How to Knit an Adult Bear Hat
Knitting an adult sized bear hat may be a daunting task, but with a basic knowledge of knitting techniques, it need not be. By knitting the hat in the round, knitting the ears separately and attaching them later, you can knit an adult-sized bear hat with minimal frustration. If you would like a traditional bear hat, choose a brown or white yarn or express your flair with a colored yarn choice. Your finished product will be unbearably attractive.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Skein of heavy-weight yarn
- 16-inch circular knitting needles, number 9
- 4 double-pointed needles, number 9
- Tapestry needle
Instructions
-
Knitting the Hat
-
1
Cast on 72 stitches onto the number 9 circular knitting needle. Join the stitches without twisting them. Knit in stockinette stitch, keeping the brim unrolled, for 6 inches.
-
2
To decrease, place a marker at the beginning of the row. Knit 10 stitches and knit two together. Continue to knit 10 stitches then knit two together until this has been done this six times and have finished the round, leaving 66 stitches.
-
-
3
Knit nine, then knit two together six times until the round is finished. Knit eight, then knit two together six times until the round is finished. Continue decreasing in this pattern for nine rounds.
-
4
When it becomes difficult to decrease on the circular needles, divide the stitches evenly between three of the double pointed needles and continue decreasing until 12 stitches remain.
-
5
Cut the yarn, leaving an 8-inch tail. Using the tapestry needles, slip the tail through the remaining stitches, remove the stitches from the double-pointed needles and close the top securely. Tie off the tail through an inside stitch and weave in the ends.
Knitting the Ears
-
6
Cast on 11 stitches onto one double pointed needle. Knit six rows of stockinette stitch.
-
7
Decrease the stitches. For the first row, knit one stitch. Knit two together and continue knitting until three stitches remain. Slip the next two stitches off of the needle, insert the needle through the front of the loops and knit them together. Knit the last stitch.
-
8
For row two, purl one stitch. Purl two together and continue purling until three stitches remain. Slip the next two stitches off of the needle, insert the needle through the back of the loop and purl together. Purl the last stitch. Repeat steps two and three of section two until five stitches remain. Purl one row.
-
9
Begin to increase the stitches. For the first row, knit one stitch then knit front to back. Continue to knit until there are two stitches remaining on the needle. Knit front to back and knit one. For the second row, purl one stitch then purl front to back. Continue to purl until there are two stitches remaining on the needle. Purl front to back and purl the last stitch. Repeat the instructions for the first and second rows until you have 11 stitches on the needle.
-
10
Knit six rows of stockinette stitch. Bind off, leaving a long tail.
-
11
Keep the right sides out and fold the ear in half. Using the tail, stitch along the edge of the ear to close. Once the stitched is closed, use the remaining tail to sew the ear to the hat, weaving the tail through the hat's stitches. Weave any remaining tail into the hat.
-
12
Repeat steps one through six of section two for the second ear.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
The gauge for this pattern is four stitches by six rows equals 1 inch by 1 inch stockinette stitch.
One size fits most.
References
- Photo Credit Ben Bloom/Digital Vision/Getty Images
