How to Learn to Knit a Hat
Beginning knitters usually start by learning the knit stitch. Using this stitch they can knit squares and rectangles in any size to create washcloths, scarves or even blankets. Once a knitter learns to purl, she can create other stitch patterns like ribbing or stockinette. From there, a knitter learns basic increases and decreases; and can make a lace pattern or a hat. You can knit a hat on straight needles or in the round, using a variety of techniques. How you choose to knit your hats depends on the technique most comfortable for you.
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Things You'll Need
- Yarn
- Straight knitting needles
- Double-pointed knitting needles
- Circular knitting needles
- Scissors
- Large eye blunt needle
Instructions
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Knit a gauge swatch. For a basic hat, use worsted-weight yarn and knitting needles in a size US 8. Hats are knit from the bottom up; you need to measure the appropriate head circumference, then figure out how many stitches to cast on in order to match that measurement. Remember a knitted hat will stretch a little, so take approximately 2 inches off the circumference measurement.
Knit a small square in stockinette stitches (knit one row, purl one row, repeat). Measure how many stitches you made horizontally in 1 inch. Now multiply that number by the number of inches you need for your hat; this is the number of stitches you need to cast on. If you have an odd number, round it up or down by a few stitches to make it a number divisible by five or 10.
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Cast on using your preferred knitting technique. There are four basic ways to knit a hat, each has its advantages. For an easy hat pattern, use straight needles and knit your hat in a flat piece; then you just sew up the top and side seam when you finish. For a hat knitted in the round, you have three other choices: double-pointed needles (DPNs), one long circular needle (magic loop), or two circular needles. If you have never tried any of these methods, you should experiment with each to see which is more comfortable for you.
For DPNs, cast your stitches onto one needle, and then slide one-third of the stitches onto a second needle and one-third of the stitches onto a third needle. Use the fourth DPN to knit around this triangle of stitches to make your hat. For magic loop, cast all stitches to one needle, then pull the cable or cord through the center of those stitches. Use your needle to knit half the stitches, then slide the other half onto the other needle to knit those stitches. Two circular needles are used similarly to DPNs, but cables connect your needles as you work.
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Knit your initial stitches. When you knit flat, if you want a stockinette pattern you will have to knit one row and purl the next. If you knit in the round, you only have to knit every row; there is no purling necessary. Knit enough rows until your hat is the appropriate height. Remember that when you knit in stockinette, the bottom edge of the hat will curl. To accommodate the rolling, add a few extra inches to the height.
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Decrease your stitches to round the top of your hat. If you started with 60 stitches, for instance, then you will start to decrease one stitch every 10 stitches; you will make a total of six decreases on your first round. For the next round, knit eight stitches and then knit two stitches together. Repeat until you have decreased by a total of six stitches. Every time you go around after this, make one round where you knit every stitch, and the next round decrease. In every decrease round knit one stitch less before the decrease; so for the second decrease round, knit seven, then knit two together; for the third decrease round knit six, then knit two together, and so on.
If you are knitting flat, the rows between decreases will be purled rows, so purl every stitch across and make decreases on your knit rows only.
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When the stitches on your needles become too small to knit (or fewer than 10 stitches), cut a 15-inch length of yarn off your working yarn and thread it onto a large-eye blunt needle. Gently slide stitches off of your knitting needles and thread this yarn through using the needle. When you have threaded every stitch, pull the yarn tightly to close off the top of the hat. If you have knit in the round, pull the needle inside the hat and weave it through a few stitches, knot, and cut the loose end of yarn. If you have knit your hat flat, pull the yarn tight and fold the hat together so that the side seams meet. Turn the hat inside-out and sew the seams, knot, and cut your working yarn before turning the hat right side out.
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Tips & Warnings
The methods are interchangeable for the most part, and any pattern you read that calls for one method you could complete using a different method instead.
References
- Photo Credit snowy hat image by Karin Lau from Fotolia.com
