Knitting a hat is great for gift giving and an easy beginner project.
The best yarn for a beginner to work with is either a bulky or worsted weight.
These types of yarns are heavy enough to work with easily, are of a good weight and knits up fast.
Worsted weight usually stitches up at about 5 stitches per inch and a bulky knit at about 4 stitches per inch.
Wool is the best for a warm winter hat because it is the warmest and is stretchy.
If you don't want to use wool, cotton or a cotton-synthetic blend can also be used but cotton and cotton blends are not as warm or as stretchy.
Hats can be knitted in a variety of ways.
Knitting with double pointed needles for example, however for this project we will use the knitting in the round method.
This hat will be done in a simple stockinette style.
Materials required for a simple hat knitted in the round includes: 150 to 300 yards of worsted weight yarn or about 120 to 200 yards of a bulky type yarn.
A 16" fixed circular needle in a size 10 or size needed to accomplish 5 stitches per inch for worsted weight or 4 or less stitches per inch for a bulky yarn.
You will also need some stitch markers, these can be purchased commercially with other knitting supplies.
If you do not have stitch markers you can use safety pins or some differently colored yarn to mark areas while you knit.
You will first need to calculate the number of stitches needed for your hat diameter.
Don't expect that you can just cast on the amount of stitches it takes to encircle your head.
The best way is to measure your head in inches then figure out how many stitches you knit per inch with your yarn and circular needles.
You will need to knit a swatch to find your gauge or stitches per inch.
You will want to knit a 4 or 5 inch square in order to do this.
Now measure the number of inches in your head measurement by the number of stitches in your gauge per inch.
If you have to round off you should round down rather than up by using a number divisible by 8.
A snug hat will stretch to fit but a hat too loose will never fit properly or will fall off.
Let's use 21 inches x 4 stitches per inch for a total of 84 stitches to begin.
Cast on 84 stitches.
Once you cast on your stitches you will join them, (be sure not to twist your stitches as it can never be corrected and you'd have to start over).
By knitting in the round you will automatically make a stockinette stitch pattern.
This pattern will automatically roll up into a brim for you so you will need to allow a couple of inches of stitching for the brim.
Now continue knitting until you have 5 or 6 inches of stitching.
Then you will try on your knitted hat to see how much longer you need.
If it's too short continue to knit a few more inches if it is about right you are ready to begin decreasing stitches to form the top of the hat.
To begin the decreasing process place a stitch marker every 8 stitches.
Knit to the last 2 stitches before the marker and then knit the last 2 stitches together.
Continue to decrease every row in this style until you get to the top of your hat.
Once you are down to 4 stitches at the top of your hat you are ready to finish.
Cut your yarn end to about 6 inches.
Now using a large eye needle or crochet hook pull the end through the 4 remaining loops to tighten the top.
Once this is done pull the tail with a crochet hook to the inside of the knitted hat.
Weave the ends in using the large eye needle or crochet hook then trim as needed.
Your knitted hat is now complete.
Knitted a hat is a great gift or necessity in cold climate winters.
Using this simple pattern for knitting hats is a great way to use up some extra yarn you may have remaining from larger projects.
They are fairly quick to make and allows you to knit hats in various colors to match your outerwear.
Get knitting today and enjoy!