According to data from Ravelry crunched by The Washington Post, crocheters, and I assume knitters, too, start to think about making hats in August.
I am not ready to think about hats, because it is still plenty warm in Arkansas and will be for a long time to come. But if you live somewhere that has a fall that comes a little earlier, or you’re trying to get a jump on holiday knitting, you indeed might be looking for hat knitting patterns right now.
I thought I’d start the season off with a collection of super simple flat hat knitting patterns. These are great for knitters who’ve never made a hat before or might be intimidated by working with circular knitting needles (or might just not own any). A flat hat can be a good first knitting project, too, since sometimes they don’t have any shaping at the top.
The easiest hat there is, which really could be your first knitting project, is a garter stitch hat worked flat without any shaping. It’s just a rectangle that you seam closed to make into a hat shape. Underground Crafter has a great pattern for this kind of flat hat. Bonus: it’s available in 10 sizes and even the biggest is still a one skein project!
Add a little extra interest (but not a lot more skill) by making the Level 1 Hat from Lion Brand. This hat is made from two rectangles of two color garter stitch, though you could make yours in a single color or use a self-striping yarn if you’d rather. Sew them together and you’ve got a fun, direction-shifting hat made easy.
Berroco’s Jordan hat is another one worked in two colors in garter stitch. This one knits up super fast and includes a matching pompom. It’s a perfect one for gift giving.
Gina Michele has a cute classic slouchy flat hat pattern that’s worked in ribbing and stockinette stitch. It doesn’t have any shaping, which adds to the slough factor, but gives you another option for simplicity if you don’t want to use garter stitch. Or add some allover ribbing with this design from Handy Little Me. This one does have a bit of shaping at the top but it’s super easy and improves the fit.
Throw in a different stitch pattern with the Seed Stitch Slouchy Hat from Yarnspirations. This one has a bit of ribbing at the bottom and a little shaping at the top, and great texture in between.
You can even make your flat hat into a messy bun hat! This design from Marni Reccer is a free download on Ravelry and it makes a super quick hat in stockinette stitch that allows your hair to escape the top.
Try a hat pattern you can work flat or in the round when you’re ready to try that technique and see which you like better. The Mikki Simple Ribbed Hat by PUREbyLindaWhaley on Etsy offers both options.
Free Pattern Everybody Knit Beanie Hat
