One Stitch Hat in Lion Brand Homespun - L10535

Lion Brand Homespun One Stitch Hat – Free Knitting Pattern (L10535)

The Lion Brand® Homespun® One Stitch Hat (Pattern Number L10535) is a free, downloadable knitting pattern designed to produce a cozy, stretchy hat with a finished circumference of approximately 20 inches (51 cm). Thanks to the natural elasticity of the construction method and the yarn itself, this hat is designed to fit a range of head sizes from a single set of instructions, making it a wonderfully practical one-size project.

Rated as Easy skill level, this pattern is an excellent choice for beginner knitters looking to build confidence, as well as for experienced knitters seeking a quick, satisfying make. The entire hat is worked in a single stitch — as the name suggests — keeping the process straightforward and meditative from cast-on to bind-off.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a classic knitted beanie-style hat. The finished piece features a folded-back brim at the lower edge, adding a neat, polished detail that also provides extra warmth around the ears. The top of the hat is gathered and secured, creating a softly rounded crown. The overall aesthetic is clean and simple, making it a versatile accessory suitable for men, women, and older children.

Techniques Used

• Casting on – The hat begins with a standard cast-on of 64 stitches, forming the foundation row from which all knitting grows.
• Flat knitting – The body of the hat is worked flat (back and forth in rows) rather than in the round, keeping the technique accessible even for those who have not yet learned circular or double-pointed needle knitting.
• Binding off – A standard bind-off closes the stitches at the top edge of the knitted rectangle before finishing begins.
• Seaming – The flat rectangle is sewn along its side edge to form a tube, with a deliberate reversed seam for approximately 3 inches (7.5 cm) at the cast-on edge. This reversed seam ensures that when the brim is folded back, the seam allowance is hidden on the inside.
• Gathering – The yarn tail left after binding off is woven through the stitches of the bound-off edge and pulled to cinch and gather the top of the hat, which is then knotted securely to form the crown.
• Weaving in ends – All remaining yarn tails are neatly woven in to finish the hat cleanly.

Stitches Used

• Garter Stitch – The entire hat body is worked in garter stitch, which is achieved simply by knitting every row. This produces a fabric with horizontal ridges on both sides, giving it a pleasingly textured appearance. Garter stitch is naturally stretchy in both directions, which contributes to the hat's ability to fit a range of head sizes. It also lies flat without curling at the edges, making it particularly well-suited to a project like this where the edges will be visible at the brim and top.

Gauge

The pattern calls for a gauge of 14 stitches to approximately 4 inches (10 cm) in garter stitch. Checking gauge before beginning is strongly recommended to ensure the finished hat reaches the intended circumference of 20 inches and that the single ball of yarn is sufficient to complete the project.

Materials

• Yarn: Lion Brand® Homespun® Yarn in colorway Ambrosia (790-418) — 1 ball. Homespun is a bulky-weight yarn composed of 98% acrylic and 2% polyester, sold in pull skeins of 6 oz / 170 g (approximately 185 yards / 169 m per skein). Its soft, textured surface gives finished projects a cozy, almost handwoven appearance.
• Needles: Lion Brand Knitting Needles in Size 10 (6 mm), used for flat knitting throughout.
• Finishing tool: A large-eye blunt needle (from a set of 6) is required for seaming and weaving in ends.

Pattern Highlights