I am currently knitting my second hat. I’m new to knitting. I found a pattern online through Ravlery Its called the Simple Pleasures hat by Purl Soho. I’m not using the same yarn Purl Soho used. I’m using Patons North America Wool. I decided to use the same yarn another Ravlery user used as well as circular needles size US 7-4.5mm and US 8-5.0 (Both of mine are 16in in length). I just started my ribbing K2P2 using the US 7-4.5mm circular needle and I have knitted my way to the 3rd row. As I look at the Ravlery members ribbing my ribbing looks way smaller that hers. I cant figure out what I’m doing wrong, or if I’m doing anything wrong at all. Should I just keep going and see how it turns out in the end? The first hat I made was small and could not fit an adult head which is what I was making it for. I don’t want this to happen again. I would like to knit it right this time. It just looks like that opening to my hat is going to be way too small. Would someone give me some advice please I’d really appreciate it! Thank You!
Hi and welcome to KH. What you need to do is look in the free videos section here and watch the one about doing a gauge swatch. You are probably knitting much tighter than the pattern calls for. Do a gauge swatch with the larger needles and find out whether your stitches per inch is different from what the pattern calls for. You are probably getting more stitches per inch which is making your hat smaller. Suggested needle sizes are just suggestions. Use the size you need to get gauge. HTH
Thank you! I will definitely check the gauge section out.