Big head slouchy hat – finished!

I promised to show you the hat that I was knitting, so here it is. After three attempts, two complete unravvelings and a trip into town for the purchase of more wool (I ran out half way through) it is finally done. Hurrah!

I found a lovely easy pattern on Ravelry which I used as a guide, but I realised I’d need to use a bit of initiative to get the effect I wanted with the yarn I’d chosen and after a bit of panic figured out what it was I needed to do. I’d wanted to adapt the hat anyway, from a classic roll up beanie to a slouchy hat. It came out more like a beret, but on the person it’s intended for it will look more as I had first imagined. This person I should add has an enormous noggin and mine is ridiculously small, so in these pictures I am pretty much drowning in the hat!

I have not been knitting long but I really enjoy taking a pattern and improvising ’till I get the effect I want, it isn’t so hard to do and I’d recommend using a pattern more as a guideline to anyone – it’s increased my knitting confidence no end since I realised it is possible to do this. You can change yarn weight, needle size or number of stitches and get something very different looking to the original design.  Want to know how I knitted this hat? Read on! (Oh, and this is the first time I’ve ever attempted to write down a knitting adventure so hopefully there are no glaring mistakes. All suggestions and help in this regard gratefully received)

Credit where credit is due:- the following is adapted from this easy to knit beauty here:-  Eat… a Hat by Matataki.  This is the best and most versatile beginners hat pattern I have ever found. Copyright for original pattern Eat…a Hat belongs to Matataki Design/Naomi Drew. She makes gorgeous, clearly written patterns… go see them, now!

Big Head Slouchy Hat

...for women with brains! Tired of all those cute hat patterns that are made for a teeny tiny noggin? Sigh no more, this will cozify all but the hugest of heads.

You will need:-

Needles

Size 6 circular needles, 40 cm long (US size 10, 16 ins long)

Size 6 double pointed needles for decreases (US size 10)

Yarn

150 yards approx of double knit yarn, preferably something soft and drapey (not sure how else to describe the quality)

Notions

Stitch marker, or bit of contrasting wool will do the trick

Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

The Hat – Notes

This pattern will result in a hat to fit a large head, but can be made to fit a smaller head simply by decreasing the number of stitches you cast on by multiples of four. Also, you could improvise with needle size and yarn weight for different effects on the look of the stitches and drape of the hat.

Directions

Cuff:- Cast on 108 stitches on circular needles using long tail cast on or any loose stretchy method. Join in a circle, being careful not to twist the stitches, and mark the start of the round with a stitch marker or bit of contrasting wool.

Proceed in *K2, P2* rib (2×2) for 3 inches or to taste, depending on how long you prefer your cuff to be. Next, you’ll need to add some stitches to get the required level of slouch!

Increase round:-

R1:  *K 18, k1f&b* to end

R2: K all stitches

R3: *K2, P2* to end

R4:*K2, P2* to end

You should have 120 stitches on the needle.

Main body of hat:- following the stitch pattern below, knit your hat to the desired length – I would recommend you knit about 5 inches in the main body pattern.

Stitch pattern:-

R1:  K all stitches

R2: K all stitches

R3: *K2, P2* to end

R4:*K2, P2* to end

Decrease rounds

When you have knitted to the desired length, switch to the stitch pattern below. At some point, you will want to switch to your double pointed needles as the number of stitches becomes too few to work on the circulars.

R1:  *K2, P2tog*

R2: *K2, P1*

R3: *K2tog, K1*

R4:-*K all stitches*

R5:- *K2tog*

At this point, continue as follows until you have about 6 stitches on the needles

R1:- K all stitches

R2:- *K2tog*

Gather live stitches with your tapestry needle, pull tight, weave in the ends and you’re finished.

If you have a go at knitting this hat let me know how you get on, I’d love to know -  especially if you improvise!

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