The Free Pattern for the Absolute Beginner Chunky Knit Hat comes with full instructions for child and adult sizes as well as a complete step-by-step video tutorial. Perfect winter accessory and easy enough for a total beginner knitter.
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I’m always looking for the perfect and easy hat pattern. One that I don’t have to concentrate too much with but at the end will looks GREAT. It’s even better if the pattern calls for super bulky or jumbo yarn 🙂 When I created this design, there was a fantastic new yarn out called Collage that I wanted to share. I figured I should kill two birds with one stone and design a simple hat using this jumbo weight yarn. Once I chose the yarn, I had to write up the pattern. As you know, that is part of my job here at MarlyBird.com 😉 I wanted the pattern to come in several sizes and I also wanted to make sure that I write the pattern in such a way that, again, true beginner knitters would be able to understand. So, the free pattern isn’t written in a standard format (like most all my other patterns) but it is written in a way that I have found beginners really understand.
Anyway, I wrote the pattern, made the sample, and then I did a step-by-step video tutorial, because what could be more help to a true beginner than a video? By the way, have you subscribed to my YouTube Channel yet?
So there you have it, now you know how this pattern came to be part of the many free patterns offered here at MarlyBird.com. I hope you find the pattern easy, the video helpful, and the finished product to your liking. Please share with me the hats you make with this pattern, as I would love to see them. Tag me on social media #MarlyBird.
Queue it up and Like the Pattern on Ravelry
Free Beginner Preemie Hat Pattern Materials
- RED HEART® Collage™: 2 balls 9981 Dollhouse
- Knitting Needles: 9 mm [US 13] (suggest using a 24 inch circular needles as straight needles to accommodate the number of stitches)
- Bent Tip Yarn needle
- Good pair of scissors
- Susan Bates Pom Pom Maker
- Optional: Aunt Lydia’s Cotton Thread
Free Absolute Beginner Chunky Knit Hat Gauge
GAUGE is the measurement of the stitches and rows after you knit them. Getting gauge means that you are getting the same numbers per inch as written in the pattern.
Collage yarn: 1.75 sts and 4 rows per inch (per 2.54 cm) in garter stitch. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.
It is important that you get gauge if your hat is to fit the size you are making.
Free Absolute Beginner Chunky Knit Hat Sizes
Here is a handy chart to help you choose the size you want to make. In the pattern the sizes are written as toddler (kids, adult S, adult M/L) so be sure to follow the numbers for the size you are making.
To Fit Size Toddler Kids Adult Small Adult Medium/Large Finished Head Circumference Inches 18.5 20 22 24 Finished Head Circumference cm 47 51 53.5 58.5
Pattern Notes
- The hat is made flat then seamed up to close
- When knitting every row, that is called garter stitch
- When counting rows of garter stitch, it takes 2 rows to create each ridge
- Be sure to weave in tails securely at the end of the project
- Use cotton thread to seam the top of the hat closed and for securing the pom pom to the top of the hat
Abbreviations
Special Techniques Videos for Reference
- Marly and Marly’s Mom Learn to Knit Videos
- Long Tail Cast on
- Knitted Cast on
- Knit Stitch English Style
- Knit Stitch Continental Style
- Clover Pom Pom Maker (see note in variations section)
Free Absolute Beginner Chunky Knit Hat Pattern
Body of hat
Cast on 33 (35, 38, 42) stitches.
BEGINNER TIP: there are many different cast on methods for knitting. I recommend to do a long tail cast on. It is a wonderful cast on that transitions beautifully to the garter stitch (knitting every row) and it is stretchy. If you need a more visual representation of the long tail cast on, take a look at the video I did for the hat.
Row 1: Knit all the stitches.
BEGINNER TIP: when starting the next row, be sure that you do NOT pull up the stitch from the row below in an attempt to tighten the last stitch. Doing so will make it look like you have two stitches. It is best to make sure you see the purl bump of the stitch you are about to work into. If you need a more visual representation of what I mean, take a look at this video I did for the Easy and Quick Absolute Beginner Chunky Scarf.
Row 2: Knit all the stitches.
Continue to repeat row 2 until the body of the hat measures 6.5 (7.5, 8.5, 9.5) inches [16.5 (19, 21.6, 24.1) cm] ending after a wrong side row.
Finishing
All the stitches are stitched and it is time to secure them.
- Cut the yarn leaving a length that is 3 times the height of the hat.
- Thread the tail onto a bent tip tapestry needle.
- Working into each stitch individually, put the tapestry needle into the stitch as if you were going to knit it, then pull the yarn through that stitch.
- Let the stitch fall off the needle.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 until all stitches have yarn thread through them.
- Pull the tail like a draw string really tight.
- On the wrong side of the hat, weave in the tail by drawing through all the stitches again in a figure 8 manner to insure the top of the hat will not come undone.
- Make sure the tail is positioned at the open seam of the hat and proceed to the seaming portion.
Seaming
The fabric of the hat you have made is called garter stitch. You get garter stitch by knitting every row (you can also get it if you were to purl every row). To seam garter stitch with an invisible seam, you simply follow these instructions:
- Align the edges that need to be sewn together, with the right side of the fabric facing out.
- Thread your bent tip tapestry needle with the tail of yarn remaining from the top of your hat.
- Starting at the top of the hat, just under where you pulled the top like a drawstring, insert your needle under the horizontal bar between the first and the second stitch on the right edge and pull the yarn through.
- Insert the needle under the corresponding bar on the left edge and pull the yarn through.
Free Absolute Beginner Chunky Knit Hat Video
As I mentioned earlier, I’ve found that videos help a lot when it comes to understanding what you need to do. So, I’ve created a quick video demonstrating how to make this chunky hat.
Love this hat and your video is excellent …..You are great at explaining each step and I will be following your video’s.
I only have #6 yarn, How do I adjust for an adult small hat?
Thank you so much for sharing this pattern. I am on my 4th hat and added two pompoms on a couple. Your video really helped me take and finish the yarn off the needle in a way that I never tried before. I love it.
Kim
Absolute Beginner Chunky Knit Hat-I could never figure out how to download the ravalry pattern today for your 24 Days of Quickies. I feel very frustrated. Please help me figure out what instructions I am missing for the next time. It was not free today, and I found no code anywhere. Your page kept on freezing as well. I tried for over an hour to try to find the free version, but just got a frozen page.