Can you have too many hats? I don’t think so! I’ve got a few a basket ready to be taken out on chilly days. One of them is a crochet hat, one is a knitted hat made of chunky yarn (very warm and snug), there’s another knitted one that has a matching scarf… and this is my newest addition: a Simple Rib Hat.
Simple, I hear you ask? Yes, simple! This pattern contains no complicated stitches. If you know how to knit, purl and do decreases, then you can knit this simple hat. The well-known rib texture is achieved by just alternating knit and purl stitches. It’s as simple as that!
So, grab a ball or skein of DK yarn, a pair of needles and your good to go!
Materials
Yarn
Suggested yarn:
DK weight yarn, you’ll need approximately 60g/120m
The sample is shown in:
Wol met Verve Vigorous DK in Tie-Dye Mahogany (100% superwash merino, 115g = 230m)
Optional
A pompom to decorate your hat. I used a Toft UK pompom.
Needles
- 3,5mm/US 4 and 4,0mm/US 6 100cm/40” circular needles for magic loop or dpns
- a 4,0mm/US G-6 crochet hook for the tubular cast-on
Notions
- scissors
- darning needle
- stitch marker (optional, to mark BOR)
Construction
The hat is knitted in the round and the crown is made by decreasing the number of stitches.
Sizes
The ribbed fabric is very stretchy, so this pattern will fit a lot of heads. If you like to adjust the circumference of the hat, the easiest way is to increase or reduce the number of cast-on stitches by a multiple of 8. That way you can work the crown as described in the pattern (the stitch count will differ though).
My head circumference is approximately 56cm and the hat fits me loosely.
Gauge
34 st x 27 rows = 10cm x 10cm / 4″ x 4″ worked in 2×2 rib in the round on a 4,0mm needle (unblocked).
Stitch Library
| BOR | Beginning of round |
| CO | Cast on |
| k | Knit |
| k2tog | Knit two stitches together |
| p | Purl |
| p2tog | Purl two stitches together |
| st(s) | Stitch(es) |
Pattern Notes
For my hat, I used a tubular cast-on. It’s a very nice looking cast-on method and it is very stretchy. You can find a good tutorial for this technique at Very Pink Knits:
Instructions
Set-up
With the smaller needle cast-on 120 sts using tubular CO 2×2 rib. Join in the round.
Alternatively, use your preferred method to CO 120 stitches and join in the round. Work one round of 2×2 rib (*k2, p2, repeat from * to end).
Place a marker to mark BOR.
Work the body
Continue with 3,5mm needle
Round 1 *k2, p2, repeat from * to end (120 st)
Round 2-10 repeat round 1
Change to 4,0mm needles
Round 11-40 repeat R1 (120 st)
My piece measures 16cm (height) at this point. If you prefer your hat to be longer or if you want to add a brim, then add extra rounds at this point. The crown will add approximately 5cm to your hat.
Work the crown
Round 41 *k2, p2tog, k2,p2 repeat from * to end (105 st)
Round 42 *k2, p1, k2, p2, repeat from * to end
Round 43 *k2, p1, k2, p2tog, repeat from * to end (90 st)
Round 44 *k2, p1, repeat from * to end
Round 45 *k2, k2tog, k1, p1, repeat from * to end (75 st)
Round 46 *k4, p1, repeat from * to end
Round 47 *k3, k2tog, repeat from * to end (60 st)
Round 48 k all st
Round 49 *k3, k2tog, repeat from * to end (48 st)
Round 50 k all st
Round 51 *k2, k2tog, repeat from * to end (36 st)
Round 52 k all st
Round 53 *k1, k2tog, repeat from * to end (24 st)
Round 54 k all st
Round 55 k2tog to end (12 st)
Round 56 k all
Finishing
Cut the yarn leaving a long tail. Use a darning needle to weave the tail through the remaining stitches twice, then weave in the inside of the hat.
Block your Simple Rib Hat and add a pompom if you like. I attached a Toft UK pompom to my hat.
Would you like to show me your creations? Please tag me on social media and use #merinoandtomatoes when sharing your hat!
Do you have a question? Don’t hesitate to contact me!
This pattern is copyright protected, read more here.
