Hat on Top, Coat Below
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On Double Layer Knitted Hats
December 7, 2025
I haven’t been knitting recently, but I have been watching videos about the Game of Wool tv show, so the YouTube algorithm guessed I like knitting and served me up a video about the Musselburgh hat, which is apparently a super popular knitting pattern. Two and a half years ago when the video was made, it had over 13 thousand projects on Ravelry; now it’s over 41 thousand. Having been out of the knitting game for a while now, I’d never heard of it.
Very early on in the video, Mostly Knitting says that the Musselburgh is not as good for heavier yarns like worsted because folding up the brim to make four layers of fabric with that weight yarn is “quite a lot going on”. “Wait a minute”, I thought, “I’ve made several double layer hats in worsted, and I think they’re just fine.” Off I went to Ravelry (it had been so long they forced me to reset my password, and yep, there were my five hats, three of which get worn regularly still, 19 years after I made them (the other two were made 15 years ago as gifts/raffle prizes). I’d link the pattern, but it’s on a non-secure site, so if you’re feeling lucky, you can find it linked in my earlier entries about the projects:
Yet Another Hat, my first attempt at the pattern.
Mo’ Knitting, when I was busy with all sorts of projects. Wore this hat a few days ago; it’s nice and warm.
Random Weekend Stuff; scroll down to see the version I made for Mr. Karen, who still has and wears it often.
Finishing; I don’t remember who won this hat in the Weetacon raffle that year so don’t know its fate.
Reversible Watch Cap; made this one for Mr. K’s dad, who I’m not sure ever wore it but it’s the thought that counts, right? We found it when cleaning out Joan’s house after she moved into assisted living, so now the hat in is our house and Mr. K wears it sometimes.
The Double Layer Hat pattern I used for my hats only has 272 projects on Ravelry as of this morning as opposed to 41671 for the Musselburgh. Why? Why are people paying $9 USD for a pattern when they could do the faster one for free? I’m not criticizing, just pondering. Found a video from Clo Knits that addresses why this very simple hat is worth the money for pattern, and she makes some good points. I may have to try a Musselburgh when I get back to knitting and see what the fuss is about. I could just do the Double Layer Hat in lighter weight yarn (which I for sure have plenty of, if I can find where I put it), but it has different increases/decreases than the Musselburgh so I wouldn’t be getting the full effect of the popular pattern if I just tried winging it to get a similar look.
On this date in 2024: No journal entry
2023: Looking a Lot Like Christmas
2022: Cotton Candy Sky
2021: Finally Hopping
2020: Happy to Color
2019: Now This Is More Like It
2018: Yertle is Judging You
2017: Throwback Thursday: 1951
2016: Doing What One Does in the Keys
2015: Well Here’s a Twist
2014: Instagram Gathering and Gimme Some Sugar
2013: No entry
2012: A Date Which Will Live in Infamy
2011: Hope Springs Eternal
2010: Pupil-riffic
2009: Introduction to Holidailies
2008: Mush!
2007: No entry
2006: Red Scarf Two
2005: Winter Count—February
2004: Holiday Guilt—A Different Kind
2003: Scarred & Soccer Baby Quilt II
2002: No entry
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