Knitting Hat Pattern.
Step by step instruction.

How to knit a hat.

There are many different ways to make a knitting hat pattern. The one presented on this page is a classic way of knitting hats. Once you get an idea how to make patterns and to shape a hat using decreases , you will be able to design your own hats without any problems. I will show you all details necessary for knitting this particular hat. If you follow me, you will be able to knit exactly the same hat.

It is not that bad idea to follow some one's instruction while making your own project. Nevertheless, it is much more valuable and interesting experience if doing your project you don't just follow description , but learn basic design principle instead.

It means that next time when you decide to make a new hat you won't have to spend your precious time looking for matching description to make the hat you like. That's what we are going to do now: to study basic principles to design a knitting hat pattern.

As usually, I don't suggest you to follow my instruction exactly. Feel free to change anything you want. This is the best way to learn something. Besides that all of us have different preferences, vision, and sense of beauty. I'll explain you how this particular knitting hat pattern was designed. Use it as a base model, and welcome to creative world!

Let's look at the knitting hat pattern and at the hat itself to understand what we are going to knit. There are a few design features this hat has:

• A bottom edge (15 rows = 5 cm = 2 in) is folded inside a hat and sewed on to a hat in a few points.
• It has a folded line to fold brim inside a hat. To knit a folded line.
  Row 1: * Knit 2 together, yarn over*. Row 2: Purl.
• Line AB is the beginning of decreases to shape a hat.
• A hat can be worked either way:
  Working in the rounds with circular knitting needles or double pointed knitting needles.
  Working flat with a seam with straight knitting needles.

Materials.

Patons Classic Wool. Merino. 100 % Wool. 223 yds./204 meters. 3 1/2 oz/ 100 g.
Amount necessary: 100 g.
Size 2 (2.75 mm) straight, circular or double pointed needles.

Gauge.

1 cm = 2.14 sts. 1 cm = 3.33 rows.

Stitch Pattern .

Bottom part of a crown: Stockinette stitch (right side).

Crown: Revers Stockinette stitch + 6 a 4-stitch cables.

Follow a knitting-hat-pattern.

1. Number of stitches necessary to begin.
   NOTE: Calculations are made for 56 cm measurement made around head. (an average adult). Cast on:
   56 cm x 2.14 sts/cm = 119.84. Round to 120 sts. For working a flat hat with a seam, cast on 1 selvage stitch for seaming at very beginning and end of work (122 sts total).
2. Row 1 - Row 15: Stockinette stitch (right side)
3. Knit a folded line. Row 16: * Knit 2 together, yarn over*. Row 17: Purl.
4. Row 18 - Row 32: Stockinette stitch (right side)
5. Row 33: Change a stitch pattern to cables: Purl 8 sts, * knit 4, purl 16*, knit 4, purl 8.
   NOTE: There are 6 cables in this pattern and 16 purl stitches between each of them (120 sts total). In case you are working flat with a seam hat (122 sts) , make "purl 9" instead of "purl 8".
6. Row 34 - Row 61: Continue to follow stitch pattern and a knitting hat pattern.
7. Row 62 - Row 82: Make decreases to shape a hat. Decrease 1 stitch before each cable and 1 stitch after each cable (12 decreases per each of these rows: 62, 66, 70, 74, 78, 82, 84, 86, 88). There will be 12 stitches on the needles after you finish decreases.

Finishing.

• Weave in all ends.
• In case of a flat knitted hat sew a seam.
• Fold bottom edge (5 cm ) inside of a hat and sew it on at a few points.
• Put a wet fabric on the hat, and steam it with an iron (DON"T TOUCH FABRIC! HOLD THE IRON ABOVE IT!)

Universal formula for knitting hat pattern.

All calculations presented above are based on a simple "formula" for knitting hats. It can be used for designing of any kinds of hats. Here it is:

1. Using gauge and circumference of your head, calculate number of stitches to begin. Knit brim.
2. Knit 12 cm of your hat using chosen pattern. Separate all stitches into 6 equal groups
3. Make decreases:
   in every 4th row at the beginning of each of 6 groups ( 5 - 6 cm).
   In every 2nd row at the beginning of each of 6 groups till there are about 10 stitches on the needles.

A knitted hat presented on this page was knitted with thin needles (#2 / 2.75 mm). I wanted to have a thin and dense knitted fabric. Hence, original number of stitches was pretty large. That's why I made 12 decreases each time instead of traditional 6. Nevertheless, I still followed the formula: 6 parts, 12 cm after brim, 5-6 cm made decreases in each 4th row, and made decreases in each 2nd row till I had 10-12 stitches left.