My husband saw a hat with a rolled brim and commented that he thought it looked cool. I said, “I can do that.” I found a yarn color that he liked and got to work creating this easy hat knitting pattern.
When you knit in stockinette stitch, your knitting naturally rolls. I usually take precautions to keep my knitting from rolling, but if he wants a rolled brim, then for once, I can just…let it roll.
This free hat knitting pattern is really pretty easy, even if you’ve never made a hat before. I added subtle cables for some design, but since there aren’t any purl stitches on the right side of the hat, they don’t stand out as much as they usually would (against a background of purls).
Don’t be intimidated by the idea of cables. I know I was when I first started knitting. Then I realized that all you’re doing when you knit a cable is knitting stitches out of order. It’s really pretty easy; you just need a cable needle to hold your stitches. It’s fun seeing the pattern take shape. If you think you need more info, I’d recommend this link: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/knitting-cables.html.
This chart of knitting abbreviations is also helpful to have on hand if you’re new to knitting: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-read-knitting-abbreviations.html?cid=embedlink
I’ve knit multiple hats in my day, but it’d been a few years. I made up this pattern as I went, and in the end, it fit my husband’s head perfectly. 🙂 He has kind of a small size head for a man; we actually wear the same size hat. When not stretched (just lying on a table), the circumference of the brim is about 18 inches, and the length of the hat (from brim to top of hat with the brim rolled) is about 6 inches (or 7.5 with the brim pulled so it doesn’t roll). This hat has a little stretch to it, but you may want to use thicker yarn or a bigger needle size to increase the size of this hat if you’re knitting it for someone with a big head. Or, just use stretchy yarn.
Let It Roll Hat Knitting Pattern
For this hat, I used the yarn Bernat Satin Sport (weight 3) in the color Taupe, and I used size 8 knitting needles. 1 ball of yarn is more than enough.
gauge: 21 stitches and 22 rows = 4″
Abbreviations:
K = knit
K2tog = knit 2 together
K3tog = knit 3 together
Sl = slip
CN = cable needle
sts = stitches
Cast on 94 stitches.
Knit 2.5 inches in stockinette (knit the right side rows & purl the wrong side rows). End on a wrong side row.
Next row, Row 1: K5. Sl 3 sts to CN, hold in back, K3, K3 from CN. K9. Sl 4 sts to CN, hold in back, K4, K4 from CN. K9. Sl 3 sts to CN, hold in back, K3, K3 from CN. K9. Sl 3 sts to CN, hold in back, K3, K3 from CN. K9. Sl 4 sts to CN, hold in back, K4, K4 from CN. K9. Sl 3 sts to CN, hold in back, K3, K3 from CN. K4.
Rows 2, 4, 6, 8: Purl across
Rows 3, 5, 7: Knit across
Repeat rows 1-8 two more times.
Next row, begin decreases to shape hat: K1, K2tog, K2tog, Sl 3 sts to CN, hold in back, K3, K3 from CN. K2tog, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K2tog, Sl 4 sts to CN, hold in back, K4, K4 from CN. K2tog, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K2tog, Sl 3 sts to CN, hold in back, K3, K3 from CN. K2tog, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K2tog, Sl 3 sts to CN, hold in back, K3, K3 from CN. K2tog, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K2tog, Sl 4 sts to CN, hold in back, K4, K4 from CN. K2tog, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K2tog, Sl 3 sts to CN, hold in back, K3, K3 from CN. K2tog, K2tog
Next row: Purl across
Next row: K1, K2tog, K6, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K8, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K6, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K6, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K8, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K6, K2tog
Next row: Purl across
Next row: K2, K3tog, K3tog, K3, K2tog, K2tog, K2tog, K2tog, K3, K3tog, K3tog, K3, K3tog, K3tog, K3, K2tog, K2tog, K2tog, K2tog, K3, K3tog, K3tog, K1
Next row: Purl across
Next row: Knit across
Next row: Purl across
Bind off. Fold in half and sew up the seam. I find that for an almost invisible seam, it’s better to sew looking at the right side of your knitting.
I made this hat in one day, knitting off and on throughout the day. My husband put on his new hat as soon as I finished it, and he’s hardly stopped wearing it since. He said it’s really warm, and that it fits him perfectly. He was even more pleased with it when he looked in the mirror and saw that it hit at just the right spot on his forehead and neck.
You need less than a ball of yarn for this pattern. I made myself a Bow-Shaped Headband Ear Warmer out of the same ball of yarn (so that we can match), and I still have a little yarn leftover.
Well, there you have it. A warm hat with a brim where you can Let It Roll!
These hats would make great Christmas presents this holiday season. Perhaps make matching hat and ear warmer sets for your favorite couples in a festive red or green color.
Now, that’s some Pretty Creative Stuff!