Achieving Proper Fit – Taking proper measurements and using appropriate negative ease ensures your hat will fit properly. With hand-knitting a hat that fits like a dream, measuring your head accurately is a crucial first step. Both your crown length and head circumference play vital roles in achieving the perfect fit. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the process of measuring your head to ensure that your hand-knit hat feels comfortable and looks stunning. Let’s dive in and discover the key to a hat that’s tailored just for you!
How to Measure Crown Length
When trying to achieve a proper fit, measuring the crown length of your head is a crucial step in getting the perfect fit for your hand-knit hat. It will help you determine the size of the hat you need to choose in the pattern.
Here’s how to measure your crown length:
- Measure from the top centre of your forehead to the top of your head (about an inch above your ear) with a flexible measuring tape (If you don’t have a flexible measuring tape, you can also use a string and measure it against a ruler).
- Note the measurement. This is your crown’s length.
With your crown length measurement in hand, you can choose the right size for your hand-knit hat. Knowing your crown length can also be useful when creating your own pattern or when altering an existing pattern.
How to Measure Head Circumference
Place your flexible measuring tape around your head, just above your ears and eyebrows, and measure the circumference of your head. If you’re looking to make a hand-knit hat, you’ll need to calculate your head circumference.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Get a flexible measuring tape and stand in front of a mirror.
- Position the tape around your head, starting just above your eyebrows.
- Wrap the tape around the widest part of your head, which is usually at the back.
- Make sure that the measuring tape is even all the way around and not too tight or too loose.
- Check the measurement in the mirror and write it down for later reference.
This measurement is important for creating a custom-fitted hat that will fit your head perfectly. Note down the number as you’ll need it when selecting your hat size or pattern. You can also use this number to compare different hat sizes if you’re considering buying a ready-made hat.
Negative Ease
Now that you know your crown length and head circumference, calculating the appropriate negative ease for your hat is the next step! Negative ease simply means that the finished hat circumference is slightly smaller than the head circumference it’s intended for. This allows the fabric to stretch, providing a snug fit. We do not need to add negative ease to your crown length, only the head circumference.
To determine how much negative ease, use for your hand-knit hat, subtract 10-15% from your head circumference amount. This will give you the number you need for the desired negative ease.
For example, if the head size measures 22” / 56 cm, you would want to subtract 10-15% from that number to get 19.8-20.7” / 50-52.5 cm as your final hat measurements.
How to Choose the Right Size
Knowing your head circumference with negative ease calculated in and crown length measurements will help you find or create the perfect hand-knit hat! Most patterns will include specific measurements for each size. When choosing a hat size, make sure that the crown length and head circumference measurements fall within the parameters for that size.
When measuring for a hat, it’s also important to consider the fit you want. Do you prefer a close-fitting beanie or a more relaxed slouchy style? Knowing this will help you decide on the best size. If you prefer a close-fitting beanie, then make sure that your measurements are slightly less than what’s listed in the pattern’s size measurements. If you prefer a looser fit, then choose a size where your measurements are slightly larger than what’s listed in the pattern’s size measurements.
Finally, it’s always a good idea to knit a gauge swatch before starting your project. This will ensure that the stitch pattern and yarn used will produce the correct size hat. It’s also helpful to block the swatch before measuring, as blocking can affect the gauge of the fabric.
By taking accurate measurements and following a few key tips, you can ensure that your hand-knit hat fits perfectly every time! If you’re making a hat for a gift and don’t have the head on hand to measure, check out this post on Standard Head Measurements.
