Knitting hats: #1

Hats come in handy, especially during cold seasons; So I decided to work on some knitting projects using circular needles. I did not focus on knitting projects last year but I’m hoping to turn that around.
Before working on this project, there are a number of choices you have to make and some planning to do.
You have to plan your knitting process by:-
-Choosing a knitting method
-Deciding the type of yarn to use
-Deciding the size of needle to use
-Determining the circumference of the head of the person you intend to knit the hat for.
-Deciding the pattern you want to create
-Deciding the brim style that you will use for your hat.
-Making a gauge swatch to determine the number of stitches you need to make per inch.
Once you have figured out all the above factors you are now ready to start your project.

MATERIALS REQUIRED.
-1 ball of 100gms acrylic chunky yarn.
-A pair of scissors
-Tape measure
-Stitch markers
-A darning needle

ABBREVIATIONS.
K-Knit
P-Purl
YO-Yarn Over
SSK-Slip slip knit
K2TOG- Knit 2 together
SK2P- Slip a stitch, knit 2 together then pass slipped stitch over.

SKILLS .
Increases
Decreases.

Knitting method for this hat- circular knitting
Yarn used- KNIT ME chunky,100% acrylic yarn.
Needles used- Two 32 inch circular needles,a size 5 mm for the brim and 6 mm for the body.
Head circumference- 21 inches
Brim style- ribbed
Stitches per inch- 4, therefore the total number of stitches to be worked is 84 stitches.
The pattern I’m creating works in multiples of 12 in case you need to alter the size of the hat in any way.

CASTING ON.
Using the long tail cast on method cast on the number of stitches needed for your hat, in my case I cast on 84 stitches.
This will be the foundation of the project. Make sure that all your stitches are aligned properly and not twisted before working your first row.
To achieve the ribbed brim, you need to knit one stitch and purl the next stitch all round.
Repeat this for 10 rows.
Row 1-10: (K1, P1).
I used a 5 mm 32 inch circular needles for the brim of my hat.

WORKING THE BODY.
Switch to the size 6 mm circular needles.
Row 1: *P1, K1, P1, K2TOG, YO, K1, YO, SSK, (P1,K1)twice* repeat from * to * around.
Row 2: *P1, K1 ,P1, K5, (P1,K1)twice* repeat from * to * around.
Row 3: *P1, K1, K2TOG, (K1,YO)twice, K1, SSK, K1, P1, K1*.
Row 4: *P1, K9, P1, K1*.
Row 5: *P1, K2TOG, K2, YO, K1, YO, K2, SSK, P1, K1*.

Row 6: *P1, K9, P1, K1*.
Row 7: *YO, SSK, K7, K2TOG, YO, K1*.
Row 8: Knit.
Row 9: *YO, K1, SSK, K5, K2TOG, K1, YO, K1*.
Row 10: Knit.

Row 11: *YO, K2, SSK, K3, K2TOG, K2, YO, K1*.
Row 12: Knit.
Row 13: *YO, K4, SK2P, K4,YO,K1*.
Row 14: Knit.
Row 15: *K3, K2TOG, YO, K1, YO, SSK, K4*.

Row 16: And all even rows knit.
Row 17: *K2, K2TOG, (K1,YO)twice, K1, SSK, K3*.
Row 19: *K1, K2TOG, K2, YO,K1, YO, K2, SSK, K2*.
Row 21: *YO, SSK, K7, K2TOG, YO, K1*.
Row 23: *YO, K1, SSK, K5, K2TOG, K1, YO, K1*.
Row 25: *YO, K2, SSK, K3, K2TOG, K2, YO, K1*.
Row 27: *YO, K4, SK2P, K4, YO, K1*.
Row 28: Knit.

For a less slouchy hat stop here but if you want your hat to be more slouchy then repeat rows 15-28 one more time.
You are now done with the body of your hat and you can work your crown now.

WORKING THE CROWN.
Row 1: Knit
Row 2:*K4, SK2P, K5*
Row 3: Knit
Row 4: Knit.
Row 5: *K3, SK2P, K4*.
Row 6 and 7: Knit.
Row 8: *K2, SK2P, K3*.
Row 9 and 10: Knit.
Row 11: *K1, SK2P, K2*.

Row 12 and 13: Knit.
Row 14: *SK2P, K1*.
Row 15 and 16: Knit.
Row 17: SSK.
Row 18: Knit.