Hat Knit Flat

Hat Knit Flat by Melissa Metzbower

What is Being Made

The Hat Knit Flat is a beginner-friendly knitted hat designed by Melissa Metzbower. This pattern is ideal for knitters who want to create a finished hat but prefer to avoid the technique of working with double pointed needles. The hat is constructed using a flat knitting method on two needles, then seamed together to create the finished garment. The pattern offers seven different sizes ranging from Preemie through Adult Large, with finished circumferences from 11 inches (27.9 cm) up to 21 inches (53.3 cm), making it suitable for newborns, infants, children, teens, and adults.

Techniques Used

This hat is worked from the brim up, meaning construction begins at the lower edge and progresses toward the crown. The flat knitting technique allows the entire hat body to be created on two needles without the need for circular needles or double pointed needles, which are traditionally used for hat construction. Once the flat pieces are completed, they are seamed together to form the three-dimensional hat shape. The pattern includes the long-tailed cast-on method, a foundational technique that creates a neat, elastic edge ideal for hat brims. After completion, the finished hat benefits from wet blocking, which helps even out the stitches and set the final measurements.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern featured in this hat is the slipped stitch pattern. The slipped stitch is a fundamental knitting technique where a stitch is transferred from the left needle to the right needle without being worked, with the working yarn held in the back. This creates a neat, textured fabric with excellent stitch definition. The slipped stitch pattern adds visual interest while remaining accessible to beginner knitters.

Materials and Yarn

This pattern is designed to be worked in chunky weight yarn, specifically using Knit Picks Brava Bulky yarn, which is composed of 100% acrylic fiber. Each ball of Knit Picks Brava Bulky contains 136 yards (124.4 meters) per 100 grams. The yardage requirements vary by size: Preemie requires 38 yards, Newborn requires 44 yards, 6 months requires 53 yards, 12 months requires 75 yards, Child/Teen requires 90 yards, Adult requires 110 yards, and Adult Large requires 136 yards. The pattern calls for two needles appropriate for the yarn weight, with the gauge worked using larger needles at 16 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in the slipped stitch pattern after wet blocking.

Skill Level

This hat is rated as a Beginner level project, making it an excellent choice for knitters who are new to hat construction or who want to expand their skills beyond basic scarves and blankets without tackling the complexity of circular or double pointed needle techniques.