We’re finally ready to cast on! So far, we’ve decided to make a knit beanie hat for a newborn, estimating that the circumference will be around 14 inches. We’re going to make about a 3/4 to 1 inches 2x2 ribbed brim for the hat, so we need a stretchy cast-on method. There are so many different ways to cast on before knitting (a plug for crochet — the chain stitch is the only way you need to get started with crochet!), but the stretchiest cast-on method I’ve come across is Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Slip Knot Cast On. It’s worth practicing and using for ribbed knitting, it makes for a stretchy and pretty edging (and, though we won’t need it for this project, she’s also got a great stretchy bind off too, available at this link).
If you want a tighter rib, experiment with using a smaller needle size (or switching to a larger size for the body of the hat).
After casting on and knitting the knit 2x2 rib brim (a design element is deciding the length of the ribbing), then it’s time to think about what stitch(es) you want to use to create the “body” of the hat. Or maybe you just want to use the knit stitch and play with colors and striping (using the Fibonacci sequence for figuring out how many rows per stripe can make for interesting patterns). I leave the creativity up to you, but you still need to figure out about how high to make the sides of the hat. The formula is to divide the circumference (in our case here, 14 inches) by pi (3.14), which equals 4.46 inches. Again, just an estimate to get you started, the exact measurement will depend on your gauge, the stretchiness of the fabric, and the fit of the hat you want to create.
You’ll also need to experiment with when to start decreasing stitches and at what rate. You might want the beanie to have a little extra slouch rather than fit snuggly, or you might want a close-to-the-head fit. Consider how you’re going to finish off the top of the hat (A pompom? A knot?). Be creative and experiment!
In my next post, we’ll start planning a crochet hat.
