A Week of Knitted Hats! Day 1 - Basic Hat Pattern

I had fun with the "Week of Scarves" posts, so I thought I'd do the same with hats. My first hat post will be directions for a basic hat pattern. I've used this one a few times, changing a few things here and there to customize my hat. I'm working on a basic hat pattern now and I've added a couple of inches to the length so that I can have a wide rolled edge. However you decide to customize your hat, these directions will give you the basics for a correct fit.

Basic Hat Pattern

Materials: approximately 3 oz. skein of yarn

Needles: 16 circular needles or dp needles in a size that corresponds to the yarn you are using

Do the Math: Do a gauge swatch sample in stockinette stitch. Measure how many stitches you have per inch. This will be "A".

Measure how many inches around you'd like your hat to be (adults are typically around 20"-22"). Subtract 1" to 2" from this number, depending on whether you want a snug or looser fit. This will be "B".

Take "A" (nbr of stitches per inch) times "B" (your inches around minus 1-2"). This will be "C". Add or subtract a little from "C" until this number is divisible by 10. This is your new "C".

Add or subtract a little from "C" to make it divisible by 4. This is "D".

The difference between "C" and "D" is "E".

Directions: Cast on "D" stitches. Working in the round, do knit 2, purl 2 ribbing until the ribbing is desired length. If the hat is to be worn with the ribbing folded up, make the ribbing long enough to be folded (approximately 6" for adult size).

After the ribbing, work in stockinette stitch. Increase or decrease "E" so that you have "C" stitches on the needle. Continue to work in stockinette until the hat (from the cast on edge or fold of the brim) measures 5 1/2" for child, 6" for teen, 6 1/5" for women, or 7" for men.

To decrease for the top of the hat:
K8, k2tog around
K two rounds even
K7, k2tog around
K two rounds even
K6, k2tog around

Continue in this decrease pattern. When you get dow to around half of "D", decrease every round.
Last round: K2tog around. Break yarn, draw through remaining stitches.

*If your number of cast on stitches ("D") is divisible by 9, start your decreases for the top of the hat with K7, k2tog...
*If your number of cast on stitches ("D") is divisible by 8, start your decreases for the top of the hat with K6, k2tog...
*If your number of cast on stitches ("D") is divisible by 7, start your decreases for the top of the hat with K5, k2tog...
*If your number of cast on stitches ("D") is divisible by 6, start your decreases for the top of the hat with K4, k2tog...