Today, we’re working on how to create a double thick knit hat brim. I started making these because my kids were telling me they wanted warmer hats than the original ones I was making for them.
I used to make knit 1, purl 1(or knit 2, purl 2, brims, but they are not the warmest, especially on windy days. They play outside at school everyday, unless its below -15C so warm hats are important.
Also, we’re moving our family further up north soon and we will probably need some warmer winter gear. We already live in Ontario, Canada, but are moving 4 hours north in Ontario, and winters are longer, colder, and with more snow. So, this version is going to be important for keeping the kids warm. So far, so good. I may have to add a fleece lining inside for additional warmth, but that will have to come in a future tutorial. 🙂
If you’re new to hats, check out full tutorial on how to knit a hat for beginners.
Getting Started
To get started, cast on the correct number of stitches, for your desired size, leaving an extra long tail. If you’re using long tail cast on, just make sure you have an extra long tail to use. Otherwise, just leave a long tail before you place your slip knot.
Knit about 4-5″ from the cast on row. You can do less if making it for a baby or toddler, or more if you desire. I wanted mine to be big enough for the brim to fully cover my 8.5 year old’s ears.
TIP: Use 1 size smaller knitting needles than the yarn suggests, to keep the brim nice and tight. Size up for the body, and then back down to knit the crown.
I am using 4 mm knitting needles for the brim, and 4.5 mm needles for the body. I used Caron Big Cakes in Grape Jelly.
For my hat, I cast on 80 stitches, on a 14″ long round needle, to make this hat for my 8.5 year old daughter. I also use a marker to indicate the end of my row.
Fold and Attach
Once your brim is long enough when you fold it in half, begin sewing the lower edge to the row you’ll currently be working next. Fold your cast on edge up inside your hat, so the tail meets the end of the current row.
Thread your yarn tail onto your darning needle. Stitch through the first loop on your knitting needle.
Stitch through the first stitch from the bottom row.
Continue sewing into the stitches on the needle and through bottom row.
Keep your stitches even, matching each stitch around so you don’t run out of stitches on the needles, at the end of the row.
When you get to the end of the row, change to your larger needles, if you are using smaller, and continue knitting several more inches.
After a couple more rows, with your larger needles, this is what it should look like. Continue for a few more inches and begin decreasing. Check out this post, for instructions on how to do decreases.
Finish it off with a pony tail hole or close the top and you’re done. Now you have a nice and warm, double thick knit hat.
Watch the video tutorial below:
I would love to see the beautiful hats you make from our tutorials. Tag us on Instagram with anything you make! @purple.rose.crafts
Much Love,
