Beginners Guide to Knit a Hat

Materials
• Interchangeable Knitting Needles Amazon
• Hedgehog Fibers Merino DK in the Genie colorway (Approximately 140 Yards)
• Stitch Marker
• Tapestry Needle

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Free Knitting Pattern

Learn to knit a hat in the round with a ribbed brim, a stockinette body, and a shaped crown. The video above demonstrates each step, and the PDF download remains available for printing.

Yarn & Materials

Approximately 140 yards of DK yarn, shown on this page in Hedgehog Fibers Merino DK in Genie.

US 4 (3.5 mm) 16-inch circular needle; US 6 (4 mm) 16-inch circular needle; US 6 double-pointed needles; 5 stitch markers; tapestry needle; scissors; optional pom-pom.

Cast On

Using the US 4 circular needle, cast on 100 stitches. Place a stitch marker and join in the round. (Video 3:04)

Ribbing

Ribbing Round: (Knit 1, purl 1); repeat around. (Video 10:16)

Repeat until the ribbing measures 1.5 inches from the cast-on edge.

Change Needle Size

Using the US 6 circular needle, knit the stitches from the smaller needle. (Video 14:22)

Hat Body

Knit every round until the center portion of the hat measures 4 inches, measured above the ribbing. (Video 15:20)

Crown Decreases

Set up markers: (Knit 20, place a marker); repeat around to divide the 100 stitches into 5 sections. (Video 15:54)

Decrease Round: Knit to 2 stitches before a marker, knit 2 together (K2T); repeat around. Each decrease round removes 5 stitches.

Knit Round: Knit every stitch.

Alternate a Decrease Round and a Knit Round until 30 stitches remain.

Switch to the US 6 double-pointed needles when the stitches no longer fit comfortably around the circular needle. (Video 20:16)

Work 1 Decrease Round, leaving 25 stitches. Work 1 more Decrease Round, removing the markers as you go, leaving 20 stitches.

Finishing

Cut the yarn, leaving a 10-inch tail. Thread the tail through the 20 remaining stitches with a tapestry needle, then remove the knitting needles. (Video 25:16)

Pull the tail tight to close the crown. Thread the tail to the inside of the hat and secure it.

Weave in all remaining ends and add the optional pom-pom.