The Chunky, Long-band Hat - General Formula, Adult hat, Child’s hat
Materials
Chunky yarn (about 7wpi): Adult - 3 oz., Child - 2oz.
Size 9 US (5.5 mm) straight or double-pointed needles.
1 stitch marker, if desired
Gauge
3 stitches per inch
Measurements, Note: The depth measurement is simply the width of the long band and does not include any height added by the decrease rows at the crown.
Adult: Depth - 6.5”, Circumference - 20”
Child: Depth - 5”, Circumference - 16”
Formula given for child’s size with adult requirements in ( ) parentheses.
Formula
Provisionally cast on 16 (20) stitches.
Work your pattern of choice for 16 (20) inches. I like to slip the first stitch of every row for a chain slevege (see Stupid Knitting Tricks - The Chain Selvedge for instructions), but that’s entirely a matter of choice and not at all necessary :)
Release your provisional cast on onto a new needle and join the edges by doing a Three Needle Bind-off, Goofy Grafting or regular Kitchener Stitch grafting.
Now, pick up the stitches around the crown. You’re aiming for a multiple of 8 stitches (8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, etc…).
Place marker if desired and knit one round. I always think of this as the get-acquainted round. On socks, this is round that immediately follows the one where you pick up all the gusset stitches :)
Decrease 8 stitches evenly over the next round. If you started with 64 stitches, you have 8 segments of 8 stitches each, since 8 x 8 = 64. In each of those segments, you need to make a decrease, so:
Example 1 *K2 tog, K6* - repeat around
If you started with 40 stitches, you would have 8 segments of 5 stitches each, since 8 x 5 = 40. Again, you need to make a decrease in each of those segments, so:
Example 2 *K2tog, K3* - repeat around.
See how that works?
On the following round, simply knit.
Continue alternating decrease rounds with knit rounds (remembering that you will have one less stitch in each of the 8 segments for each decrease round you do so in Example 1, the seocond decrease round would be *K2tog, K5*,repeat around. In Example 2, the second decrease round would be *K2tog, K2*, repeat around.
When you have decreased down to a single digit number of stitches (8 or less), you can cut the yarn (leaving a goodish tail - 6 inches or so) and thread the cut end into a tapestry needle. Draw the yarn through the remaining stitches on your needles, cinch tightly, thread through to the inside of the hat, tie off and weave in the end.
You could also work I cord for a top-knot or add braids or tassels or both - it’s all up to you :)
And that’s really all there is to it. All this is is a basic concept - the pattern and design are all yours to play with to your heart’s content!
Here are a couple of written out patterns, one child, one adult - just for fun - and to fortify the idea in case I haven’t been too clear in the above run down :)
Stocking Panel, Long Band hat with tasselled braid
See materials and gauge requirements for general formula above
Provisionally cast on 20 stitches.
Row 1: (K1, P1) three times, K8, (P1, K1) three times
Row 2: (K1, P1) three times, P8, (P1, K1) three times
Repeat these two rows until your piece measures about 20”. Remember that this will have some stretch to it so if your adult’s head is small, you may only want to work 18 or 19 inches.
Undo your provisional cast on and slip these stitches to another needle. Join your edges in whatever way you’re most comfortable with (see info in gneral formula above). You can get away without the provisional cast on by just casting on in your normal fashsion and beginning to knit. When you get to where you want to join the ends, simply pick up the first cast on stitch and knit it together with the first stitch on your needle. Pick up the next cast-on stitch and knit it together with the next stitch on your needle, etc. This makes a slightly bulkier seam, but is perfectly do-able.
Now, pick up 48 stitches around the crown of the hat.
Round 1: Knit
Round 2: *K2tog, K4*, repeat around (40 stitches)
Round 3: Knit
Round 4: *K2tog, K3*, repeat around (32 stitches)
Round 5: Knit
Round 6: *K2tog, K2*, repeat around (24 stitches)
Round 7: Knit
Round 8: *K2tog, K1*, repeat around (16 stitches)
Round 9: Knit
Round 10: K2tog, repeat around (8 stitches)
Finish off as described above in the general formula.
Make a braid using four strand of yarn for each section (12 strands all together).
Make a short, fat tassel and attach to the braid.
Thread a tapestry needle with yarn and attach the braid to the top of the hat, bring yarn ends to the inside, tie off and weave in.
Seed Diamond, Long Band Childs hat with braid
See materials and gauge requirements for general formula above
Provisionally cast on 16 stitches.
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: K2, P1, (K1, P1) across, end K1
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: (K1, P1, across, end K2
Row 6: Purl
Repeat these 6 rows for pattern to a length of about 16 inches - a couple of rows more or less, depending on the head size of your target child, won’t be a problem :)
Undo your provisional cast on and slip these stitches to another needle. Join your edges in whatever way you’re most comfortable with (see info in gneral formula above). You can get away without the provisional cast on by just casting on in your normal fashsion and beginning to knit. When you get to where you want to join the ends, simply pick up the first cast on stitch and knit it together with the first stitch on your needle. Pick up the next cast-on stitch and knit it together with the next stitch on your needle, etc. This makes a slightly bulkier seam, but is perfectly do-able.
Now, pick up 40 stitches around the crown of the hat.
Round 1: Knit
Round 2: *K2tog, K3*, repeat around (32 stitches)
Round 3: Knit
Round 4: *K2tog, K2*, repeat around (24)
Round 5: Knit
Round 6: *K2tog, K1*, repeat around (16 sts)
Round 7: Knit
Round 8: K2tog all around (8 sts)
Round 9: Knit
Finish off as described above in the general formula.
Make a fat braid (I used 8 strands in each section) and tie off the bottom with another strand of yarn. Trim ends to desired length and tack to top of hat. Weave in the ends and you’re good to go!
Please enjoy :)
No trackbacks yet.
No comments yet.
