Stars Hollow
Stars Hollow
I put on the TV show Gilmore Girls one afternoon in the summer of 2020 to keep my dog distracted from the sounds of fireworks. I'd never watched it before, and I was just looking for background noise. Instead, I immediately fell in love. With the characters. With the rapid-fire dialogue and the way everyone knew each other. With Stars Hollow.
My husband’s cousin had been obsessed with this show for years, and she talked about it constantly. Now I understood why.
Fast forward to January 2021, shortly after I had finished binge watching all seven seasons, Lady Dye Yarns reached out to ask if I'd be interested in a Gilmore Girls-inspired collaboration. One skein. Something magic. My answer (yes!) came pretty much as fast as anything Lorelai or Rory would have said.
As I was trying to design the pattern, I kept thinking about the hats they wore. I looked through pictures of them online and found inspiration in one of Lorelai’s: a gray, ribbed beanie with a folded brim. I loved the simplicity of it, but I also wanted more. I wanted to capture that magical "I smell snow . . ." feeling and the charm of Stars Hollow itself.
So I added strands between the ribbed columns. And then I added beads. They were the perfect finishing touch to elevate this knit. They catch the light and make it feel like winter magic, not just a winter hat. Like there's something more happening beneath the surface, the way there always is in Stars Hollow.
If you're the kind of person who gets a little thrill hearing the opening notes of that familiar theme song, who believes that coffee is a food group, and who secretly wishes they could move to a quirky Connecticut town, then this pattern was made for you. Maybe it's the project you'll work on the next time you tune into the Knitathon ("Knit, People, Knit!") or listen in on a town meeting. Wherever you knit or wear this hat, I hope it takes you back to when you first experienced the magic of this beloved on-screen town.
Why knitters love it
One skein of DK weight yarn, one week of relaxing knitting, one gorgeous hat. The stitch patterns are simple enough to knit while watching your favorite show, and the beads add visual interest without slowing you down.
Beginner-friendly with personality. If you've never knit with beads, this is your entry point. There are two ways to add beads to knitting in progress, and the pattern walks you through both step by step. There’s also a video tutorial. (And if you skip the beads? The hat is just as lovely—no judgment.)
Stretchy and forgiving. The rib has tons of stretch, so sizing is flexible. Wear it with the brim folded or unfolded depending on how you feel that day.
Customizable sizing. Two sizes with clear guidance for resizing. If you need it bigger or smaller, shorter or taller, the pattern has you covered.
What you get
Instant PDF download. Cast on whenever you’re ready.
Clear beading instructions. Step-by-step instructions for knitting with beads, no experience or pre-stringing required. Beads are optional, but they’re absolutely worth it.
Written and charted instructions. Follow whichever format works best for you.
Ready to capture the magic?
The Knitty-Gritty
Description
The Stars Hollow hat was originally designed in collaboration with Lady Dye Yarns for a Gilmore Girls-inspired club. The strands that weave through an otherwise simple rib pattern evoke the feelings of all that makes up our favorite on-screen town: connectivity, close-knit community, and unbreakable ties with family and friends. Beads knit into the fabric add a bit of flair and capture the magic of winter in Stars Hollow.
Sizes
Medium (Large)
Finished Measurements
15 (17)” / 37.5 (42.5) cm circumference at brim, unstretched
11” / 28 cm tall with brim unfolded
7¾–9” / 19.5–22.5 cm tall with brim folded to preferred depth
Hat is quite stretchy, and it is intended to be worn with up to 6” (15 cm) of negative ease to showcase the stitch pattern. Sample shown in size Medium on a 21¼” (54 cm) head. Pattern also includes instructions for resizing the hat by changing needle size or yarn weight.
Yarn
197 (230) yards / 180 (210) meters plied DK weight yarn
Hat shown in Lady Dye Yarns Cashmerino DK [DK weight, 80% superwash merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon] in colorway ‘Morticia’
Needles
US 6 (4 mm) circular needle, 16” (40 cm), or needle size necessary to obtain correct gauge
US 4 (3.5 mm) circular needle, 16” (40 cm), or needle size .5 mm smaller than gauge needle
Appropriate needle(s) in the larger size for your preferred method of knitting small circumferences in the round
Gauge
25.5 sts and 37 rnds = 4” (10 cm) in smocked 3x3 rib worked in the round using larger needles, blocked
Each 12-st increment is approximately 2” (5 cm) wide
Notions
(1) Stitch marker for beginning of round
152 (171) 4 mm 6/0 Glass seed beads (optional)
If using beads, 0.60–1 mm crochet hook OR 6” (15 cm) flexible, fine gauge wire, bent in half (both legs of bent wire should insert easily into beads)
Tapestry needle
I smell snow . . .
Buy it on Ravelry.
