Tuesday 24 January 2012

Free Knitting Pattern: Seed Stitch Hat

This is one of my favourite hats to put in my pocket - warm enough to keep your head cosy on cold days, but light enough to wear past winter months. You can also take a look at an easy pattern for using up leftover yarn for matching fingerless gloves


Again like most of my patterns there is no set size or yarn type - I have used double knit weight yarn which means the hat has a slouchy fit. The hat above was knitted using Patons Smoothie yarn - an acrylic yarn with a smooth silky touch.

You will need:
  • 1 x 100g ball of DK Double knit yarn - I have used Patons Smoothie
  • 1 x 5mm 16" circular needle (slightly larger than the yarn states so that the knit is looser)
  • A stitch marker
  • Scissors and a needle to weave in ends
Pattern

1. Cast on 88 stitches (this will fit loosely on a 22" circumference head - to make it bigger or smaller add or take away in multiples of 4 e.g. 80, 84, 92)

2. Make sure your work is not twisted, thread on your stitch marker and join work together, working your first round in double rib stitch (k2, p2 to the end of the round)

3. Continue knitting double rib rounds (k2, p2) until your work measures 1.5 inches long. On your last stitch of the last round pick up a stitch (m1) so you will have an odd number of stitches on your needle (e.g 89 stitches) This is the headband section finished.

4. For your next row, work in moss / seed stitch (k1, p1* k1) ending on a knit stitch. From this point onward knit as if you are making one long continuous row - after every knit stitch will follow a purl stitch - as there is an odd number of stitches on the needle the moss / seed stitch pattern will work up automatically. 

n.b. The stitch marker is there to remind you where you started but it doesn't mean you need to restart the pattern every time - if you end on a knit stitch at the end of the round your next stitch will be a purl stitch. You will get into a rhythm of k, p, k, p, k, p, k...until you get a bit dizzy!

5. Continue knitting in moss / seed stitch until your work measures 8" (21cm) in total (including the ribbed part). If you have increased the size of your hat by a lot you will want to make the hat longer, and smaller if you are making a small hat e.g. for a child.

6. On your next round decrease by knitting two stitches together (k2tog*, k1) ending on a knit stitch.

7. Cut a long tail from your ball and using your needle thread the needle through the stitches left on your needle and take them off the needle as you go. Pull together tightly and secure by stitching the tail into the back of the hat and weaving the end in.

8. Weave the other tail end from casting into the piece.

...and there you go - a finished hat!


Please let me know if you spot any issues or have any feedback.

Debs

4 comments:

  1. I'm confused by step 6. Are you saying that you knit 2 together, then knit, continuing on? How would that work with the pattern?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. knit 2 together, then knit 1. Repeat that pattern unti the end of the row.

      Delete
  2. I have been looking for a pattern like this forever! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for this pattern, it was easy to follow and the end result looks great. My son is very happy with his new hat. I have written about it in my blog:
    http://carolineburton4.wordpress.com/2014/07/11/knitted-beanies/

    ReplyDelete