This is our final beginner tutorial in the series of creating a knitted hat, how to shape the crown. This is a simple tutorial, for adding the decreases to this style of hat. If you missed the beginning of the series, or want to start at the beginning, check out Part 1, & Part 2. And, if you’d like, how to create a tighter ribbing, in this post.
New Stitch – Decreases
For this tutorial, we’re going to use a knit stitch called knit 2 together (which we used in our farmhouse dishcloth tutorial as well). Simply put, insert your needles into 2 stitches like a simple knit, but with both over your right needle, wrap your yarn, same as regular knit, and draw back through. Loop both stitches off your left needle. This creates a decrease where the first stitch disappears underneath the second. See the image below.
While shaping the crown, we want to stay in pattern, continuing to follow our knits and purls as best we can, until we have no choice but to eliminate the purls. So for this pattern, we will keep our purl until we are at the decrease row with only k1, p1, left on our needles.
Crown Shaping Pattern
Row 1: Decrease Needle Size, *k2tog, k3, p1* repeat from * around.
Row 2 & 3: *knit 4, p1* repeat around.
Repeat Rows 1-3, decreasing by 1 knit stitch in each repeat on each row.
When you get to decreasing over your k1, p1, row: k first st, then k2tog around (This moves the purl stitches underneath the knits and finishes it nicely).
When you have around 10-14 stitches left on your needles, cut your yarn leaving enough yarn to go through all remaining stitches and weave in, about 6” is plenty. Use a small crochet hook, or darning needle, to draw yarn through each stitch on your needles. Then thread it down the hole in the top of the hat, tighten it up, and weave in your ends.
Finishing it off
Now, you can add a pom pom or just weave in your ends. If you’d like an ad free version of this whole hat pattern, check it out in our store. Also, check out our video tutorial for more information on how to use your crochet hook to pull your yarn through the stitches on our needles. I also show you how to correct spaces in your work, small holes, from changing colours, etc. and how to attach a pom pom using our tail of the yarn at the top.
Here is the video tutorial for this post:
I love this hat pattern so much and I hope you do too. This is why, I’ve added the complete ad-free version to the store. Also, subscribe for updates and I will let you know when new patterns are released!
Coming soon, a braided cable knit hat and a crochet pocket shawl!
Much Love,
