How to knit a hat: step by step, from measurement to crown
The easiest first project: a hat in the round with ribbing and a rounded crown. We follow one hat for a 56 cm (22 in) head in merino 50 g / 125 m on 4 mm needles. Every number is real output from the builder, and the screenshots show where to find it. The hat is free on the site forever — enter your own measurement and yarn.
What you need
- Measurement: head circumference across the forehead and above the ears — here 56 cm. Hat height 21 cm.
- Yarn: merino 50 g / 125 m. The builder estimates 140–170 m, so 2 balls.
- A 4 mm, 40 cm circular needle for the body and double-pointed needles or magic loop for the crown; 8 markers.
- Gauge: 22 sts and 30 rows per 10 cm. If yours differs, enter it and all the numbers update.
What the builder worked out
Cast on 120 sts, rib for 15 rounds, body 27 rounds, crown 21 rounds in 8 wedges of 15 sts. The finished hat measures 54.5 cm around — a little smaller than the head, so it stays put. Height 21 cm.
1. Cast-on and rib
Cast on 120 sts and join in the round without twisting. Work 2×2 rib for 15 rounds (≈ 5 cm). The rib is slightly narrower than the head, which keeps the hat in place.
Lessons: long-tail cast-on, joining in the round, 2×2 rib.
2. Body
Stockinette in the round for 27 rounds (≈ 9 cm), no decreases. Measure from the cast-on including the rib: at 14 cm start the crown, which takes the last 7 cm.
3. Crown in 8 wedges
Place 8 markers every 15 sts. Decrease round: *k13, k2tog* ×8 — one stitch fewer in each wedge, −8 in total. Plain round: knit. For the first 14 rounds alternate a decrease round and a plain round (120 → 64 sts), then decrease every round (64 → 8 sts). When the circular gets too tight, switch to double-pointed needles or magic loop.
Lessons: k2tog, markers and row counter.
4. Finishing
With 8 sts left, cut the yarn leaving 20 cm, thread it through all the stitches and pull tight. Weave in the ends on the wrong side, wash the hat and dry it over a ball or balloon the size of a head.
Lessons: weaving in ends, blocking.
FAQ
How many stitches should I cast on for a hat?
Head circumference minus a few centimetres, times your gauge, rounded so it divides into 8 wedges and the rib repeat. For a 56 cm head at 22 sts per 10 cm, that’s 120 sts.
How much yarn do I need for a hat?
For this hat, 140–170 m of merino 50 g / 125 m — 2 balls. A folded brim or a pompom takes more.
How do I make a hat with a folded brim?
Make the rib taller by the depth of the fold (say another 5–6 cm) so it turns back. In the builder, just change the rib height.
Why is my crown pointy?
The decreases were worked every round from the start. Decrease every other round first and every round only at the end, as in the table — that gives a rounded top.