How to Knit a Hat With Straight Needles

A hat knit on straight needles must be sewn together.

Most beginning knitters start by knitting scarves. While there's a near infinite amount of variety to be found there, many new knitters want to quickly move beyond the basics and try new projects. A basic hat, knit on two straight needles, is the perfect project to try once you've mastered the scarf. Even experienced knitters like to fall back on a simple pattern that begs for customization. Try stripes, using novelty yarns, or adding a knitted flower or brooch to this pattern, once you feel comfortable with the fundamentals.

Things You'll Need

• Approximately 100 yards of chunky weight yarn
• Size 13 (9mm) straight knitting needles (or a size that gives you the correct gauge)
• Darning needle
• Scissors

Instructions

1. The first step in mastering how to knit a hat with straight needles is to check your gauge and adjust your needle size as required. The gauge for this project is 12 stitches/12 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch.

2. Begin your hat by casting on 60 stitches. Work 10 rows in knit two purl two ribbing, then work in stockinette stitch until the hat is 5 inches from the cast-on edge.

3. Start shaping the hat's crown by doing decreases on the knit rows only. On the next knit row, knit eight, then decrease by knitting two stitches together. Repeat until end of row; there should be 54 stitches on your needle. Then purl next row, knit next two rows evenly, and purl next row.

4. Decrease again on knit row: knit seven, then decrease by knitting two stitches together. Repeat until end of row-- there should be 48 stitches on your needle. Purl next row, knit one row evenly, then purl next row.

5. Decrease for your hat again on knit row: knit six, then decrease by knitting two stitches together. Repeat until end of row; there should be 42 stitches on your needle. Purl next row, knit one row evenly, and purl next row.

6. Decrease again on knit row: knit four, then decrease by knitting two stitches together. Repeat until end of row; there should be 36 stitches on your needle. Purl next row, knit one row evenly, and purl next row. Your hat should be beginning to take shape.

7. Decrease again on knit row: knit four, then decrease by knitting two stitches together. Repeat until end of row; there should be 30 stitches on your needle. Purl next row, knit one row evenly, and purl next row.

8. Decrease again on knit row: knit three, then decrease by knitting two stitches together. Repeat until end of row; there should be 24 stitches on your needle. Purl next row, knit one row evenly, and purl next row.

9. Finally, decrease one last time on knit row: knit one, then decrease by knitting two stitches together. Repeat until end of row; there should be 18 stitches on your needle.

10. Leaving a 12-inch tail, cut yarn. Thread the darning needle, then weave tail through the remaining stitches on needle and draw tightly. Seam up the side of your hat using a mattress stitch. Weave in ends and block lightly if necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a counter to keep track of your stitches.

• Knit a longer hat if you wish to turn the brim up in a cuff.

• Weave in your ends tightly, so your hat seam does not come loose after a few wearings.

Resources

• AOK Corral: Hat Knitting for Beginners
• Knitting on the Net: Free Knitted Hat Patterns
• Knitting for Charity: Knitting Hats for Charity