Cozy Garter Stitch Hat with UNIVERSAL YARN Bamboo Bloom Handpaint: Perfect for Holiday Gifting!”
In yesterday’s post, I completed the second small project using UNIVERSAL YARN Bamboo Bloom Handpaint and tested the stockinette stitch, and reverse stockinette stitch using the artful yarn.
Today I want to test another basic stitch: the garter stitch. I’ll knit a very simple hat using this amazing stitch that can make the yarn shine.
Today’s knitting project is a garter stitch hat knitted sideways with a folded brim.
Pattern
One Size
materials
yarn
- 1 skein of UNIVERSAL YARN Bamboo Bloom Handpaint
needles
- US 7 [4.5mm] KNITTERS PRIDE DREAMZ circular needles 32” or longer
- US 7 [4.5mm] KNITTERS PRIDE DREAMZ double-pointed needles (optional for the top of the hat)
notions
- stitch markers
- tapestry needle
- spare circular needle to pick up the live stitches after removing the provisional cast on
gauge 18 stitches and 26 rows over 4” [10cm] in stockinette stitch
Notes:
- The hat is knitted back and forth, sidewise, with a knitted-in I-cord border.
- It’s finished with a three-needle bind-off.
- The crown is shaped by picking up stitches and decreasing them sharply.
abbreviations
k n knit n stitches
k2tog knit 2 stitches together.
pm place marker
slm slip marker
sl 1 slip one stitch (if not otherwise specified in the pattern, slip the stitch as if to purl)
sl1wyif – slip one stitch with the yarn in front. Keep the yarn in front of work while slipping the stitch purl wise if not otherwise specified in the pattern.
HAT
Using a scrap yarn cast on 48 stitches for a long hat, with a folded edge (or 36 stitches for a shorter hat, no fold). The number of stitches gives the height of the hat.
With the working yarn start the body of the hat.
R1 (RS): K1, sl1 wyif, k1, place marker, knit up to the last stitch, sl1 wyif.
R2 (WS): K to the marker, slip marker, sl1 wyif, k1, sl1 wyif.
Continue in this manner until the length of the work is ½” smaller than your head circumference, measure loosely.
Remove the provisional cast-on and bring all live stitches onto another circular needle.
Bind off all stitches on the wrong side of the work using the three needle bind off method and starting at the knit on I-cord edge.
Secure the last stitch, and without breaking the yarn, pick up along the top of the hat 1 stitch for each garter stitch ridge. Place a marker to mark the beginning of the round. The top of the crown is knitted in the round.
Rnd 1: Knit 2 stitches together. If an odd number of stitches, the last stitch will be knit alone.
Rnd 2: Purl all stitches (and count them!). If there are an odd number of stitches, next round start with k1 followed by k2tog.
Repeat rounds 1-2, until 8 (or less) stitches remain. Switch to double-pointed needles if required.
Break yarn and, using a tapestry needle, thread the yarn through all remaining stitches. Pull the yarn tightly to secure the stitches and weave the yarn on the wrong side.
Weave in all ends.
This will be a simple project focusing on the stitch pattern.
I chose to make a longer hat as I like folding the brim and adding extra thickness to my hat.
Garter stitch fabric to make a knitted sideways hat
The garter stitch fabric evens out the thick and thin areas without robbing the fabric of the artisanal look. It’s a quick-knit and a good social project; I can knit and talk at the same time.
I measure the hat by wrapping the I-cord edge around my head. For my size, 80 garter stitches are enough. I’m ready to remove the provisional cast-on and transfer the live stitches onto another pair of needles to bind off the body of the hat.
The finished garter stitch fabric for the body of the hat is ready for a three-needle bind-off.
After binding off, I pick up one stitch for each garter ridge, a total of 40 stitches. This allows me to decrease in knit 2 together a few rounds without caring about the odd number of stitches.
The decreased rounds go fast; in no time, the hat is ready, and the garter stitch seems perfect for this yarn. The fabric evens out more thick and thin areas, but it keeps showcasing the alternating matte and shiny areas. I like the look and the feel of the hat. The double brim will add warmth.
Finished garter stitch hat with folded brim.
Join me again tomorrow to start another small project to showcase the UNIVERSAL YARN Bamboo Bloom Handpaint yarn and prepare wonderful holiday handmade gifts.
