarn for finishing.
Needles
The current pattern information lists:
- US 7 / 4.5 mm circular needle
- US 7 / 4.5 mm double-pointed needles
- US 5 circular needle for smaller sections
Double-pointed needles become useful as the crown circumference decreases.
Gauge
The published stockinette gauge is approximately:
5 stitches × 7 rows = 1 inch.
Because this is a fitted hat, gauge affects the final circumference and overall comfort.
Check your gauge before starting, especially if you substitute a different worsted-weight yarn.
Stripe-Friendly Construction
The Hudson Hat works particularly well with stripes.
The designer notes that the construction is easy to customize with color changes, so you can use:
- Two-color stripes
- Scrap-yarn stripes
- Gradient color sequences
- A single solid color
This also makes the pattern useful for using special leftover yarns that are too small for a larger project.
A Good Scrap-Yarn Hat
Smaller sizes need relatively little yarn, making the Hudson Hat a practical way to use partial skeins.
You can combine coordinating worsted-weight colors for the body, earflaps, ties and tassels.
Try to keep the yarn weights and fiber behavior reasonably similar so the finished hat has consistent tension.
Tassel Finishing
The i-cord ties can be finished with tassels for a traditional earflap-hat look.
The current pattern includes a tassel tutorial with step-by-step photos.
Tassels are optional from a practical point of view, but they add a decorative finish and can help visually balance the long ties.
Skills You'll Use
- Casting on
- Working i-cord
- Knitting in the round
- Working with circular needles
- Using double-pointed needles
- Increasing and shaping earflaps
- Joining sections in the round
- Stockinette stitch
- Changing colors for stripes
- Crown decreases
- Making tassels
- Weaving in ends
Is The Hudson Hat Beginner Friendly?
The designer describes the pattern as suitable for an advanced beginner and up.
The individual techniques are not unusually difficult, but the project does combine several useful skills: i-cord, small-circumference knitting, shaping and joining sections into the round.
A knitter who already knows basic knit stitches and has some experience working in the round should find this a manageable next project.
Can You Knit It Without Earflaps?
Some knitters have adapted The Hudson Hat by omitting the earflaps and using a ribbed brim instead.
This creates a more conventional beanie while preserving the general shape and crown construction.
However, this is a project modification rather than the standard pattern construction, so follow the original instructions first if you are new to the design.
Tips for a Better Fit
Check gauge before casting on. Small differences in gauge can change hat circumference significantly.
Choose the size from head measurements when possible. Age labels are useful guides, but actual head size is more reliable.
Keep i-cord tension consistent. Very tight ties can become stiff, while very loose i-cord may look uneven.
Try the hat on before finishing the crown if possible. This helps confirm the body depth.
Is The Hudson Hat a Free Knitting Pattern?
No. The Hudson Hat by Lindsay Baker is currently a paid knitting pattern.
The current Ravelry listing prices the pattern at $4.50 USD.
Amazing Knitting previously featured the design as a pattern-discovery post, but prices and availability can change. We therefore identify its current paid status clearly.
Why This Hat Is Worth Considering
The Hudson Hat has remained popular because it combines a practical winter shape with flexible sizing and easy color customization.
Its seamless construction keeps finishing relatively simple, while the earflaps, i-cord ties and tassels give the project enough detail to remain interesting.
The five-size range also makes it a useful family pattern rather than a single-age baby hat.
Pattern Availability
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Read Our Pattern Availability Policy →
Amazing Knitting is an independent pattern discovery and project-guide site. The Hudson Hat design and complete knitting instructions remain the intellectual property of Lindsay Baker. This guide does not reproduce the designer's complete row-by-row pattern instructions.
