Leaves of the Shadow Glen Hat – Free Two Needle Knit Flat Pattern

Knit flat on 2 straight needles, the Leaves of the Shadow Glen Hat is worked in an unconventional way that sets it apart from a traditional beanie. This is not a beginner pattern, but for knitters ready for a rewarding challenge, the journey is well worth it.

The construction unfolds gradually, with cables forming flowing stems and sculpted leaves emerging as you work. If the shaping feels unexpected at first, trust the process. Each step builds toward a warm, fitted hood-style beanie with striking texture and depth.

Clear photos and step by step video tutorials guide you through the cabling and leaf techniques, giving you the support you need as the design comes together into something truly distinctive. 

If you love the leaf design but would prefer a more traditional beanie shape to your hat, you can take a peak at this pattern. It’s my Autumn Leaf Winter Beanie Hat – FREE Knitting Pattern. There is also a similar hat I designed but the leaves are a standard cable pattern. It’s called Woodland Wanderer Knit Hat – FREE Knitting Pattern

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Things you need

Worsted weight (AKA – 4 or medium) yarn – one standard ball (515 yards / 471 m) will be more than enough with yarn left over.

1 set of size 4 mm (US size 6) single pointed needles

Cable needle

Tapestry needle (to work in ends)

Bobble or pom pom of your choice. You can make or purchase one.

Gauge

With size 4 mm (US size 6) needles or whatever size you need to obtain the correct number of stitches and rows. Be sure to check your gauge. It doesn’t need to be exact but the closer the better.

In garter st

17 sts = 4 inches or 10 cm

34 rows = 4 inches or 10 cm

Sizing

One size fit most ADULTS

Band

The band can be made as long as you like. I found 7 leaves were a good length for most adult heads. Each leaf, when matching the gauge as given, is about 2.25 inches (5.75 cm long). If you want a smaller child size, make less leaves, and pick up less stitches when making the hat top. If larger, make an extra leaf and pick up more stitches. 

Cast on 19

Row 1: K4 P9 K5 P1

Row 2: K1 P4 C1B K8 P4

Row 3: C4F P7 C1B P1 C4B P1

♥ Row 4: K1 P4 K2 C1B K6 P4

Row 5: K4 P4 P2tog M1 K1 M1 P3 K4 P1 (the photos show the second M1 in this row). 

Row 6: K1 P4 K3 P3 K5 P4

Row 7: C4F P3 P2tog K1 YO K1 YO K1 P3 PM1 C4B P1

Row 8: K1 P4 K4 P5 K4 P4

Row 9: K4 P4 K2 YO K1 YO K2 P4 K4 P1

Row 10: K1 P4 K4 P7 K4 P4

Row 11: C4F P2 P2tog K3 YO K1 YO K3 P4 PM1 C4B P1

Row 12: K1 P4 K5 P9 K3 P4

Row 13: K4 P3 TWK2tog K5 K2tog P5 K4 P1

Row 14: K1 P4 K5 P7 K3 P4

Row 15: C4F P1 P2tog TWK2tog K3 K2tog P5 PM1 C4B P1

Row 16: K1 P4 K6 P5 K2 P4

Row 17: K4 P2 TWK2tog K1 K2tog P6 K1 M1 K3 P1

Row 18: K1 P4 C1B K5 P3 K2 P4

Row 19: C4F P2 Pick up the st as if to knit. K2tog PSSO. P4 C1B P1 C4B P1 ♥ Repeat from ♥ to ♥ 6 more times for a total of 7 leaves.

Please note: To end with a complete leaf and no stem (you don’t have to but it looks more finished) end the final leaf with a complete Row 16 and continue as follows.

Row 17: K4 P2 TWK2tog K1 K2tog P6 K4 P1

Row 18: K1 P4 K6 P3 K2 P4

Row 19: C4F P2 Pick up the st as if to knit. K2tog PSSO. P6 C4B P1

Row 20: K1 P4 K9 P4

Cast off. Band done.

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Hat Top

With the RIGHT side of the band facing you and the PURL sts at the top, Pick up 60 sts along the edge of the cable band.

Row 1: Purl across 

♥ Row 2: K2 M1 K to the last 2 sts. M1 K2

Row 3: P2 PM1 P to the last 2 sts. PM1 P2 ♥ Repeat from ♥ to ♥ until you have 100 sts.

☼ Row 22: K across

Row 23: P across

Row 24: K2tog. K to the last 2 sts. K2tog.

Row 25: P across ☼ Repeat from ☼ to ☼ until you have 88 sts.

