We welcome your creativity with an open heart! A few things we have learned as this project continues are:
1. Dark, solid colors were preferred over lights, brights or stripes.
2. The simpler the pattern, the better.
3. Hats with embellishments like pompoms were not snatched up as enthusiastically.
The following hat patterns are some of our favorites. Our knitters have enjoyed knitting these and hope you will too.
Barley Hat from Tin Can Knits
Grand Marais Hat from Katie Chameleon
Saint Anthony Cable Hat
Countrywool Rolled Brim Hat
A Very Plain Hat
Here are the instructions for three more hats: Winter Watch Cap, Reversible Ribbed Hat and Winter Cap. A fourth hat pattern has been added - Very Basic Knit Hat. The Minnesota Hat pattern is at the bottom of this page.
Winter Watch Cap
Needle size: US 7, 16” circular and double points for decreases
Yarn: worsted weight wool
Size: large adult
Directions:
Cast on 100 stitches
Knit 2, purl 2 in the round for 9.5 inches
Begin the decreases:
1st decrease: *K2 together, purl 2*, around the hat…75 stitches remain
Next: *K1, P2* for the next 3 rows
2nd decrease: *K1, P2tog*…50 stitches remain
Next: work in K1, P1 ribbing for 3 rows
3rd decrease: K2tog all around (the purl stitches end up behind the knit stitches)…25 stitches remain
Knit 2 rounds…knitting all the stitches…change to double pointed needles
4th decrease: K2tog all the way around…13 stitches remain
Knit 2 rounds…knitting all the stitches
5th decrease: K2tog…7 stitches remain
Cut tail, pull yarn through the remaining 7 stitches…weave in the tail
You have now knit a watch cap with a BEAUTIFUL decrease.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Reversible Ribbed Hat
Size: Adult Large
Materials:
1 skein Worsted Weight Yarn
Needles:
One 16” circular size US #8
One set of double point needles (DPNs) size US #8
Notions:
Stitch marker
Tapestry Needle
Directions
Hat Body:
Using US # 8 needles cast on 96 stitches. Place marker, join, being careful not to twist stitches. Work in 1 x 1 ribbing (k1, p1) until hat measures 3 1/2” from cast on edge.
Next round work in 3 x 1 ribbing (k3, p1), continue until hat measures 6” from cast on edge.
Next round work in 7 x 1 ribbing (k7, p1), continue until hat measures 8” from cast on edge.
Crown Decreases:
Change to DPNs when necessary
Round 1: *k2tog, k5, p1. Repeat from * around. 84 stitches
Rounds 2, 4, 6, and 8: work in established pattern.
Round 3: *k2tog, k4, p1. Repeat from * to end of round. 72 stitches
Round 5: *k2tog, k3, p1 Repeat from *to end of round. 60 stitches
Round 7: *k2tog, k2, p1. Repeat from * to end of round. 48 stitches
Round 9: *k2tog, k1, p1. Repeat from *to end of round. 36 stitches
Round 10: *k2tog, p1. Repeat from *to end of round. 24 stitches
Round 11: *k2tog. Repeat from *to end of round. 12 stitches
Finishing
Cut yarn about 10” long and weave through remaining stitches twice. Pull to close. Weave in ends.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
WINTER CAP
Needle size: US #6 or #7, 16-inch circular needle
Yarn: one skein worsted weight wool (200 yards)
Notions: a tapestry needle, a place marker, and a ruler or measuring tape.
Directions
Cast on 90 stitches and put a place marker on the needle. Be careful not to twist the stitches. As you knit, the edge of the cap will begin to curl - this is part of the design.
Knit until the cap measures 9 inches from the edge.
Crown Decreases
Now it’s time to decrease to make the cap smaller at the top.
Round 1: (knit 8, knit 2 together); repeat to end of round
Round 2: knit all the way around
Round 3: (knit 7, knit 2 together); repeat to end of round
Round 4: knit all the way around
Round 5: (knit 6, knit 2 together); repeat to end of round
Round 6: knit all the way around
Round 7: (knit 5, knit 2 together); repeat to end of round
Round 8: knit all the way around
Round 9: (knit 4, knit 2 together); repeat to end of round
Round 10: (knit 3, knit 2 together); repeat to end of round
Round 11: (knit 2, knit 2 together); repeat to end of round
Round 12: (knit 1, knit 2 together); repeat to end of round
Round 13: (knit 2 together); repeat to end of round
Nine stitches should be on the needle.
Cut yarn, leaving a 12 inch tail. Thread the yarn into the tapestry needle and draw it tightly through the remaining stitches…go through the stitches one more time. Pull the yarn up snug and fasten off on the inside of the cap.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Very Basic Knit Hat
This hat is knit with a multiple of 8 stitches making a nice looking decrease spiral on the top. Worsted weight (140-200 yds) is an easy yarn to use for hats. Add stripes to the body of the hat for added interest.
