World's Easiest Hat Knitting Pattern

World's Easiest Hat Knitting Pattern

As the name suggests, this really is the easiest hat pattern in the world! It’s also the perfect pattern for all those leftover skeins or mini skeins we all have in our stash. The hat is meant to be quite close fitting around the head and is knitted with a smaller gauge to make sure it would fit well even after extensive use. Remember to cast on loosely! The sample hats have a comfortable, slouchy fit, but It’s also possible to knit the hat shorter.

Pattern is written to 3 yarn weights: fingering, sport and DK.

Directions (fingering weight yarn)

Yarn: Approx. 50 g of fingering weight yarn. Yarn used for the green hat is Uschitita Merino Singles, colourway Tiina, other yarns Madelinetosh Unicorn tails, colourways cousteau, artic, celadon, button jar blue
Needles: 2,25 mm for the ribbing, 2,5 mm for the main body.
Gauge: 31,5 st to 4” / 10 cm in stockinette stitch.
Finished circumference: 40,5 (43, 46, 48) 51 cm.
Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL.

Note! The hat is meant to fit quite closely around the head. If you want to knit the hat smaller or larger, note that the stitch count for the ribbing is divisible by 3 and the stitch count for the stockinette stitch section is divisible by 8.  

Using the smaller needles, cast on 123 (129, 138, 144) 153 sts. Place marker for BOR. 

Work k2, p1 ribbing 23 rows in total. Switch to the larger needles.
Set-up rnd: Knit and at the same time evenly increase  5 (7, 6, 8) 7 sts. 128 (136, 144, 152) 160 sts on the needles.

Work in stockinette stitch for 20 cm or until the stockinette section is 3 cm shorter than the desired length. On the last rnd place markers between every 8 sts.

Decreases
Rnd 1: *Knit until 2 sts remain before m, k2tog*. Repeat *–* to the end of rnd.
Rnd 2: Knit.
Repeat rnds 1–2 until 16 (17, 18, 19) 20 sts remain.
Next rnd, sizes XS,  M ja XL: K2tog,repeat to end of rnd. = 8 (9) 10 sts remains.
Next rnd, sizes S ja L: K2tog, repeat until 1 st remains, k1 = 9 (10 ) sts.

Break the yarn and pull it through the remaining sts. Weave in yarn ends. Wash the hat gently with a wool wash, gently squeeze out the excess water and lay flat to dry.

Directions (sport weight yarn)

Yarn: 50–60 g of sport weight yarn (approx. 250–350 m / 100g). The mustard coloured sample is knitted with The Fibre Co. Cumbria Fingering, colourway Catbells (size L).
Needles: 2,75 mm for the ribbing, 3 mm for the main body.
Gauge:  24 sts x 31 rnds to 4” / 10 cm of stockinette stitch.
Finished circumference: 40,5 (43, 46,5, 50) 53 cm.
Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL.

Using the smaller needles, cast on 90 (99, 105, 114) 120 sts. Work 5 cm of ribbing. Switch to the larger needles and stockinette stitch. On the first rnd evenly increase 6 (5, 7, 6) 8 sts. 96 (104, 112, 120) 128 sts on the needles.

Work in stockinette stitch for 20 cm or until the stockinette section is 3 cm shorter than desired length.  On the last rnd place markers between every 8 sts.

Decreases
Rnd 1: *Knit until 2 sts remain before m, k2tog*. Repeat *–* to the end of rnd.
Rnd 2: Knit.
Repeat rnds 1–2 until 12 (13, 14, 15) 16 sts remain.
Next rnd, sizes XS,  M and XL: K2tog, repeat to end of rnd. = 6 (7) 8 sts remains.
Next rnd, sizes S and L: K2tog, repeat until 1 st remains, k1 = 7 (8 ) sts. Break the yarn and pull it through the remaining sts. Weave in yarn ends. Wash the hat gently with a wool wash, gently squeeze out the excess water and lay flat to dry.

Directions (DK weight yarn)

Yarn: 50-60 g of DK weight yarn ( approx. 200-250 m / 100 g)
Needles: 3,5 mm or 3,75 mm needles for the ribbing, 4 mm for the main body.
Gauge:  20 sts to 4” / 10 cm in stockinette stitch with 4 mm needles.
Finished circumference: 40 (44, 48, 52) 56 cm.
Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL.

Using the smaller needles, cast on 72 (81, 90, 96) 105 sts. Work 5 cm of ribbing. Switch to the larger needles and stockinette stitch. On the first stockinette rnd, evenly increase 8 (7, 6,  8) 7 sts. 80 ( 88, 96, 104) 112 sts on the needles.

Work in stockinette stitch for 20 cm or until the stockinette section is 3 cm shorter than desired length.  On the last rnd place markers between every 8 sts.

Decreases
Rnd 1: *Knit until 2 sts remain before m, k2tog*. Repeat *–* to the end of rnd.
Rnd 2: Knit.
Repeat rnds 1–2 until 10 (11, 12, 13) 14 sts remains.
Next rnd, sizes XS,  M and XL: K2tog, repeat to end of rnd = 5 (6) 7 sts remains.
Next rnd, sizes S and L: K2tog, repeat until 1 st remains, k1  = 6 (7 ) sts. Break the yarn and pull it through the remaining sts. Weave in yarn ends. Wash the hat gently with a wool wash, gently squeeze out the excess water and lay flat to dry.

Abbreviations

k       knit
p       purl
s       stitch
rnd       round
k2tog    knit 2 sts together (1 st decreased)
M1      Make One: Lift the strand between two stitches and knit through the back loop
Bor    beginning of rnd