Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Hat Knitting Patterns Using Sock Yarn

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I’ve spent a lot of time this year sharing patterns you can make with sock yarn that isn’t socks. We’ve covered gloves, mittens, cowls and shawls, most of which you can make with a single skein of yarn.

Hats are another great project to make with sock yarn, and you can make a lot of them with just one skein (here I looked for patterns that use less than 300 yards/274 meters) or a skein plus some scraps if colorwork is involved. These are great “treat yourself” patterns to make for the end of the year, and a sock yarn hat can be worn a lot later in the season that a bulkier hat because it’s not as warm.

For a great basic hat, try the Everyday Slouchy Beanie from Dragon Hoard Designs (available on Ravelry). It comes in three sizes and the largest uses a little more than 300 yards, but we’re pretty close. It’s worked in the round from the bottom up and uses a provisional cast on to help fashion the foldover brim. Giant pom-pom optional.

If you want to throw in some stripes left over from other sock yarn knitting projects, try the Scraptastic hat from Jane Tanner. This one is a free download on Ravelry and also comes in three sizes. You could also knit it in a solid color if you wanted. There are no rules here.

Barley Light from Tin Can Knits is another free Ravelry download and a great classic hat with a bit of texture. It’s mostly stockinette with a section of garter stitch, and a ribbed edge to pull it all together. This one is sized for babies through adults.

Add a slant to your stitches with the Swirl Hat, sized from preemie through adult and available on Ravelry from Mandie Harrington. The stitching gives it stretch that’s great for growing heads, or cozy for use as a chemo cap.

Another fun way to add texture can be seen on the Weybosset Hat, available on Etsy from The Knit McKinley. It looks complicated but it uses slipped stitches to make the beautiful textured pattern. It is sized for adults.

Bring a teensy bit of a different color to your hat with the Little Snow Flowers pattern from Softyarn Designs on Etsy. This one is sized for kids through adults and needs less than 20 yards of the contrasting color for any size. 

Want to add even more color? Throw in some stranded knitting around the brim of your hat, like on the Tremblant Toque from Dianna Walla. This free pattern on Ravelry calls for a background color and two contrasting colors, and it’s available in three sizes.

And since we’re talking lightweight hats, why not add a bit of lace for a hat you can wear all year? The Picacho Hat from Alyssa Latuchie (free on Ravelry) uses a pretty allover lace pattern that’s easy to get the hang of. It comes in one size for adults.

Have you read?

Free Knitted Crown Pattern for Kids and Adults: A Sweet Handmade Dress-Up Idea

There’s something wonderfully charming about a knitted crown. It’s playful, useful for the dress-up basket, and just the sort of small project that gives a leftover ball of yarn a proper purpose. Much better than letting it roll around the cupboard for another three years.

This free knitted crown pattern for kids and adults combines a simple garter-stitch band with shaped triangular points. The mustard-gold colour gives it that storybook crown look, although pink, purple or woodland green would be equally lovely.

A Manageable Next Step for Beginner Knitters

The construction is the appealing part of this design. Everything is knitted flat, so you won’t need double-pointed needles or experience joining stitches in the round.

You knit the band first, then work each crown point separately over a group of 12 stitches. Paired decreases gradually narrow each triangle, giving you a small, repeatable section to concentrate on.

I’d describe this as a confident beginner knitting project. You’ll need to know how to knit, work two types of decreases, hold unused stitches and sew a simple seam. There are several yarn tails to weave in, so a little patience with finishing will help.

Three Sizes With Room to Personalise

The pattern includes three sizes, with seven, eight or nine crown points. Choose by the wearer’s head measurement rather than age, and check your gauge carefully. Yarn stretch will make a noticeable difference to the fit.

For birthdays, an embroidered initial would be a sweet finishing touch. Contrasting yarn diamonds could suggest little jewels without adding hard embellishments.

What to Know Before Casting On

This is a soft knitted crown, so expect gentle points rather than a rigid costume accessory. A springy wool or wool-blend yarn should give the shaping more support than a very drapey yarn.

The stitch calculations have been checked, but the design has not yet been sample-knitted. The accompanying image is an illustrative mockup, so the finished texture and proportions may vary with your yarn and tension.

For a small handmade birthday accessory or a cheerful addition to the dress-up box, this is an appealing idea. And if an adult needs a matching crown for supervising the royal household, the larger size has that covered too.