Free Patterns, Knitting, Projects

Chunky Knit Fall Hat – Open Lace Design (Free Pattern)

So I went to our public library this weekend and found they have 300 million knitting and crochet books.  Okay, maybe not 300 million, but close.  Coming from suburbia where I was lucky to find 10 knitting books at my local library (no joke), this was heaven.

I checked out a few books and promptly went to buy more yarn.

I started knitting a chunky sweater, but when that failed, I ripped it out and went back to what I know: knitting hats.

There’s something about knitting on a Sunday afternoon that just feels right.  So homey, so relaxing – a great way to start a new week.  I want to apologize in advance for the lack of good pictures, but, my dear blog reader, I will share with you because I know you will not judge.  Perhaps when I’m home again, I can bribe my sister to model, but I couldn’t wait share with you so here it is:

Slouchy Knit Hat/ Beret for Fall

We’ve been having colder weather here the past week in Ohio and I thought it was only fitting to create a slouchy/ chunky/ knit beret.  I’m not sure if I had seen a hat like this recently or it was only a design that existed in my mind, but I worked a simple lace pattern to create this hat.  I wanted a hat that was open and not really a wear-out-in-the-freezing-cold-hat, but more of a look-at-me-i’m-cute fall hat.

I would also caution that the instructions that follow provide more of a framework for knitting this hat rather than step-by-step instructions.  If you’re an advanced beginner knitter and aren’t afraid to experiment, you’ll be fine.  If you’re a newbie knitter and like to follow instruction verbatim, try it – you might surprise yourself!

Knit Fall Hat Pattern

Materials

Size 17  (12.75mm) US knitting needles

1 Skein Bernat Roving (I used the “Bark” color)  or any bulky weight yarn.

Directions

CO 32

Rows 1 – 5: Work K2, P2 ribbing. (32 stitches)

This next part requires you to get creative, but you can do it.  Read the directions below so you know what you’ll have to do.

For the next row (Row 6), you want to increase a couple stitches so your hat is a little slouchy.  There’s no rhyme or reason to my increasing, I just worked increased until I went from 32 to 38 stitches.  To make increases, randomly work *K1, YO, K1* (instead of K1, Yo, SKK) every so often in Row 1.  This is you chance to be creative – mix it up and bit and experiment!

Row 6 (RS): *K1, YO, SSK*. Last two stitches – K2.(Remember to randomly increase so you end up with 38 stitches).

Row 7 (WS): *P1, Yo, P2Tog*.  Last two stitches – P2.  (38 stitches)

Repeat Rows 6 and 7 until hat measures 7 inches from beginning, ending with a purl/ WS Row (Row 7).

It’s time to get creative again for the decreases.  Don’t worry – you can do it!

Next Row: K1, *SSK, YO, SSK*

Next Row: P1, *P2Tog, Yo, P2Tog*

Repeat Rows ^ twice more.

Final Decrease Row: *SSK, SSK, YO, SSK, SSK*

Final Decrease Row: *P2Tog, Yo, P2Tog*

Repeat 2 Final Decrease Rows until hat measures 9 inches from beginning and only a few (7-8) stitches remain.

Cut yarn.  Weave through remaining stitches on needle.  Sew up side seam of hat.

And there you have it – your semi-creative knit slouchy hat that’s perfect for winter!

chunky knit open fall hat

chunky knit open fall hat free pattern

20 Comments

  • Angie S

    September 23, 2011

    I don’t know how to knit, just learning crochet, is this pattern similar to the Rachael hat? looks kind of similar.
    Thanks
    Angie

  • k. Glover

    September 26, 2011

    I am trying to knit this hat and am having a problem. Could you please help? After row 6 inceases are made I keep ending up with 39 sts instead of 38. What am I doing wrong?

  • JJCrochet

    September 28, 2011

    Hi Angie!

    This hat is kinda similar to the Rachel hat – it’s just the knitted version! This chunky fall hat is a bit slouchier than Rachael who’s made to be tighter and more of a cloche-style but yes – the two hats are very similar. One is knit, the other crocheted, but they produce similar looking hats. Nice catch! Have you tried making either?

  • JJCrochet

    September 28, 2011

    Hi there! I’m so glad you’re knitting this hat – I think you’ll love it as it’s one of my new favorite designs. I’m not sure why you’re ending up with that extra stitch after increasing, but my suggestion would be to work one less increase in the row. (Or, if that doesn’t work, just k2tog when you come down to the last 2 stitches so you end up with 38). You need an even number of stitches to work the lace repeat, so as long as you end up with 38 or even 40 stitches, you should be good! Let me know if that works and how your hat turns out – have fun!

  • Angie S

    September 29, 2011

    Hi Jayna I have been trying to make the crocheted version, learning a little each time. Trying to make them up for Christmas gifts. Thanks for getting back to me!

  • Michaela W

    October 18, 2011

    This hat is SUPER cute! The only problem is my highest size needles are a 10. Do you have a recommended amount of stitches I should be casting on? I’m pretty new to knitting, so I’m not sure how to calculate the difference between a size 17 and a size 10. Thanks!

