How to Make a Knitting Hat
There are few things more satisfying than knitting your own hat.knitting hat Whether you're creating a new head covering for yourself or as a gift, it's fun to know that the hat you made is one-of-a-kind, just like the wearer it was designed for.
But many beginner knitters shy away from attempting to make a hat because the patterns are often complex and require knitting in the round, which can be intimidating.knitting hat However, hats are actually easier than they look if you follow these simple tips.
First, it's important to do a gauge swatch.knitting hat This will help you figure out how wide your brim should be so that the hat you knit fits a human head. A swatch is simply a row of stitches in your desired yarn to get an idea of how much fabric you'll need for your project.
Once you have a stitch count, it's time to start knitting your actual hat.knitting hat To begin, cast on 80 stitches using the long tail cast on method. This is a great way to get your stitches in a nice circle that will be able to accommodate the ribbing that will be added later on.
After casting on your stitches, work a round of purl rib (knit 2, purl 2) for about an inch or so. This will give your hat its foundation and prepare it for the cuff, which will add even more stretch to the piece.
Once your hat has reached the desired length of your cuff, you'll be ready to begin knitting in the round again. Be sure that your stitches are not twisted, as this will ruin your entire hat. This is especially important if you're working with a thicker yarn, as this type of yarn can be more difficult to manage.
After knitting a few rounds of round, you'll need to decrease your stitches. This can be a bit confusing for beginners, but it's really just an easy process of decreasing in the same fashion that you added stitches. Just work in the same manner as you did for your ribbing, but decrease 1 stitch of each purl rib round and then continue to knit 2 together around until you've decreased by about an inch or so.
When you're finished, you'll need to close the hole at the top of your hat. This can be accomplished by a simple slip stitch, but some prefer to use a tapestry needle and pull the yarn through to secure it. Either way, be sure to leave a long yarn tail so that you can weave it in and hide it inside the hat.
Once your hat is complete, you can either choose to leave it as is or you can add a pompom or tassel for extra flair. Be sure to use a yarn that matches or compliments the hat you've made. Once the tassel or pompom is attached, cut the yarn leaving a tail that's at least as long as your forearm and then thread it through the center of the hole to pull everything together.
Tags:protected nack hat