Tutorial: How to Knit a Seamless Hat. Free Pattern

I have to admit - I love knitting hats; it's becoming an obsession - since I have more hats that me and my daughter can wear. I donate them, gift and sell them but still - during winter season I will knit at least ten more. So I would like to share my favorite and most popular hat pattern with you.

Yarn: Ultra Alpaca - Fine - (Peruvian Wool/Super Fine Alpaca/Nylon), 3.5oz - 100g (433 yds - 400 m) - but you will use only about half.

Needles: size 2 US (2.75mm) double-pointed, set of 5. And size 1.5 US (2.5mm) double-pointed set of 5 knitting needles used to knit hat's brim (alternative: instead of using double-pointed needles, you can use circular knitting needles. It's absolutely up to you).

NOTE: it is a seamless hat.

Gauge: 30 sts/40 rows = 4" (10cm)
7.5 sts = 1" in stockinette stitch on size 2 US (2.75mm) needles.

Size: 22" (56cm) in circumference, 8.5" (21.5cm) in length from crown to cast-on. One size fits most.

Skill Level: Intermediate (have you ever knitted anything using double-pointed needles and know how to knit simple (slip, knit 2 together) pattern? - this hat is for you).

Time: I would say it takes me about 3 evenings to knit this hat, about 10 hrs.

          

Let's begin:

With size 1.5 US(2.5mm) double-pointed needles, cast on 164 sts. Join sts. into circle, taking care not to twist sts. Place marker after last st to indicate beginning of rnd. Divide sts. evenly - 41 sts on each needle. Work in knit1, purl1 for 25 rows (knit less or more rows to your liking, this particular brim is 2"/5cm).  

Hint: Use one size smaller needles to knit hat's brim for a better fit; after all, you'd want this beanie to stay on your head.  I use this trick in knitting a lot - for example, when knitting sock's or mitten's cuffs.

Begin patterns: Change to size 2 US (2.5mm) needles and work as follows:

Pattern A:

Round 1: *Knit5, k2Tog - knit 2 stitches together (a decrease), yo - yarn over, knit1, yo,  Ssk - slip, slip, knit these 2 stitches together (a decrease), knit5*. Repeat 11 times. 

!!!NOTE: this pattern requires 165 sts - 1 stitch more then our cast on. To do: while repeating pattern in Round 1, only ONCE instead of Ssk - decrease - knit1.

Divide sts. comfortably. I suggest following: 

• First, second and third needle each: 45 sts. = 3 times pattern * * repeats;
• Fourth needle: 30 sts. = 2 repeats.

Round 2: *Knit4, k2Tog, yo, knit3, yo, Ssk, knit4*. Repeat 11 times.

Round 3: *Knit3, k2Tog, yo, knit5, yo, Ssk, knit3*. Repeat 11 times.

Round 4: *Knit2,  k2Tog, yo, knit7, yo, Ssk, knit2*. Repeat 11 times.

Round 5: *Knit1,  k2Tog, yo, knit9, yo, Ssk, knit1*. Repeat 11 times.

Round 6 and 7: Knit all sts.

Continue pattern B:

Pattern B:

Round 8: *Knit1, yo, Ssk, knit9, k2Tog, yo, knit1*. Repeat 11 times.

Round 9: *Knit2, yo, Ssk, knit7, k2Tog, yo, knit2*. Repeat 11 times.

Round 10: *Knit3, yo, Ssk, knit5, k2Tog, yo, knit3*. Repeat 11 times.

Round 11: *Knit4, yo, Ssk, knit3, k2Tog, yo, knit4*. Repeat 11 times.

Round 12: *Knit5, yo, Ssk, knit1, k3Tog, yo, knit5*. Repeat 11 times.

Round 13 and 14: Knit all sts. 

Continue knitting, repeating Pattern A, following by Pattern B.  Repeat pattern A - 6 times total and pattern B - 5 times. 

Begin decreasing: knit pattern B eliminating yarn over.

Meaning: 

Decrease Round 1: *Knit1, Ssk, knit9, k2Tog, knit1*. Repeat 11 times - 143 sts..

Decrease Round 2: *Knit1, Ssk, knit7, k2Tog, knit1*. Repeat 11 times - 121 sts. 

Decrease Round 3: *Knit1, Ssk, knit5, k2Tog, knit1*. Repeat 11 times - 99 sts.

Decrease Round 4: *Knit1, Ssk, knit3, k2Tog, knit1*. Repeat 11 times - 77 sts.

Decrease Round 5: *Knit1, Ssk, knit1, k2Tog, knit1*. Repeat 11 times - 55 sts.

Decrease Round 6: * Knit1, Ssk, k2Tog, knit1*. Repeat 11 times - 44 sts.

Decrease Round 7: *Knit1, k2Tog, knit1*. Repeat 11 times - 33 sts.

Decrease Round 8: Knit all sts.

Cut yarn, weave tail through remaining 33 sts and pull to close top of the hat.

I always wash  my hats in cold water right after and lay flat to dry.

To whom who understands patterns better via charts, here they are:

Pattern A: (rounds 6 and 7 are not shown)

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1

⎕- knit 1;

⌾ - yo - yarn over;

⍁ - K2Tog - Knit 2 stitches together - a decrease;

⍂- Ssk - slip, slip, knit these 2 stitches together - a decrease.

Pattern B: (rounds 13 and 14 are not shown)

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Happy knitting!

Please don't hesitate to ask me any questions about this pattern. I truly passionate in my knitting and would like to be helpful.

My name is Uli  and I love knitting hats 😍