  • JJCrochet

    October 18, 2011

    Hi Michaela – Welcome to the world of knitting! I’m not sure how many stitches you’d need to cast on using a size 10 needle, but if I had to guess I’d say it’d be somewhere around 55? You want to cast on as many stitches n order to make a hat that’s 20 inches wide (with some stretch). I’m not sure how many stitches that’d be, so my suggestion would be to knit a gauge swatch of maybe 10 stitches for 4 rows then see how big a rectangle those 10 stitches create. Once you know that, you can calculate how many you’d need to cast on to create a 20 inch hat. Let me know if that makes sense! If not, I can pull out my trusty size 10’s and get you an accurate number of stitches to cast on. 🙂 Good luck!

    Jayna

  • Alli

    December 15, 2011

    Hi Jayna,

    Love this hat! I was a bit experimental and made one with a bigger needle size and just ended up winging it. I’m wanting to make another but follow your pattern more closely and I just had one quick question… What do you do with the extra two stitches at the end of each 38 stitch row (*K1, YO, SSK* and *P1, Yo, P2Tog* are multiples of 3, so I keep ending up with two stictches after knitting/purling together to have 36 stitches on my working needle. then i either knit both of them or purl both of them depending on what row i’m working with. Am I doing something wrong?

    Thanks for your help!

    Best,
    Alli

  • JJCrochet

    December 16, 2011

    Hi Alli – I’m glad you’re knitting this hat. It’s certainly for the creative people who aren’t afraid to experiment a bit. If you end up with two extra stitches at the end of each row, I’d say continue doing what you’re doing so you either purl or knit them depending on the row you’re working on. There really is no wrong or right way to make this hat – as long as it looks fine, you’re good! Sorry the instructions aren’t as complete as my other patterns, but sometimes it’s fun to just experiment. Let me know how things turn out!

  • Kayla

    January 9, 2012

    Hi Jayna,

    Just wondering if I should still be increasing using the k1 yo k1 after that 1st row? I did it in row 8 and the pattern doesn’t seem to be showing (there are holes in random places). Thanks

  • Kirsten Gruber

    February 3, 2012

    Hi! I found your blog through Ravelry when I clicked on the pattern link :)..I’ve been knitting for about a year now and LOVE it! This pattern looks beautiful and I look forward to trying it out, especially with the chunky yarn! I made one similar with double pointed needles but in my opinion they are a hassle so I think the straight needles will be much easier :).

    Also, that is awesome that you’re from Ohio! I’m from Cincinnati!

  • Lyne

    April 7, 2012

    Hiya. Love the hat, but just two wee things (I’m anal). It makes more sense to do the increases on the last of the rib rows, before you start the pattern. And you need to increase SEVEN stitches on that row, because you need 39 stitches in order for the pattern to work.

    Apart from that, WOW!! The finished product is just fantastic 🙂

  • Kay

    December 8, 2012

    When working the increases where do you generally put them? I’m new to knitting and attempted this last night but ended up doing my own thing after thinking i was doing the k1, yo, ssk pattern wrong. Any advice or good Internet resources for this sequence? Thanks! I’ve made your chunky crochet hat so many times I have the pattern memorized! Would love to see more knit hat patterns on this size needle from you– I can crochet without patterns but I’m not nearly there yet with knitting.

  • Vivian Rippy

    January 23, 2013

    I just finished this hat using Lion Brand Wool Ease. I started another one for my 10 year old granddaughter in pink and cream. I am using Lion Brand Baby’s First in pink and Vanna’s Choice for the cream. The Baby’s First is a bulky yarn (5) and I added the cream just to make it fun!! I love both hats and plan to make more!! While I was out yarn shopping, I ran into a woman who was wearing this hat and she told me where to find the pattern!! Thanks@!

  • DEBI

    February 23, 2013

    I am starting this hat with a size 15 circular and my gauge is 2 stitches/inch on my gauge swatch. I see you did 17 needle for a medium size hat and CO 32 stitches which is about a 1.5 st/in. (30sts). I need to do a LARGE size hat, so I am casting on 42 stitches using the size 15s for a 22 inch hat, 2 less than my gauge because this yarn I am using, lion brand wool-ease stretches a lot from previous hats I have done. We will see if I am correct in my calculations.. I am relatively new to knitting and figuring out how to reconfigure a pattern to different size needles is my challenge. So we will see if my calculations work. TBC

  • JJCrochet

    February 27, 2013

    Your calculations seem like they’d make sense to me, Debi. Good luck with the edited pattern – would love to hear how it turns out!

  • Elyse

    August 11, 2013

    I’m going to make this hat for my sister, and I was wondering, what was the circumference of the hat you made? And what was your gauge? Thanks! (:

  • JJCrochet

    August 11, 2013

    Not sure about the exact circumference, but if it fit my head, I’m guessing around 21 inches with stretch. Should fit most adult heads. Nor sure about the gauge, either! If I knit the hat again, I’ll be sure to let you know.

  • Elyse

    August 12, 2013

    Alrighty, thanks! (:

  • Linda A

    November 13, 2015

    Love this pattern!
    Why couldn’t you make a scarf to match by just making it longer and skipping the increases?
    Linda A

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