This post will show you how to knit a hat with straight needles for complete beginners, worked flat, back and forth.
This is a great project for anyone who is learning how to knit.
Not too bulky and not too light, this hat is comfortable to wear on any occasion and it is unisex too!
A Basic Level Knitting Pattern
This is a basic beginner level pattern for those of you who are new to knitting and the techniques you will need to know are knit, purl, and casting on.
Using mainly knit and purl stitches, it will also introduce you to decreasing and shaping.
*Please scroll down to see the free pattern*
The Yarn I Used
I made the hat using The Petite Wool in Spotted Mauve, knit on size 6 mm (US 10) knitting needles.
This yarn is from We Are Knitters and comes in a range of lovely colours.
This yarn is very warm to wear as it is 100% Peruvian wool.
Each ball is 100 GR. Per 140 M.
The yarn weight is bulky 05.
Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this pattern:
This pattern is great for any beginner knitters.
- Knitting Lessons
- You should be comfortable casting on and casting off, as well as knitting in garter stitch.
- You should be comfortable working the purl stitch.
- How to K2tog.
- You should also be comfortable reading knitting patterns.
- And understanding knitting abbreviations and terms.
How To Knit A Hat For Complete Beginners
Purchase the inexpensive ad-free, PDF printable pattern in my shop here.
The PDF has the pattern with and without the step by step photographs.
Notes
The hat knits up quickly and the simple design makes for a relaxing and enjoyable knit.
- Please do not copy, sell, redistribute or republish this pattern.
- If you wish to share this pattern, link to the pattern page only.
- You may sell items produced using this pattern.
- Do NOT use the copyrighted photos for your product listing.
- For the copyright T&C’s please read my Terms of Use.
Skill Level – Basic
Size – Women’s/ Men’s Medium.
Height of hat lying flat and unstretched – from the cast-on edge to the top of the hat – 11 inches. Width of the hat – 8 inches.
This hat is unisex and will fit a head circumference of around 22-26 inches.
Gauge – 12 sts and 20 rows in 4 inches
The Supplies You Need…
Yarn
- 1 x The Petite Wool in Spotted Mauve from We are Knitters.
- Each ball is 100 GR. Per 140 M.
- 100% Peruvian wool.
- The yarn weight is bulky 05.
- Yarn weight guide
Needles
Notions
Abbreviations / Knitting Abbreviations List
- CO – Cast on
- Cont = Continue(ing)
- K = Knit
- K2tog = Knit next 2 stitches together
- P – Purl
- P2tog – Purl next 2 stitches together
- Rem = Remaining
- Rep = Repeat
- RS – Right side
- St(s) = Stitch(es)
- WS – Wrong side
How To Knit A Hat – Step By Step
- Cast on and knit the brim of the hat.
Cast on 72 sts
Row 1: (RS) – P1, K2 – rep to the end of the row.
Row 2: (WS) – P2, K1 – rep to the end of the row.
Rep rows 1 and 2 until the piece measures 3 inches from the cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.
- Knit the main body of the hat.
Row 1: (RS) – K1, P2 – rep to the end of the row.
Row 2: (WS) – K2, P1 – rep to the end of the row.
Rep rows 1 and 2 until you have worked 10 inches from the cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.
- Decrease the top of the hat.
Row 1: K1, P2tog – rep to the end of the row.
Row 2: K1, P1 – rep to the end of the row.
Row 3: K2tog – rep to the end of the row.
Row 4: Purl – rep to the end of the row.
Row 5: K2tog – rep to the end of the row.
Row 6: Purl – rep to the end of the row.
Cut yarn leaving a tail of around 15 inches.
Thread through the rem sts and pull up tight.
- Seam the beanie using the mattress stitch.
The last step is seaming the two edges of the beanie together.
There is a video in this post to show you how to do this.
I used a seaming technique called the mattress stitch.
This allows you to create an invisible seam in your knitting so you don’t see where the edges meet.
To do this you:
1. Place the edges together – line them up.
2. Start at the top of the hat, with the right sides facing you.
3. Thread your needle and secure the top of the hat first with a stitch.
4. Then start to push the needle through the first stitch on one side of the fabric edge.
- Continue to seam using the mattress stitch.
5. Then move over to the other side and push your needle through the first stitch.
6. Pull them together and continue to seam picking up an edge stitch on one side and again on the other as you go.
7. You can pick up stitches every one bar or two bars on the edges – this is up to you. I generally pick up every 2 bars.
8. Just be careful that what you do to one side of the knitting should also be done on the other side to keep them even.
- Seaming the brim of the hat.
9. When you come to the brim of the hat, you need to turn this over – so the right sides are facing you to seam.
10. This is so you get an invisible seam on the right sides of the knitted fabric.
11. When you have finished seaming, secure your yarn on the wrong side and weave in any loose ends.
12. Your hat is now ready to wear.
Next, Learn To Knit A Hat In The Round
You may also be interested in learning how to knit a hat in the round.
This pattern has a step by step photo tutorial to show you how to knit your first hat in the round – How to knit with circular needles for beginners.
I love seeing your finished projects!
If you enjoyed making the hat, I’d love to see yours on Instagram, be sure to tag me @handylittleme.
If you are on Facebook, stop over to the handylittleme Facebook page and share a photo! I’d love to see your work!
Happy Knitting! xoxo
Hailey says
Hello! Love the pattern and the colour, the yarn is really beautiful. I have the same WAK petite wool yarn and was hoping to make a hat for my husband using this pattern, but I unfortunately only have us 11 needles instead of the 10 stated in the pattern. Would it still be possible to follow the pattern or do I need to adapt it in any way? Thank you!
Louise Bollanos says
Hello Hailey, Yes, you can use the US 11 needles and make the hat following the same pattern, but I would suggest casting on 66 stitches because the size will be larger if you cast on the suggested 72sts for this pattern.
The number of the cast on sts needs to be dividable by 3 – so 63 or 66 stitches.
I hope that helps!
Louise 🙂
Susan Gorlei says
Thank you for the lovely pattern. Our winter has started so I am going to knit one for my husband.
Louise Bollanos says
Hello Susan,
Thanks so much for your kind words, I’m so happy you like the pattern.
I hope your husband will like the hat!
Happy knitting,
Louise