Thinking A-Head: Knit Hat

I have been knitting since I was very little. Like much of the crafting I do I was taught by my mother. It is a wonderful thing we do together and very differently. We are always comparing notes on our current projects. She just finished a child size  sweater with a silly monkey on it for a fundraiser at the local zoo. I have been frustrated by the lack of inspiration. With the weather turning cooler I have been sifting through my stash of yarn and patterns to find a project.

It is the start of October and I am already anticipating the hat and mitten drives that many parts of our community will run. I am planning on making a bunch of hats. So I am going to start simple. I have found some acrylic yarn that has been sitting quietly on the shelf while I have chosen the preferred wool for other projects. With this project I don’t want to burden anyone with complicated washing instructions that comes with something wool.

I have taught children as young as six to knit. If you don’t know how find a family member, a neighbor, or a friend who can teach your child. Then follow up with Youtube! If you plug any knitting instruction into Youtube it will come up with several great instructional videos that will clearly answer your question.  The below pattern can easily be made as one of the first projects for beginner knitters.

Knit Hat

Supplies

• 100 grams of acrylic yarn (I used Carson Simply Soft)
• size 8 circular needles 16 inch
• size 8 double pointed needles
• scissors
• large sewing needle

Directions

1. Cast on 60 stitches on to the circular needles
2. Knit the first row to connect the stitches in a circle on the circular needles.  Place marker at the beginning of the row.
3. Knit 2 more rows
4. Purl 1 row
5. Knit 30 rows
6. Knit 8 stitches, knit 2 together – repeat to the end of the row
7. Knit a row
8. Knit 7 stitches, knit 2 together – repeat to the end of the row
9. Knit a row transitioning the stitches from the circular needles to the double pointed needles
10. Knit 6 stitches, knit 2 together – repeat to the end of the row
11. Knit a row
12. Knit 5 stitches, knit 2 together – repeat to the end of the row
13. Knit a row
14. Knit 4 stitches, knit 2 together – repeat to the end of the row
15. Knit a row
16. Knit 3 stitches, knit 2 together – repeat to the end of the row
17. Knit a row
18. Knit 2 stitches, knit 2 together – repeat to the end of the row
19. Knit 1 stitches, knit 2 together – repeat to the end of the row
20. Knit 2 together – repeat to the end of the row
21. Cut yarn with about 12 inches left
22. Thread yarn into needle. Pass needle through the remaining stitches. Pull tight and knot on inside of hat.
23. Knot the yarn that is hanging from the brim of the hat and weave the loose end into the inside of the hat using the large sewing needle. Cut off the extra yarn.

Variations

Stripes with color – for stripes  of color change the color every couple rows at the marker. I made uneven stripes 1 row of grey, then 3 of blue, then 5 of grey, and so on. Or they can be more consistent 2 rows grey and 2 rows blue.

Stripes with texture – for stripes of texture knit a row, then purl a row. Like the color stripes you can be consistent or not.