Easy Knit Hat Pattern

This simple knit hat pattern uses the Imitation Embroidery Pattern from the favourite knitting stitches page. The yarn used is a chunky naturally dyed handspun from wonderful LaLana Wools in Taos, NM. This stitch pattern is similar to a rib knit - it is stretchy, one size fits many and there is no decrease shaping required until the very top. The pattern is for a medium sized hat followed by instructions for making it larger or smaller or adapting to various yarn types.

Needles:
5mm circular, 60mm / 24 inch length)
5mm double pointed needles (dpn)

Tension:
12 stitches 20 rows / 4 inches

Abbreviations:
YO = Yarn Over needle, to make a stitch
K3 = Knit three stitches
P3 = Purl three stitches
K3tog = Knit three stitches together, to decrease two stitches
K2tog = Knit two stitches together, to decrease one stitch

Pattern:
With circular needles, cast on 66 stitches using the long-tail cast-on method (or other 'stretchy' cast-on). Place a stitch marker and join circle for Row 1, being careful not to twist the cast-on row.

Row 1: *K3 P3* Repeat * to * 11 times
Row 2: *K3 P3* Repeat * to * 11 times
Row 3: *YO K3tog YO P3* Repeat * to* 11 times
Row 4: Repeat Row 2

Repeat Rows 1-4 eight times.

Cut off yarn strand, 6-8 inches and thread into yarn needle. Stitch through each loop while removing stitches from knitting needles. When all stitches are on thread, pull tight and tie off.






This knit hat pattern is also reversible - if you turn it inside out, it looks like a simpler rib knit. If you want just a simple rib knit hat, knit all rows of the main section in K3, P3 rib stitch (ie. skip row 3, replace with K3 P3).

Here is another version of the same knit hat pattern in a thinner yarn - handspun from wool fiber dyed with our Forest Green natural dye.
Because it is a thinner yarn, more stitches need to be cast on and it must be done in a multiple of 6. For this hat, I cast on 78 stitches. Rows 1-4 also need to be repeated more often, in this case eleven times.

It's simple to use any yarn for this pattern. Simply knit a test swatch with your chosen yarn so you know how many stitches you are getting per inch. Then measure the circumference (ie. number of inches around) of your chosen person's head. Multiply this number of inches by your number of stitches per inch and round down to the nearest multiple of 6 stitches to get the number of cast-on stitches. (It's best to round down since the pattern has some stretch to it and you want it to fit a bit snug.) Repeat Rows 1-4 until piece measures about 6 inches, then continue with decreasing.
It is also very simple to change the basic pattern above to make it a little smaller or larger. Just add or subtract a multiple of 6 stitches.

Go Back to Favourite Knit Stitches from Knit Hat Pattern