I find this an excellent way to make hats and get a snug fit around the head instead of a tight fit.
MATERIALS: worsted weight yarn, a set of dpn’s and a 12″ circular needle size US8/5mm, a 12″ circular needle size US6/4.25mm, a row marker, a tapestry needle.
Gauge: 4sts/6rows to 1” using larger needles and 4sts/9rows to 1″ using smaller needles
FINISHED SIZE: Small (Child 6-8yrs) 16”, Medium 20” Large 24”
(Note: knitted hats should be about 1”-1½” smaller than the the head circumference, as the hat will stretch)
Abbreviations: Kf&b – Knit into the front and back of the stitch, S1p/w – slip 1 stitch as if to purl, k1tbl – knit 1 stitch through the back loop, K2tog – knit 2 stitches together as one, K2tog tbl – knit 2 stitches together as one through the back loop, w/turn – (wrap and turn) slip stitch onto Right Needle move yarn to opposite side slip stitch back to Left Needle turn work, Ks&w tog tbl – Knit stitch & wrap together through back loop.
Crown: Leave a tail to join the top. Using size US8, 5mm dpn’s and main color yarn cast on 4 stitches,
Rounds 1 & 2: Kf&b into each stitch (8, 16sts)
Round 3: K1, Kf&b, 24sts,
Round 4 and every alternate round: Knit
Round 5: K2, Kf&b, 32sts,
Round 7: K3, Kf&b, 40sts, (Preemie 10”)
Round 9: K4, Kf&b, 48sts, (Newborn 0-1yr 12”)
Round 11: K5, Kf&b, 56sts, (Toddler 2-4yrs 14”)
Round 13: K6, Kf&b, 64sts, (Child 5-8yrs 16”)
(At this point you might want to knit stitches onto a short 16” circular needle or not).
Round 15: K7, Kf&b, 72sts, (Pre-Teen 18”)
Round 17: K8, Kf&b, 80sts, (Teen 20”) (Adult Small)
Round 19: K9, Kf&b, 88sts, (Women’s 22”) (Adult Medium)
Round 21: K10, Kf&b, 96sts, (Men’s 24”) (Adult Large)
Body work even for:
| Preemie | Baby 0-1yr | Toddler 2-4 | Child 5-8 | Pre-Teen | Teen | Women | Men | Size |
| 40 | 48 | 56 | 64 | 72 | 80 | 88 | 96 | stitches |
| 3 | 3½ | 4 | 4½ | 5 | 5½ | 6 | 6½ | inches |
Rib for:
| ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | inch |
For a hat without a folded cuff end here.
For a hat with a folded cuff change to smaller needle and continue in Rib (Note: Ribbed cuff will be folded in half when finished, adjust for personal preference) for another
| ½ | 1 | 1½ | 2 | 3 | 2½ | 3 | 2½ | Inch(es) |
Top Down Instructions for a hat without a folded cuf/fhem (Earflap, Beanie, Cloche).
Materials: Weight Category 4 Yarn, US8 (5mm, UK6) and Size US6 (4mm, UK8) needles. Size Guide: knit hats should be about 1”-1½” smaller than the head.
Gauge: 4sts/6rows to 1” using larger needles and 4sts/9rows to 1″ using smaller needles
Start at the Crown: Using size US8/5mm dpn’s and main color yarn cast on 4sts, leave a tail to join the top.
Rounds 1 & 2: Kf&b into each stitch (8, 16sts). Round 4 and every alternate Round: Knit to end.
| Preemie | B0-1yr | T2-4 | Child 5-8 | Pre-Teen | Teen | Women | Men | Size |
| K1, Kf&b | K1, Kf&b | K1, Kf&b | K1, Kf&b | K1, Kf&b | K1, Kf&b | K1, Kf&b | K1, Kf&b | Rnd3: 24sts |
| K2, Kf&b | K2, Kf&b | K2, Kf&b | K2, Kf&b | K2, Kf&b | K2, Kf&b | K2, Kf&b | K2, Kf&b | Rnd5: 32sts |
| K3, Kf&b | K3, Kf&b | K3, Kf&b | K3, Kf&b | K3, Kf&b | K3, Kf&b | K3, Kf&b | K3, Kf&b | Rnd 7: |
| 40 sts | K4, Kf&b | K4, Kf&b | K4, Kf&b | K4, Kf&b | K4, Kf&b | K4, Kf&b | K4, Kf&b | Rnd 9: |
| 8 Rnds | 48 sts | K5, Kf&b | K5, Kf&b | K5, Kf&b | K5, Kf&b | K5, Kf&b | K5, Kf&b | Rnd 11: |
| 1⅓” | 10 Rnds | 56 sts | K6, Kf&b | K6, Kf&b | K6, Kf&b | K6, Kf&b | K6, Kf&b | Rnd 13: |
| Body | 1⅔” | 12 Rnds | 64 sts | K7, Kf&b | K7, Kf&b | K7, Kf&b | K7, Kf&b | Rnd 15: |
| 21 Rnds | Body | 2” | 14 Rnds | 72 sts | K8, Kf&b | K8, Kf&b | K8, Kf&b | Rnd 17: |
| 3½” | 24 Rnds | Body | 2⅓” | 16 Rnds | 80 sts | K9, Kf&b | K9, Kf&b | Rnd 19: |
| Total | 4” | 27 Rnds | Body | 2⅔” | 18 Rnds | 88 sts | K10, Kf&b | Rnd 21: |
| 29 Rnds | Total | 4½” | 30 Rnds | Body | 3” | 20 Rnds | 96 sts | |
| 4.833” | 34 Rnds | Total | 5” | 33 Rnds | Body | 3⅓” | 22 Rnds | |
| Rib Hem | 5.666” | 39 Rnds | Total | 5½” | 36 Rnds | Body | 3⅔” | |
| 3 | Rib Hem | 6.5” | 44 Rnds | Total | 6” | 39 Rnds | Body | |
| ½” | 3 | Rib Hem | 7.333” | 49 Rnds | Total | 6½” | 42 Rnds | |
| Total | ½” | 3 | Rib Hem | 8.166” | 54 Rnds | Total | 7” | |
| 5.333” | Total | ½” | 3 | Rib Hem | 9” | 59 Rnds | Total | |
| 6.166 | Total | ½” | 6 | Rib Hem | 9.833” | 64 Rnds | ||
| 7” | Total | 1” | 6 | Rib Hem | 10.666” | |||
| 7.833” | Total | 1” | 6 | Rib Hem | ||||
| 9.166” | Total | 1” | 6 | |||||
| 10” | Total | 1” | ||||||
| 10.833” | Total | |||||||
| 11.666” |
©Linda Butler