Row 50: K3 * K2tog K7 K2tog K1 * Repeat form * to * 6 more times. K1 (74 sts)

Row 51: P across

Row 52: K3 * K2tog K5 K2tog K1 * Repeat form * to * 6 more times. K1 (60 sts)

Row 53: P across

Row 54: K3 * K2tog K3 K2tog K1 * Repeat form * to * 6 more times. K1 (46 sts)

Row 55: P across

Row 56: K3 * K2tog K1 K2tog K1 * Repeat form * to * 6 more times. K1 (32 sts)

Row 58: P across

Row 59: K2tog across (16 sts)

Row 60: P across

Row 61: K2tog across. Break yarn. Draw through. Sew the seam up to the point formed by Row 22 before you move on to the finishing edge.

Sew this seam along the back of the hat..

up to this point.

Now that the seam is sewn, pick up sts along the back of the hat.

Finishing Edge

With the RIGHT side facing you and starting at the cast off edge of the front band, pick up 3 sts in the C4F cable, 7 sts in the leaf section, and 3 sts in the C4B cable, in every second row along the back and 3 sts in the C4B cable, 7 sts in the leaf section, and 3 sts in the C4F cable.

Row 1: K across

Row 2: K2 Cast off 1 st. K to the last 3 sts. Cast off 1 st. K1

Row 3: K2 Cast on 1. K to the cast off st. Cast on 1. K2

Row 4: K across

Cast off with the WRONG side facing you. Break yarn.

Hints and Tips

If you want a more slouchy hat, when you’re done row 25, work more knit and purl rows to make the 88 st section longer.

You can easily make this hat in 2 colours if you like. Because the band is made separately, you could make it and the pom pom complimentary colours.

To pick up sts evenly along the purl row, divide the length in half. You now need to pick up 30 sts evenly. Still too hard to space them out? Divide the half into a quarter. You now need to space 15 sts evenly in the 1/4 section. You can use spare pieces of yarn or st markers to divide the sections smaller and smaller for even spacing.

If you’re off by a st or 2 when picking up sts along the band, it won’t make a huge difference. Your st counts later will be off, but that’s not a big deal either.

Make the ties from long strands of yarn pulled through the hole. You’ll now have 2 strands. Feed as many strands as you like through the holes but make sure that the number of total strands is divisible by 3 if you’re braiding it. For the beige hat, I used 6 long strands giving me 12 strands total. Each of the 3 sections of the braid was made of 4 strands of yarn.

One strand pulled through the hole

You can either make a pom pom for your hat or purchase pom poms from all sorts of retailers. I got my faux fur pom poms online. 

If you would like to make a smaller hat for kids, use a thinner yarn and smaller needles. How the sizing turns out, I can’t say. A tighter gauge will keep the proportions of the hat and scale it down in size.

There are a number of ends to work in when you’re done. One thing you can do is work them in as you knit. I’ve added the how to video below. This also a handy skill to have when knitting just about anything, tbh. 

Abbreviations

K – Knit

P – Purl

P2tog – Purl 2 stitches together

K2tog – Knit 2 sts together. 

sts – stitches

st – stitch

PSSO – Pass slipped stitch over

YO – Yarn over

C1B – Cable 1 back. Pick up next stitch on a cable needle. Pull this stitch to the BACK of your work. 
Knit the next stitch. Purl the stitch on the cable needle. Watch the video to learn how. It’s for a different pattern I wrote but the technique is the exactly the same.

Side note: I use both versions of the terminology when it comes to cable stitches. I’ve been corrected that I’m using the wrong one for both occasions so it’s a no win for me. What I mean is that C4F is the same technique as C2F. Just like how C2B is the same as C4B. Do you think of it as the just the stitches you’re pulling or the number of stitches you’re using in total when you do it? It’s a personal choice, I guess.

C4F – Pick up the next 2 stitches with your cable needle. Pull the stitches to the FRONT of your work. Knit the next 2 stitches on your non-working needle. Knit the 2 stitches from the cable needle.

C4B – Pick up the next 2 stitches with your cable needle. Pull the stitches to the BACK of your work. Knit the next 2 stitches on your non-working needle. Knit the 2 stitches from the cable needle.

M1 – Make one (knit wise). Increase one stitch between the stitches. Pick up the yarn between the stitches. Twist slightly. Place it on your non-working needle. Knit the stitch.

PM1 – Make one (purl wise). Increase one stitch between the stitches. Pick up the yarn between the stitches. Twist it slightly and place it on your non-working needle. Purl the stitch.

TWK2tog – (Twist and Knit 2 sts together) – Pick up a stitch as if to knit. Twist the stitch and place it back on your non-working needle. Knit the 2 stitches together from right to left. Click this link 
TWK2tog or use the QR code to watch the video.

Like all of my patterns you have my permission to sell and/or give away the physical items that you make using this pattern. You are NOT permitted to reprint this pattern in any form unless you have obtained my written permission to do so. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment or send me your questions at kweenbee_crafts@hotmail.ca.