How to Knit a Basic Hat
One of the best parts of knitting is that once you master the fundamentals, it's easy to make any pattern all your own. This step-by-step tutorial will give you all the know-how to create a classic, basic hat that will fit average sized heads 20 -- 22 inches around with a little bit of stretch. It's great as-is, but is also ready for imaginative customization.
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Things You'll Need
- Approximately 150 yards worsted weight yarn
- Size 7(4.5mm) straight knitting needles
- Stitch markers
- Darning needle
- Scissors
Instructions
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1
Knit a test swatch to check your gauge and adjust your needle size as required. The gauge for this project is 4.5 stitches per inch.
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2
Begin your basic hat by casting on 88 stitches. Work 1.5 inches in knit 1 purl 1 ribbing, and then work 5 inches in stockinette stitch.
End with a purl row. -
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3
Begin shaping the crown of your basic hat by knitting 11 stitches then placing a marker until the end of the row (knit 11, place marker, knit 11, place marker, and so on).
Purl next row. -
4
Knit to 2 stitches before marker, then decrease by knitting 2 stitches together. Repeat until end of row (knit until 2 stitches before marker, knit 2 stitches together, knit until 2 stitches before marker, knit 2 stitches together, and so on).
Purl next row. -
5
Repeat Step 4 a total of six times, until there are 32 stitches left on the needle.
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6
Next row, decrease again by knitting together every stitch until end of row.
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7
Clip yarn, leaving a 12-inch tail. Using the darning needle, thread this tail through the remaining stitches on needle and draw tightly. Seam your basic hat using a mattress stitch. Weave in ends and block lightly if necessary. Enjoy your new basic hat.
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Tips & Warnings
You can customize this basic hat "recipe" by choosing your own colors, adding patterns or stripes or embellishing the finished hat with sewing notions, buttons, or a brooch.
Resources
- Photo Credit iclipart.com
Comments
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very good
