Hat Knitting Patterns

A hat is the best value project in knitting

One ball, a few evenings, and something that gets worn every day from October to March. Hats are also where most knitters learn their next technique, because the stakes are low: your first cable, your first stranded colourwork band, your first crown decrease worked in the round. This collection covers bobble hats, beanies, slouchy shapes, berets, cloches, earflap hats and helmet-style baby bonnets, sized for men, women, children and newborns, in everything from fine 4 ply to super chunky.

Choosing a shape

• Beanie: a close-fitting tube with a ribbed brim. The default, and the most flattering on most heads.
• Slouchy: extra length in the body so the crown falls back. Needs a firm brim or it slips forward all day.
• Bobble hat: any of the above, plus a pom pom. Faux fur and yarn pom poms both work; sew through the hat and knot inside.
• Beret and cloche: shaping worked outwards then back in, blocked over a plate to hold the disc shape.
• Earflap and helmet styles: the practical choice for children and cold commutes.

Getting the fit right

Measure around the head just above the ears. Then subtract 2 to 4cm for the finished circumference, because ribbed knitted fabric stretches and a hat knitted to the exact head measurement will ride up within an hour. Typical figures to work from are around 54 to 56cm for an adult woman, 56 to 60cm for an adult man, and 40 to 50cm across the child sizes. Brim depth is the other lever: a deep folded brim gives warmth over the ears and can be adjusted by a couple of rounds without affecting anything else.

Yarn weight, quantity and needles

Chunky and super chunky hats are done in an evening and are ideal for gifts and charity knitting. DK gives the best balance of detail and speed, and is the weight most cable and colourwork hats are written for. 4 ply makes a finer, less bulky hat that fits under a helmet or a hood. Most adult hats take one 100g ball or two 50g balls, with leftovers for the pom pom. Wool and wool blends hold ribbing best; acrylic is the practical choice for children's hats that are lost and replaced.

Working in the round, and the crown

Most modern hats are knitted in the round from the brim up. Start on a short circular needle of 40cm and change to double pointed needles or magic loop when the crown decreases make the round too small. Place a marker at the start of the round and, in ribbing, count your stitches before joining, since a twisted cast on cannot be fixed later. Crown shaping is usually a set of evenly spaced decreases every round or every other round; when about eight stitches remain, cut the yarn, thread it through them and pull tight from the inside.

Finishing and washing

Weave the crown end in firmly, because that is the point that works loose. Block over a balloon or a folded towel to open up cables and colourwork without flattening the ribbing. Wash by hand unless the yarn is superwash, and dry flat; hanging a wet hat stretches the brim permanently. Remove faux fur pom poms before washing.

Hat knitting questions

How much yarn does a hat need? Usually one 100g ball for an adult hat, less for children, plus extra for a pom pom.

Can I knit a hat on straight needles? Yes, if the pattern is worked flat and seamed up the back.

What size needle for a chunky hat? Follow the pattern's tension; chunky hats commonly use 6mm to 8mm needles.

How do I stop my hat being too loose? Aim for 2 to 4cm of negative ease and use a ribbed brim on a smaller needle than the body.

Which hat should a beginner knit? A chunky ribbed beanie worked in the round, with simple crown decreases and no colourwork.