Last year I posted my free pattern for a crocheted Simple Slouchy Beanie. Since then, I have been playing around with knitting and wanted to offer another simple project, a knitted slouchy hat.
Though I learned how to knit over ten years ago, I stuck with very basic stuff because knitting in the round scared me... DPNs and circular needles can be intimidating. But, I plowed through that fear and plunged into hat making, and I am so glad that I did!
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| S/M hat on the left, and M/L hat on the right. |
From these patterns and a few YouTube tutorials, I was able to figure out how to do this thing. And now I'm hooked. I love making hats!! I love working with circulars! I wish I could say that I also love working with DPNs, but they're still growing on me - they can be so awkward to use - luckily you only need them briefly at the end of the project.
The next thing I need to try is blocking... (which means these are not blocked)
But, I am sure that you're anxious to get on to the hat making process, free of charge, so here it goes.
Knitted Simple Slouchy Hat
Materials
Worsted Weight Yarn* - I used Cascade Yarns, Elysian
US No. 5* 16" circular knitting needles
US No. 7* 16" circular knitting needles
US No. 7* double pointed needles (I use four)
Eight stitch markers - one in a different color than the others
Tapestry/yarn/large-eye needle
Method
On your No.5 circular needles, cast on 104 stitches for M/L Slouchy hat (the Twisted German Cast On** makes a great beanie foundation). For S/M, cast on 96, and start the decrease at R3. For L/XL, cast on 112, and your first decrease will be *k12, k2tog.
Being careful not to twist the foundation, place your stitch marker and knit in a 2x2 rib for 1-1/2": *k2, p2. Repeat from * to end.
After the ribbed portion is the desired length, switch to the No. 7 circulars, knitting every stitch.
Knit all stitches until your hat measures 6" to 6-1/2" in length (5"-6" for smaller/snug fit).
Begin decreasing, placing a stitch marker after each decrease:
R1: *k11, k2tog. Repeat from * until the end. (96 stitches)
R2: Knit all stitches in this row, and every even row until you have 16 stitches.
R3: *k10, k2tog. Repeat from * (88st)
R5: *k9, k2tog. Repeat from * (80st)
R7: *k8, k2tog. Repeat from * (72st)
R9: *k7, k2tog. Repeat from * (64st)
R11: *k6, k2tog. Repeat from * (56st)
R12: Switch to the DPNs while knitting every stitch. I put three sections on the first two needles (21st each), and two on the third (14st), making it easier to see where it begins and ends (some of your stitch markers will come off at this point).
R13: *k5, k2tog. Repeat from * (48st)
R15: *k4, k2tog. Repeat from * (40st)
R17: *k3, k2tog. Repeat from * (32st)
R19: *k2, k2tog. Repeat from * (24st)
R21: *k1, k2tog. Repeat from * (16st) Do not follow with knit all the way around.
R22: *k2tog. Repeat around (8st)
Cut the yarn, leaving a 6" tail. Thread your needle and put it through each stitch, clockwise, from the threads origin, being careful not to sew into the yarn but just go through the loops. I like to go once around, and then again through the first three loops. Stick the needle through the center, pulling down inside the hat. Flip the hat inside-out, go through a few loops and secure with knot or two. Weave in the ends (not the entire thing, just a little extra), and snip off the remaining yarn. Pull the bottom tail snug, weave in end, and snip the remaining yarn. Your beanie is ready to wear! Enjoy!
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| Cast on 96 st for S/M, 104 st for M/L, or 112 st for L/XL. |
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| Join by starting your 2x2 rib, knit stitches first. Don't forget your stitch marker! |
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| Knit in 2x2 for 1"-2" before switching to stockinette stitch on 5mm needles. |
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| Begin the decrease at 6"-6.5" |
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| Right after your decrease to 56 stitches, switch to DPNs in the all-knit round. |
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| Almost there! |
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| Pass the needle through all of the stitches, and then once more through the first three. |
And if that isn't enough, or you are like me and like to see the work in action, I will have a video tutorial up in a week or so!
Easy, right? It's more of a lesson than a pattern, which is why I feel like this isn't something you need to pay for... So, please do not go and produce this as your own pattern and then sell it. You are welcome to share it (preferably with a link and/or credit). I recently saw a crochet pattern on sale in an Etsy shop that looked exactly like my slouchy beanie pattern. I am not saying that someone stole it or couldn't come up with the same thing on their own, but it was weird to see, and also just made me upset that something so basic was being sold for profit. I understand more complicated things being sold, things that take time and creativity, but this is just foundational stuff. I don't know, maybe you disagree, and if that's the case, feel free to send me $5 for every pattern of mine that you try ;)
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| M/L pulled all the way down |
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| Slightest slouch at the top of the S/M on my more M/L head |
If you have any question, leave them in the comments and I will do my best to answer.
Enjoy!
Stephanie
NOTES
*The needle size will depend on the yarn that you use, and will change the number of stitches. If your yarn is a heavier worsted weight (closer to Aran weight), and calls for size 8 needles, you'll need to do some adjusting, and should probably use size 6 for the beginning, and finish off with size 8, etc. Here is a little video I made about yarn weight, if you are feeling a bit lost.
** Here you can see the difference between a regular knitted cast-on vs. the Twisted German cast-on - it's much cleaner.
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