KNITTING A HAT FOR BEGINNERS: Garter Stitch Hat

My GARTER STITCH HAT knitting pattern is perfect for beginner knitters. And, since these hats are very quick and easy to make, they are also great for charity knitting. Worked flat, they come in 5 sizes: newborn, 1 to 6 months, 6 to 12 months, toddlers and children. 

Skill level: suitable for beginner knitters who know how to make k2tog and skp decreases (advanced beginners / easy level)

The entire pattern for all sizes is below.

I’m also including, here and in the PDF files (in case you decide to purchase a copy), a step-by-step guide on how to sew the finished hat. 

If you want to see this pattern in Ravelry, click here. 

You can also purchase the pattern in a high quality PDF file HERE,  in my Etsy Shop HERE, and in my Ravelry store HERE.

PATTERN DETAILS

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Color codes are the same as in the written pattern.
Newborn: to fit 12’’ to 14’’ (30.5 to 35.5 cm) of head circumference.
1 to 6 months: to fit 14’’ to 16’’ (35.5 to 40.5 cm) of head circumference.
6 to 12 months: to fit 16’’ to 18’’ (40.5 to 45.5 cm) of head circumference.
Toddler: to fit 18’’ to 20’’ (45.5 to 51 cm) of head circumference.
Children: to fit 19’’ to 20.5’’ (48 to 52 cm) of head circumference.

MATERIALS

• 1 pair of straight needles US 7 (4.5 mm).
• 1 straight needle US 8 (5 mm) for casting on sts.
• Approx. 55 yds (50 m) / 78 yds (72 m) / 96 yds (88 m) / 116 yds (107 m) / 140 yds (128 m) of worsted / aran yarn. OR sport USED DOUBLE (double the yardage).
• Tapestry needle to weave in yarn ends and scissors.

GAUGE

19 sts x 35 rows in garter st with US 7 (4.5 mm) needles = 4” x 4” (10 cm x 10 cm)

ABBREVIATIONS

• CO: cast on
• RS: right side
• WS: wrong side
• st: stitch
• k: knit
• p: purl
• k2tog: knit 2 sts together
• skp: slip 1 st as if to knit, knit 1 st, pass the slipped st over

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NOTES to read before starting

I always cast on and bind off stitches with larger needles than I use for the main work. This prevent my cast on and bind off rows from being too tight.

Slip the first stitch on every row as if you were to knit it, but without knitting it (except on the first row). It will form a neat and sturdy border, and you can use the “bumps” left by this slipped k stitch to sew the hat at the end.

FOLDED RIB

• If you follow the instructions as presented below, you’ll end up with a hat with short rib, like the one in the right side of the photos.
• If you prefer to use the hat with the rib folded you’ll need to knit the initial rib 1 to 1.25 inches (2.5 to 3.5 cm) longer.

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INSTRUCTIONS

1. CO 54 (62, 70, 78, 86) sts with US 8 (5 mm) needles.

2. With US 7 (4.5 mm) needles work approx. 1.25’’ (3 cm) / 1.25’’ (3 cm) / 1.5’’ (4 cm) / 1.5’’ (4 cm) / 1.5’’ (4 cm) in 1/1 rib, with 1 garter stitch at each end. In other words, work 1 garter stitch, then *1k, 1p*, repeat from * to * until 1 stitch remain, 1 garter stitch.

In case you find the information useful, I knitted 7 rows for the 1.25’’ (3cm) long ribs, and 9 rows for the 1.5’’ (4 cm) long ribs.

REMINDER: see the note about folded rib above if you didn’t before 🙂

3. Continue working in garter stitch until your hat measures approx. 4.25’’ (11 cm) / 5.5’’ (14 cm) / 6’’ (15 cm) / 6.5’’ (16.5 cm) / 7’’ (18 cm).

4. Now you are ready to make decreases in each RS row, in order to shape the crown of the hat. You’ll be decreasing 8 sts per row, while knitting in garter stitch.

