Increasing Evenly--Slouchy Hat

#1

Hello, all! My first post!!

I’m relatively new…and have only just learned to increase using M1.

The instructions on my pattern say “Work in k1/p1 ribbing for 2”, increasing evenly around row to 120 sts on the last round." I found a calculator that helps with finding the correct “formula” to increase evenly…it says I should “k4 m1 k1 20 times.” Does this sound correct??

If so…I think I know what to do!! I’m afraid of messing it up though…

The next part says “Change to larger needle and work in st st until total length is 8”. Begin decreases. Change to double points when needed" That part is extremely confusing…I’m not sure what it means by “changing” to other needles…and working in st st…Perhaps I’m a bit in over my head…I have a class that I attend but it’s not til Thurs. and I was really hoping to work on this!! Any help is appreciated!

Here’s a link to the pattern!

#2

Welcome to KH. Thanks so much for the pattern link, it helps a lot. I think you’re good on when to increase but my brain is heat mushed tonight and I won’t even try the math. As for the needle sizes - Rib is looser than plain stockinette and if you did the rib on the larger needles it would be too loose and the hat would want to fall down over your face. To change to the larger needles just start knitting with them after your increase round. By the time you’re all the way around the stitches will all be on the larger needles.

#3

that rate of increase sounds right… it means for every 5 stitches you already have, you’ll add 1 more. so 100 stitches divided by 5 is 20. 100+20=120, which is what they want you to start with after the ribbing. you could also make it easier on yourself and do something like knit 5/make 1, repeat, or k 1/m 1/k 4, etc but that’s up to you. what they’re really after is a fairly even increase so there are no weird bumps/lumps, and 120 stitches total at the end of that round.

St st is stockinette stitch, or all knits when you’re working in-the-round. (if you were knitting flat, you’d knit one side, purl the other side). it gives you that familiar smooth fabric.

you’ll work on the circular needle as long as possible, but there will come a point at the top when you’re decreasing, where you don’t have enough stitches to justify the length of the cable. instead of stretching out your stitches, you switch to using double-pointed needles. your other option is to use 2 circulars or the magic loop method, but those can be tricky for a beginner. double-pointed is much more accessible.

it sounds like you’re on the right track, and asking some good questions, so a big head-start by thursday is completely do-able. don’t hesitate to ask ask ask here, and check out the technique videos amy has done.

#4

Thanks to you both!!! Makes me feel better to have someone tell me I’m on the right track. Still learning to read a pattern, and this one is relatively simple… But I’m so afraid of messing it up and having to start over!!

As they say in my class… It’s just yarn!!! (Although sometimes it feels a bit more personal than that…)

And from what I understand, I won’t have to use double point until I’m towards the end? Thank you :slight_smile:

#5

Correct you won’t need to use dpns (double pointed needles) until the end. If like to suggest that on your final row of stockinette before you start your decreasing put in a lifeline. This way if you have trouble with your decreases, using the dpns etc you will know you haven’t lost all of your work on the body of the hat. Leave the lifeline in until completely done with your hat. Lifelines are a sanity saver for me. You can see how to use lifelines here [Lifelines.](http://www.knittinghelp.com/video/play/using-a-lifeline http://) Something I do with my lifelines that I haven’t seen in videos is I make the lifeline tails long enough so they will easily meet and tie the end together. When I haven’t done that I’ve accidentally pulled out a lifeline that I later wish I had. On circular knitting like this hat the life line will naturally have the ends meet. In that case I still tie together but I also make sure to have it longer so there is room for the knitting to stretch.