Hat Size

#1

Hi!

Did I read on here somewhere that to figure the size hat to make is to simply measure your head (where the brim would sit) and then subtract 5 inches?

If I have it figured correctly, my head is about 23 inches, so subtracting 5 inches leaves 18 inches. Then if I’m using yarn that is 18 stiches to 4 inches, then I would need to cast on 81 stiches?

And lastly, does needle size matter? The yarn is 18 stiches to 4 inches on sz 8, but if I use size 13, is that huge difference?

Thanks!
Brenda

#2

Here is a great site for figuring out how to make a hat to fit your head with your yarn and needles.

#3

Using a size 13 instead of a size 8 will make a pretty big difference, the size 13 will make a larger, looser stitch (and thus a larger, looser fabric) compared to knitting on size 8s. It’s not that you CAN’T use size 13s to make a hat, you’ll just have to adjust the pattern that Ingrid posted above with what you get in stitches per inch when knitting a swatch with the size 13 needles.