I’ve just finished a hat and followed the directions precisely. However, the hat is too long for me and I want to shorten it. It was knit from the bottom up and I am wondering if I can unravel the cast on edge to shorten it, rather than unravelling the top and doing the decreases all over again. It seems like it would be easier to unravel the cast on edge, but i have never done this. Is that possible? If so, how would one do that? It is a simple 2x2 ribbing pattern and I used a long tail cast on. Thanks for any help you can provide!
Well, the cast on edge won’t really unravel because of the way stitches are knit but you can cut the hat at the point you wish, pick up live sts, re-knit the ribbing and then bind off. Here’s a tried and true methodfor that. It’s a bit of work and for myself, I’d rather undo the crown of the hat, unravel and re-knit the decreases but it’s up to you.
I’d much rather undo the crown/top myself. Or even better is to just fold up the brim. Keeps your ears nice and warm that way, too!
The cast on edge is harder to undo because it won’t easily unravel. You have to pull the yarn in and out on each stitch. And cutting and grafting… Now way I’d bother with that for a hat, but it can be done I guess.