– I write below, for each size, the rows in which you need to make decreases and the resulting number of sts after each one is done, so you can check your progress if you need to.

– Please make sure to follow the right instructions for the size you are knitting.

Newborn size

1) k5, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k8, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 5 sts remain, k5 (46 sts).

3) k4, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k6, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 4 sts remain, k4 (38 sts).

5) k3, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k4, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 3 sts remain, k3 (30 sts).

7) k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k2, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 2 sts remain, k2 (22 sts).

9) k1, *k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 1 st remain, k1 (14 sts).

11) k2tog, *k1, k2tog*, repeat from * to * until the end of row (9 sts).

1 to 6 months size

1) k6, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k10, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 6 sts remain, k6 (54 sts).

3) k5, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k8, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 5 sts remain, k5 (46 sts).

5) k4, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k6, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 4 sts remain, k4 (38 sts).

7) k3, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k4, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 3 sts remain, k3 (30 sts).

9) k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k2, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 2 sts remain, k2 (22 sts).

11) k1, *k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 1 st remain, k1 (14 sts).

13) k2tog, *k1, k2tog*, repeat from * to * until the end of row (9 sts).

6 to 12 months size

1) k7, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k12, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 7 sts remain, k7 (62 sts).

3) k6, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k10, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 6 sts remain, k6 (54 sts).

5) k5, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k8, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 5 sts remain, k5 (46 sts).

7) k4, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k6, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 4 sts remain, k4 (38 sts).

9) k3, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k4, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 3 sts remain, k3 (30 sts).

11) k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k2, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 2 sts remain, k2 (22 sts).

13) k1, *k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 1 st remain, k1 (14 sts).

15) k2tog, *k1, k2tog*, repeat from * to * until the end of row (9 sts).

Toddler size

1) k8, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k14, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 8 sts remain, k8 (70 sts).

3) k7, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k12, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 7 sts remain, k7 (62 sts).

5) k6, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k10, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 6 sts remain, k6 (54 sts).

7) k5, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k8, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 5 sts remain, k5 (46 sts).

9) k4, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k6, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 4 sts remain, k4 (38 sts).

11) k3, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k4, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 3 sts remain, k3 (30 sts).

13) k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k2, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 2 sts remain, k2 (22 sts).

15) k1, *k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 1 st remain, k1 (14 sts).

17) k2tog, *k1, k2tog*, repeat from * to * until the end of row (9 sts).

Children size

1) k9, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k16, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 9 sts remain, k9 (78 sts).

3) k8, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k14, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 8 sts remain, k8 (70 sts).

5) k7, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k12, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 7 sts remain, k7 (62 sts).

7) k6, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k10, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 6 sts remain, k6 (54 sts).

9) k5, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k8, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 5 sts remain, k5 (46 sts).

11) k4, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k6, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 4 sts remain, k4 (38 sts).

13) k3, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k4, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 3 sts remain, k3 (30 sts).

15) k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k2, k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 2 sts remain, k2 (22 sts).

17) k1, *k2tog, k1, ssk*, repeat from * to * until 1 st remain, k1 (14 sts).

19) k2tog, *k1, k2tog*, repeat from * to * until the end of row (9 sts).

5. Cut the yarn leaving a long tail for sewing your hat.

6. Using a tapestry needle pass the yarn inside the 9 sts to take them out of your knitting needle:

7. Pull tightly to close. I usually give it another turn inside all sts.

8. Secure the close and sew your hat using the lateral garter sts as guide:

9. Weave in yarn ends, and that’s it 🙂

Enjoy your work!!

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You can also purchase the pattern in a high quality PDF file HERE,  in my Etsy Shop HERE, and in my Ravelry store HERE.

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STITCH GLOSSARY

Garter Stitch

k all sts, every row

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© Cecilia Fameli, 2021.
You’re welcome to sell your items produced from Oh La Lana! patterns! But you may not re-sale or re-distribute commercially my patterns in any manner. Thank you in advance for being respectful with my work!