Hi, I’m knitting a hat with 120 stitches around, based on this pattern - https://verypink.com/2011/01/13/learn-to-knit-fair-isle-baby-or-adult-cap/ - because the design is great. But I don’t like how the hat decreases and gets all bunched up. I tried decreasing in multiples of 12 (so K8, K2tog, K around 1 row, K7, K2tog, etc) which is what I’ve usually done for other hats, but it still ended up with like… flaps? When I put it on, there were these pockets of fabric at the top rather than it lying flat on the head. I’ve never knit a hat with so many stitches around so I’m not sure what to do instead. Can anyone help?
Help finding a smooth hat decrease?
Welcome to the forum!
You might try more frequent decreases like every 8sts (k6, k2tog then knit the next round) or even every 6sts (k4, k2tog then knit the next round). That should give you more of a slope on the crown.
Beautiful pattern.
Thanks!
Wouldn’t that give a steeper slope? Since it’s more decreases each round?
You’re right, it’s going to decrease faster. My mistake and brain freeze.
What you can do is stick with the decreases every 10 (k8, k2tog around) and add in 2 rounds of plain knit between decrease rounds for the first several rounds. Then you can go back to alternating a decrease round with a single plain round. This will give height. Usually this would end with k1, k2tog around followed by a round of k2tog to keep the hat from becoming pointy.
Here’s a tutorial to make a flat hat top:
It will look a little different to decreasing with spokes of decreases as in the pattern.
By the way, I noticed that the hat sample shown on the pattern page is a little wavy on the top. Is that what yours looks like too?