How to Crochet the Edge of a Knit Hat

A crocheted edge gives a knit hat a finished look and helps prevent stretching.

Adding a crocheted edge to a knit hat gives a more finished look to the hat and can also be used to prevent the knitting from becoming stretched and shapeless. Since a knit hat must be able to stretch a bit when put on, care must be taken that the crocheted edge is not too tight. Most often, only two rows of crochet are added so that it does not become binding.

Things You'll Need

• Crochet hook
• Yarn
• Scissors
• Tapestry needle

Instructions

1. Turn the hat so that the edge of the hat is facing you. If the hat has a back side, start there. If not, start with any stitch along the edge. Insert the crochet hook under the two strands of yarn that form a "V." Hook the yarn over the crochet hook and pull it through the knit stitch to form a loop. You now have one loop on the crochet hook.

2. Place yarn over the hook and then pull the yarn through the loop.

3. Insert the hook under the two V-shaped strands of the knit stitch to the left of the stitch you just used. Hook yarn over the crochet hook and draw the yarn through the knit stitch. You now have two loops on your hook. Place yarn over the hook and draw the yarn through both loops.

4. Repeat Step 3 all the way around the edge of the hat until it meets the starting point.

5. Insert the hook under the two V-shaped strands of your first crochet stitch. Hook the yarn over the crochet hook and draw the yarn through the crocheted stitch. Two loops are on the crochet hook. Yarn over the hook and draw the yarn through both loops.

6. Continue to crochet all the way around the edge of the hat, giving you two rows of single crochet. When you finish the second row, cut the yarn, leaving a tail. Work the tail close to the strand of yarn at the first crochet stitch with a crochet hook. Knot those two strands of yarn together. Weave the tails of yarn into the wrong side of the hat to hide them with a tapestry needle.