This pattern is extremely easy since all you need to know how to do is knit! I'm just going to post the pattern tonight. And over the next few days add helpful posts for the first time knitters.
Materials:
yarn of your choice, ask for help to be sure you purchase enough. Usually one or two skeins should do it.
16” or 20” circular needles, the size indicated on the label of the yarn chosen.
tapestry needles
scissors
tape measure
Prep: (don't skip this step - its not possible to knit the pattern without this step).
Knit swatch of chosen yarn as directed on the label. Block it.
Count the number of stitches per inch.
Measure your head.
Multiply the number of stitches per inch times the number of inches around your head.
This is how many stitches you will cast onto your circular needles.
Note: round down. Remember that the woman wearing this hat will probably not have much hair to fill in the hat.
Start the hat:
Knit Garter stitch edge – this is knitted without forming the circle.
Cast on established number of stitches
*Row1 knit all stitches. Turn work.
*Row 2 knit all stitches. Turn work.
*Continue this way for 1 inch. Do not turn work. Make sure none of the work is twisted over the needles. It should all hang straight down from the needle.
*Connect knitting to continue knitting in the round: Leave working yarn on the right hand needle. Bring the knitting on left hand needle to the tip of the left needle. Starting knitting the first stitch on the left needle. Continue knitting around the needles. *Knitting the Stockinette hat: Knit minimum 8 inches of hat. 9 inches is better. If there is only a bit of yarn left in the ball you purchased, knit to finish, leaving a 12” tail. If there is a lot of yarn left, finish somewhere between 8 – 9” leaving a 12” tale. Save the rest of the yarn for another project.
Finishing: Thread the tail with a tapestry needle. Carefully lift all stitches from left needle onto the tapestry needle – so that the thread tail pulls through each stitch.
I'm a beginner & have a beginner question: I have a 29" circular needle purchased for another project. I'm assuming this would be too long for knitting this hat?
ReplyDeletehi D'Arcy - yes the 29" circular needle would be too long. There are lots of possibilities to make it work, but, since you say you are a beginning knitter, they might make your life more difficult. We don't want that! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Tara. Another beginner question - I'm almost done my first ever hat! And I'm loving how it looks. I've noticed the garter stitch edge keeps flipping up on it's own, and I kind of like it like that. If I decide to keep it that way - do I need to knit an extra inch (i.e. knit 10 inches instead of 9) before casting off? I can't wait to finish this one and start another!
ReplyDeleteHuh! I don't know why it's flipping! Anybody else have any ideas? Your theory about leaving it flipped and having to knit 10 inches makes sense. But since you have the advantage that we work together - bring it in, let's take a look! Can't wait to see it.
ReplyDeleteMy guess the flip is due to the difference in your tension between the knits and the purls, just a guess. And if cost is an issue, don't let the wrong length of needle stop you from knitting! There are many videos on the Magic Loop technique around YouTube, but I also prefer the extra length to work with. Just move your stitches around the circle, but place a marker (paperclips work fine and you can get them back off if something wrong happens)
ReplyDelete