What You Need

  • 100g of worsted weight yarn (10-ply, Aran weight)
  • 4mm circular knitting needles, 40cm length (or 4mm double-pointed needles)
  • Stitch marker
  • Yarn needle (for finishing)
  • Scissors

Hat Pattern (Adult Size, Approximately 56cm head circumference)

  1. 1

    Cast on 88 stitches

    Using the long-tail cast on (most stretchy, good for hat brims), cast on 88 stitches. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Place a stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round.

  2. 2

    Work 5cm of 2x2 ribbing

    Round 1 and all brim rounds: *K2 (knit 2), P2 (purl 2)* repeat to end of round. Continue this pattern for 5cm — approximately 12–15 rounds depending on your tension. Ribbing provides stretch and prevents the brim from curling.

  3. 3

    Work stocking stitch until 20cm total length

    Switch to stocking stitch in the round: knit every round (working in the round, all knit stitches produce stocking stitch automatically). Continue until the hat measures approximately 20cm from the cast-on edge — about 30–35 rounds.

  4. 4

    Decrease for the crown

    Crown decreases (8 decrease rounds): Round 1: *K9, K2tog (knit 2 together)* repeat to end (80 sts). Round 2: knit plain. Round 3: *K8, K2tog* (72 sts). Round 4: knit plain. Continue in this pattern, reducing by 1 before each K2tog each decrease round, with a plain knit round between, until approximately 16 stitches remain. From here: decrease every round until 8 stitches remain.

  5. 5

    Finish the hat

    Cut yarn leaving a 20cm tail. Thread the yarn needle with the tail. Thread through all remaining stitches on the needle, removing them from the needle as you go. Pull tight to close the hole. Push the needle to the inside of the hat and weave in the end securely. Weave in the cast-on tail at the brim the same way.

Tension mattersKnitting tension (gauge) affects the finished size significantly. If your hat is coming out too large: try smaller needles (3.5mm). Too small: try larger needles (4.5mm). Knit a small tension square before starting: cast on 20 stitches and knit 20 rows. Measure how many stitches per 10cm — this pattern is designed for approximately 22 stitches per 10cm in stocking stitch on 4mm needles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Both allow knitting in the round (seamless tube, no seam required for a hat). Circular needles: easier for beginners, you work on one continuous cord. Use 40cm circulars for a hat — too long and the stitches stretch. Double-pointed needles (DPNs): 4–5 short needles that form a triangle or square. Traditional method, more fiddly but essential for the crown decreases when there are too few stitches for circular needles. Many knitters use circular needles until the crown decreases require switching to DPNs.
This pattern uses worsted or Aran weight yarn — the most common and easiest to work with for beginners. Look for: 10-ply (Australian standard) or the ball band will show a skein symbol with the number 4 (universal yarn weight system, medium/worsted). Popular Australian beginner yarns: Cleckheaton Country 10-ply, Patons Classic 10-ply, or any Aran/10-ply yarn from Lincraft or Spotlight. Avoid super bulky or very fine yarns for this pattern — they will not produce the right size.