knitting a hat step by step instructions

[Callum's godmother]

Following on from some posts about an easy first project I thought I'd knit a hat with photos and hopefully instructions that people can follow. I am aiming to have a finished hat that would fit an 3 - 9 month old.

So lets start!!

[brillohead]

Andrea had on a hat last night that was just a wide ribbed band - open at the top so her beautiful dark hair stuck out the top -
is that kind of what this is, or do you gather the top?

[Callum's godmother]

Kelly, this is a rolled brim with a knot on the top ... but my photo programme is playing up so I am not having much success loading the photos!! Those hats that can also be scarves have a name is it gaiter? Anyway, I'll get back to my photos and hopefully it will have sorted it's self!!

[Mazz]

Excellent, I'd be very keen to give this a go. Thanks!

[brillohead]

Cool!
I'm going to try it too...
And I suck at knitting, so it may take me a while.

[Callum's godmother]

here goes ... I am knitting this in 8ply with 4mm needles or UK size 8 needles the band on your wool will tell you what ply it is and which needles to use as well as care instructions for the garment you knit ....



try and pull the wool out from the inside of your ball ... this may take some practice, but is well worth the effort!!



Start by casting on 88 stitches. Make the first stitch with a slip knot that you place on the needle


make the second stitch by putting the needle in your right hand thru the back of the stitch


pull the wool thru ... place this onto the left hand needle.


Make the rest of the stitches by taking the right hand needle thru between the two stitches and pulling the wool thru to make a new stitch put these stitches onto the left hand needle

[Callum's godmother]

when you have 88 stitches on the left hand needle - you can start knitting. The pattern is called stocking stitch which is one row knit one row purl. if you are doing this on circular needles it is knit every row.

If you need some help with knit and purl let me know!

Knit until the work measures 16cm.

[Callum's godmother]

probably could have been a little less than 16cm - if you have a baby to measure it up against all the better!

start to decrease for the crown -

knit 5 stitches and then knit 2 together, repeat this to the end of the row
purl the next row
knit 4 stitches and then knit 2 together, repeat this to the end of the row
purl the next row
knit 3 stitches and then knit 2 together, repeat this to the end of the row
purl the next row
knit 2 stitches and then knit 2 together, repeat this to the end of the row
purl the next row
knit 1 stitch and then knit 2 together, repeat this to the end of the row
purl 2 stitches together, repeat this to the end of the row
knit 2 stitches together, repeat this to the end of the row
purl 2 stitches together, repeat to the end of the row

I had 6 stitches left so knitted 2 together at the beginning of the row and at the end to leave 4 stitches for the top knot

Knit these 4 stitches until you have a long enough piece to knot.



Stitch the top knot cord down the side (this is a cheats icord!!)



turn the hat inside out with the top knot inside, sew up the side seam





The finished hat took just under one 50gm ball - I used Cleckheaton Tapestry - now need to find a little head to put it on!!

[missgateau]

ooh thankyou soooooo much for doing this!!! I am currently making a wee hat and needed a bit of expert advise! It is so helpful to actually see it knitted step by step.

Kate

[Dunners]

Fabulous Helen!

I've just stickied this thread for easy reference.

Excellent timing, I've almost finished James' jersey, so next will be a hat.

Any suggestions on changes to fit a 1-2 year old?

[Callum's godmother]

yeah, sure, I need to work out a bigger one (47cms) for Jax, so if you measure James' head we could do another size.

This blue one I have just finished is only 36 cm unstretched. Tapestry is quite a firm knitting wool.

[Amio]

that is so helpful!! i think i seem to have quite a tight tension, am experimenting with using bigger needles - but maybe measuring the length instead of counting rows will work out easier for me. Will my tight tension make a difference in terms of the width of the work?

[JJJ]

Great thread Helen! Yes Amio, your tension will make a lot of difference. I make a 1 year old hat with 88 stitches with the same yarn and needle size, so my knitting must be a little looser than Helen's (or my baby's head is just small!)

What you are best to do is do a tension swatch and measure how many stitches you have in 10cm of knitting. Then measure the kid's head, and calculate the stitches from there. You can still use the decrease pattern that Helen has written.

[blossom]

Awesome Helen! Thank you, this is just what I needed!!

I'm going to email you about some other knitting help

[Dunners]

James' head circumference is about 48 cm. About 12 cm from ear to top of head KWIM?