Basic pattern to make a hat for a Child (Adult Small, Adult Large)
Size US 7 or 8 - 16 inch circular needle and double points for decrease.
Instructions
Cast on 88 (96, 104) stitches. Join carefully to not twist your cast on stitches, place a marker.
K1 P1 for each round until you have knitted 3.5 (4, 4) inches. This makes a nice cuff for warmth.
Continue in stockinette stitch (knit every round) until you have 8 (10, 11) inches from the cast on.
Crown Decreases
Begin decrease on an 11 (12, 13) stitch set: use double point needles as needed
Row 1: K9 (10, 11), K2tog - Repeat to end of row
Row 2 and even rows through 8 (10, 12): knit all stitches
Row 3: K8 (9, 10), K2tog - repeat to end of row
Row 5: K7 (8, 9), K2tog - repeat
Row 7: K6 (7, 8), K2tog - repeat
Row 9: K5 (6, 7) to end: decrease 1 stitch every row until there are 16 stitches remaining. K2tog - repeat to end of row
There should be 8 stitches remaining. Cut a length of yarn and using a needle draw the yarn through the remaining stitches as you pull them from your needle and secure.
https://hats4thehomeless.blogspot.com
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Minnesota Hat
This hat has a double brim and tight gauge to keep heads and especially ears warm even in cold winter climates such as in Minnesota.
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool (100% wool, 100 g / 223 yards). Just under one skein is used.
Needles: US6, 16” circular
Gauge: 16 stitches and 26 rows = 4 x 4 square. Adjust your needle size for correct gauge.
Approximate Finished Dimensions: 20-23” circumference x 10” high, unstretched
Sizing Notes: For a narrower or wider hat, decrease or increase the stitch count by a multiple of 4.
Shoot for a hat about 1” less in circumference than the head it’s made for, as the hat is not very stretchy, especially with the double band thickness. Stretching the hat out will also decrease its warmth.
CO 81/85/89 stitches. I use a regular cast-on and pick up the strands between the stitches later. You can use a provisional cast-on if you prefer.
Join in the round without twisting and by knitting the last and first CO stitches together. You now have 80/84/88 stitches.
Knit 28 rows in the round
Purl 2 rows to create the fold line Knit another 28 rows in the round
Closing up the brim for double-thickness over the ears:
Fold the brim at the fold line with the 2 rows of purled stitches creating the fold line on the outside and with the remaining rows of stockinette purl stitches facing together on the inside. Knit 1 stitch from the active needle together with the first “stitch” from the cast-on line, proceeding along the entire row in this manner.
You now have a nicely closed brim without a single end to sew in!
Continue knitting in the round in stockinette to create the top of the hat in single thickness until the entire hat measures 9 inches or a little longer. I find 9” to be the minimum height to cover both ears and a little below to seal out the cold air. I prefer to err on the side of too long, as the hat can always be worn without being pulled all the way down on the head.
Decreasing for the top:
(switch to Dpns or 2 circular needles as needed when the circle becomes too small for your 16” circular needle)
Next row: (knit 2, knit 2 together) and repeat across the row. You now have 60/63/66 stitches. Knit 1 row.
Next row: (knit 1, knit 2 together) and repeat across the row. You now have 40/42/44 stitches Knit 1 row.
Next row: knit 2 together across the row. You now have 20/ 21/22 stitches. Knit 1 row.
Next row: knit 2 together across the row. You now have 10/11/11 stitches. Next row: knit 2 together across the row. You now have 5/6/6 stitches.
Cut thread about 10” long and pull through remaining stitches once or twice, pull tight, and sew in end.
Creative options for the free spirits:
This pattern is very adaptable and lets you be creative in many ways:
- substitute other yarns such as Lion Brand Wool-Ease or worsted weight of your choice with similar yardage
- use Dpns or 2 circular needles or the magic loop method for the entire hat
- make the brim shorter or longer
- make the entire hat longer (a very long top section with spread out cast-off rows starting with casting off one
- stitch out of 8, then one of 7, etc., results in a voyageur-type hat
- put fancy stitch patterns into the brim section only or into the entire hat (see green hat below)
- use novelty yarns (checking the gauge you get as much as possible)
← This is an example of adding a fancy stitch pattern to the brim of the hat to make it special or make it part of a set. In this case, I took the stitch pattern from a sweater and added it to the hat to make this matching set →
Above all, I hope you enjoy making and wearing or gifting this very practical hat.
Design and photography © Copyright 2011 Delphinium Designs. All Rights Reserved. This pattern may not be sold or reproduced.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
