How to Knit a Cozy Hat: Step-by-Step Instructions and Materials

The Materials Required for Your Project

The hat is knit flat on straight needles and then seamed together with mattress stitch for an invisible join.

Used Materials

Yarn used: 1 ball of Rico Essentials Super Super Chunky Yarn (50% wool/50% acrylic; 105yds/100g) in color 32.

Other Similar Yarns

• Lana Grossa Ragazza Lei (merino one-ply)
• Lion Brand Hometown USA (budget acrylic option) in color Ft Lauderdale Coral
• Malabrigo Rasta (gorgeous hand-painted yarn) in color Almond Blossom

Recommended Needles

1 pair of US 15/10mm knitting needles (available in acrylic or bamboo options). Use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below.

Gauge

11 sts = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch.

Finished Measurements

The finished hat will have a circumference of 17.5″ and a height of 8.5″.

Notions

• Tapestry needle
• Scrap cardboard
• Split-ring markers (optional)
• Sharp scissors

Knitting Instructions

Casting On

Cast on 49 sts using the long tail cast on method.

Initial Rows

Row 1 (WS): *K1, P1; repeat from * to last stitch, K1.

Row 2 (RS): P1, *K1, P1; repeat from * to end of row.

Repeat Rows 1-2 until the piece measures 3”. End having worked Row 1.

Increase Row

Increase Row (RS): K1, KFB, knit to end of row (50 sts).

Working in Stockinette Stitch

Stockinette Stitch Rows

Row 1 (WS): Purl all stitches.

Row 2 (RS): Knit all stitches.

Repeat Rows 1-2 until the piece measures 6” from the cast-on edge. End having worked Row 1.

Decrease Rows

Row 1 (RS): *K3, K2tog; repeat from * to end of row (40 sts).

Row 2 and all even rows (WS): Purl all stitches.

Row 3 (RS): *K2, K2tog; repeat from * to end of row (30 sts).

Row 5 (RS): *K1, K2tog; repeat from * to end of row (20 sts).

Row 7 (RS): *K2tog; repeat from * to end of row (10 sts).

Finishing the Hat

With working yarn, measure out a length of yarn that’s three times the length of the seam. Cut the yarn loose.

Thread the yarn onto a tapestry needle and seam the hat together with mattress stitch. Weave in ends.

Creating the Pom Pom

Create a pom pom with a pom pom tracer that’s between 2.5 and 3”.

Secure the pom pom to the top of the hat. Weave in ends.

Abbreviations

• * *: repeat instructions between asterisks the number of times indicated
• K: knit
• K2tog: knit two stitches together
• KFB: knit into the front and back of the stitch
• P: purl
• RS: right side of knitting
• WS: wrong side of knitting