Hi Im new to knitting. I actually started in September and finished about two scarves. I was hoping to do a beanie next but I cant find just a basic pattern online. So I tired just on my own and think I have just a basic idea of what Im supposed to do but cant seem to finish it off and make it look like a beanie. Someone please help. I just need a simple pattern. This is what Ive done so far please let me know if Im on the right path what I need to do or if you have any suggestions can you please let me know? Using circle circular needles I did 80 knit stitches all around. Then 8 knit knit 2 together. This beanie is for an adult male.
Thanks
Did you knit it in the round so it’s seamless? If so it sounds like you’re on the right track. You’ll need double pointed needles, two circulars or one long circular (magic loop) for the top after it’s too small to go on the 16in you used for the hat body.
80 is a good size for an adult. How far you knit before decreasing is dependent somewhat on the pattern. If you are folding the brim then you need to go about 2-3 inches further. If not then about the size of your hand or 7-8" seems to be about right I think.
I always put a row of plain knit between the decrease rows for a bit so it’s a rounded top. If you like the gathered top then knit further 8-9" and decrease every round.
Here’s a few patterns.
http://www.hjsstudio.com/hat.html
http://www.mielkesfarm.com/bsic_hat.htm
You’re on the right track. How long did you knit over your 80 stitches before you did the first decrease round? I usually like to put some ribbing along the bottom, but if you didn’t you will get a rolled edge hat which is a certain style. You want to have about 5-6 inches from the edge (if it rolls you want to measure from where it stops curling) to where you begin your first decrease. If you did ribbing and intend to have a cuff measure from where it turns up.
I usually work in multiples of 6 and put 6 decreases on each round that I decrease (others use different numbers), but you have a multiple of 10 or 8. What you did works. Knit 8, knit 2 together and repeat that sequence 8 times around. That gives you 8 decreases on a round. When you are making a hat without a pattern you may want to experiment a little with what works best. Many hats put one round with no decreases between each decrease round, but there is nothing that says you have to. You can put 2 or more even rounds between decreases, or none between if you want. And you don’t have to have the same number of rounds between decreases each time, you can play it by ear. Each thing you do gives a different effect. If you put more rounds between decrease rounds it will make a longer hat. They make those real long stocking caps that hang way down and can even serve as a hat and a scarf (long hat wrapped around neck) by decreasing and then working 10 rounds even or whatever before the next decrease.
You can decrease randomly if you want (any way you do it will make some sort of hat), but the common approach is to do like so: if your first decrease round is knit 8, knit 2 together, then the next decrease round is knit 7, knit 2 together. Then your even row/s (or not) and then the next decrease round is knit 6, knit 2 together. And you keep putting one less stitch between the decreases so that the decreases are in a curved line at the top of the hat.
Did you use 2 circular needles or one about 16" long? If you have 2 you can work clear to the top of the hat, but if you used only 1 16" you will have to move to 2 circulars or dpns or magic loop (on a longer, flexible circular) when your stitches no long stretch around the needle.
Keep doing the decreases until you have knit 2 togethers right next to each other all the way around. If you think you need fewer stitches before you end you can decrease some more if you want. When you have a number of stitches that you think are right for ending your hat clip a generous tail and thread it through a tapestry needle (or use a crochet hook if you’d like) and work the yarn through the center of the last loops. Pull the tail snug, and take the tail to the inside and work it in.
Doing hats without patterns is a lot of fun. Just play around and try different things and see what happens. Your first attempts may make unexpected results but you will learn with each hat and have an idea of what to try the next time. Have fun.