That Simple Hat

That Simple Hat by Lizzie Rose Knits

What is Being Made

That Simple Hat is a beginner-friendly knitted beanie designed in two sizes: Adult Small and Adult Average. This straightforward hat pattern creates a classic, close-fitting beanie using super bulky yarn, making it an ideal project for knitters new to hat construction. The pattern also includes optional instructions for creating a slouchy beanie variation, though the designer notes this adaptation is not recommended due to the yarn weight's limited drape.

Techniques Used

This knitting pattern employs fundamental hat-making techniques suitable for beginners. The hat is constructed in the round using circular needles, which is the standard method for creating seamless, tubular garments. The pattern includes a ribbed cuff section worked in a knit-purl alternation, which provides elasticity and helps the hat maintain its shape around the wearer's head. The designer provides a helpful note about joining in the round by knitting the first stitch with both the tail and working yarn held together, simplifying this often-tricky step for newer knitters.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch — the primary fabric stitch, created by alternating knit rounds with purl rounds to produce a smooth, classic knitted texture
• Ribbing — a knit-one, purl-one pattern used for the cuff, which creates vertical columns that stretch and recover, ensuring a snug fit
• Cast-on — the pattern accepts either the knit cast-on or long-tail cast-on method, both beginner-accessible techniques

Materials and Tools

That Simple Hat requires minimal materials, making it an economical project. The yarn requirement is 60 to 80 yards of super bulky weight yarn, a relatively small amount that can be completed from leftover stash yarn or a single skein. The pattern calls for two circular needles: an 8mm (US 11) circular needle for the ribbed cuff and a 9mm (US 13) circular needle for the main body. Additional tools include a tapestry or yarn needle for weaving in ends, a stitch marker to track round beginnings, and scissors. The gauge is established at 12 stitches and 16 rounds over 4 inches in stockinette stitch using the 9mm needle, which is important for achieving the correct finished size.

Pattern Specifications

The Adult Small size begins with a cast-on of 42 stitches, while the Adult Average size uses 48 stitches. The pattern construction starts with a ribbed cuff worked on the smaller needle, then transitions to the larger needle for the stockinette body. The standard hat height is 4½ inches, though the designer's notes mention that knitting to 6½ inches creates a slouchy variation—however, this modification requires additional yarn due to the super bulky weight and may not achieve optimal slouch due to the yarn's thickness.