If you love unique, one-of-a-kind fashion accessories, then hand-knit hats are a must-have. They provide warmth, style, and the perfect finishing touch to any outfit. Not only are they stylish and eye-catching, but they offer a host of benefits that can’t be found in mass-produced items. From their unparalleled comfort to their one-of-a-kind designs, you’ll understand why these handmade pieces are truly special. Hand-knitting is an art form that has been around for centuries and continues to be passed down from generation to generation.
Hats are a necessity here in Edmonton where it drops to -30C or colder in the winter. Even autumn and spring mornings are chilly enough to grab a beanie before heading out for the day. My hat-obsessed hubby and I have a fairly large hat collection.
Not only do hats keep us warm, but they’re also a quick rewarding project! Depending on the hat’s complexity and the type of yarn you’re working with, you can whip one up in 3-10 hours. Compared to larger projects (like a sweater that takes 80-100 hours on average), that’s a pretty quick turnaround from cast-on to bind-off.
Are you looking for patterns? You’ll find our hat patterns here.
GENERAL HAT KNITTING INFORMATION
- Getting the Perfect Fit: Measuring Your Head for a Hand-Knit Hat
- Standard Head Sizes for Hand-Knit Hats
Techniques used when knitting hats
- Magic Loop (links to YouTube video)
- Old Norwegian Cast-on
- Swatching in the round (links to YouTube video)
- Blocking a hat (links to YouTube video)
Tips & Tricks
- SWATCH! Swatching is an incredibly important skill for knitting items that are meant to fit a particular way. Swatching also includes washing and blocking the swatch as you would when you wash the final project – this will help prepare for any whoops that may occur and prevent any sizing issues. https://youtu.be/Omek0d4xWJs
- Some knitters find the easiest way to keep track of round repeats is by placing a locking stitch marker after each body repeat, making it easy to count to ensure you’ve worked your desired number of repeats.
- Did you drop a stitch? If you’ve noticed a dropped stitch, don’t panic or rip back to it. Grab a locking stitch marker and lock it into the loop to prevent it from unraveling further. This will give you time to assess the severity and decide if you need to rip out stitches or if you’ll be able to work it back in. https://youtu.be/BnTH56geOpo
- If you’re getting lost in the pattern stitch or finding it hard to read the fabric, try placing stitch markers between the repeats! This technique will help you keep the pattern straight in your head and will help you notice when things are off (i.e. a missing stitch!). https://youtu.be/o8DVPSn6VQQ
- Want to use magic loop for the crown but that’s a new technique for you? You may find this tutorial helpful. https://youtu.be/KVZSwdemT7U