This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of JOANN. All opinions are 100% mine.
Learn how to knit a simple hat using beautiful thick and thin yarn. This thick and thin knit hat is a free pattern that’s perfect for beginners!
You guys know that I love to crochet, but I also love to knit! I haven’t shared as many knit projects here in the past because I have been more comfortable with crochet, but I think there will be more knit patterns and projects in the future. Today, I’m really excited to share a super simple pattern for a cute thick and thin knit hat that’s perfect for beginning knitters!
Recently I was strolling through the yarn aisle at JOANN, and I came across this gorgeous thick and thin yarn. It pretty much jumped right into my cart, and of course, I definitely made use of the coupons in my JOANN app. Have you ever worked with a thick and thin yarn before? It’s a type of yarn that does not have a consistent thickness. It goes from very thin to very thick, which can add a really fun textured element to your crocheted or knit fabric. I have tried thick and thin yarn with crochet in the past, and I just didn’t like the results as much as when it was knit, so I knew I wanted to turn this pretty yarn into a fun knit hat.
I made a little video of me knitting the hat and uploaded it to the new JOANN app (available on iOS and Android). Do you guys have the new app on your phone yet? It still has great coupons and the ability to make shopping lists, but probably the coolest new feature is the ability to add video projects. You edit down your footage and even add music or filters right in the app!
It’s pretty fun. And even if you don’t want to make your own video, you can browse through lots of fun craft videos and project ideas in the app as well. You can check out my little video below.
Okay, on to the pattern! Because I’m still learning as a knitter, I decided to keep things really simple with this hat. It is knit from the bottom up in rows and uses only very basic knit stitches, which makes it perfect for the beginning knitter. Ready to knit your own cute thick and thin hat?
Simple Thick and Thin Knit Hat Supplies:
- 92 yds Buttercream Collection Thick & Thin Yarn in Stormcloud (only available at JOANN)
- Size 15 (10.00 mm) Knitting Needles
- Finishing Needle
- Scissors
- Grosgrain Ribbon
- Sewing Needle and Coordinating Thread
Simple Thick and Thin Knit Hat Pattern
This pattern uses the following stitches and techniques:
- Long Tail Cast On (I chose the long tail cast on because it gives the edge of your hat a more stretchy edge.)
- Knit Stitch
- Purl Stitch
- Knit/Purl Two Together (This decrease is worked just like a regular knit or purl stitch except you work two loops together at once.)
- Bind Off
Cast on 56 stitches using the long tail cast on. 
Row 1: Turn work. Knit 2 stitches, Purl 2 stitches, repeat this pattern across the row.
Rows 2- 7: Repeat Row 1. Alternating 2 knit and 2 purl stitches for the first 7 rows creates a ribbed edge.
Row 8: Turn work. Purl entire row.
Row 9: Turn work. Knit entire row.
Rows 10-22: Repeat rows 8 & 9, ending with a Purl row.
The following rows will be decrease rows that will narrow down the crown of the hat.
Row 23: Turn work. Knit 6 stitches, Knit 2 together (see image below), repeat across row.
Row 24: Turn work. Purl 5 stitches, Purl 2 together, repeat across row.
Row 25: Turn work. Knit 4 stitches, Knit 2 together, repeat across row.
Row 26: Turn work. Purl 3 stitches, Purl 2 together, repeat across row.
Row 27: Turn work. Knit 2 stitches, Knit 2 together, repeat across row.
Row 28: Turn work. Purl 1 stich, Purl 2 together, repeat across row.
Row 29: Turn work. Knit 2 together 4 times.
Bind off, leaving a long tail to sew the hat closed.
Thread the long tail onto your finishing needle, and stitch through the four stitches of the final row to close the top of the hat. Then, line up the edges of the hat and sew it closed.
After finishing the seam, weave in the end a bit, and snip off the excess yarn. Your hat is all done!
Isn’t the texture of that thick and thin yarn amazing?? I love it! I finished off my had with a little ribbon tag sewn onto the brim. To add your own ribbon tag, you only need to cut a piece of ribbon about three inches long. Wrap the ribbon around the edge of the hat’s brim folding under the edges of the ribbon. Then, use a ribbon and thread to sew the ribbon onto the brim.
And that’s it! Wear that cute new hat with pride. 🙂
What do you think? Are you a knitter? A crocheter interested in knitting? Will you give this little thick and thin hat a try? If you do, I would love to see it! You can share photos to my facebook page or tag me on instagram (@persialou). I would love to see your work!
Comments + Project Love
Andy says
Hi there! This is in no way meant to be offensive or anything, just a little observation I’ve noticed in your video tutorial. The way you make your knit stitches is “standard” in that you insert your needle from left to right through the stitch, wrapping the yarn counterclockwise. The way you purl though, is not standard, in that you wrap the yarn clockwise, known as the “eastern” method. There’s nothing wrong with purling that way, but because the yarn is wrapped counterclockwise, it makes it harder to do a “standard” knit stitch, because the loop on the needle is facing the wrong way. The stitch would become twisted. I recommend learning the combination knitting style. It’s a unique knitting style in that you can keep purling the “eastern” method, which I assume is much easier for you, but it prevents any twisted stitches and many people find it much easier to knit that way. That being said, I love the finished hat you made and the yarn you used!
Alexis says
Thanks for the insight, Andy!
Kat says
Hi Alexis!
I am having a problem….Are you sure you cast on 56 stitches? I just made this hat and it turned out WAY too big! I am a beginning knitter, so I am going to take the hat apart (sigh) and start with like 46 stitches. (It was THAT big!) I am really surprised, because I have a big head. Did I do something wrong?
Kat says
Hi Alexis….its Kat again! So, I unraveled the 56 stitch hat and remade it last night with 46 stitches. I must be doing something wrong because even the 46 stitch hat was too big. I am seriously thinking about unraveling it again and making it with like 36 stitches. Maybe it is the yarn….because after I unraveled it the first time, the thick part of the yarn was thicker from me pulling on it. : ( If I made this hat with a different yarn, a bulky 5 or 6, how many stitches would I cast on? Is there a formula for how many stitches you cast equals inches in hat diameter? Sorry I am such a dork….and thanks for your help. : )
Joni J says
I made this pattern and ended up using 40 stitches because you are right, 56 stitches is waaayyy to big. It is a good idea to knit a swatch especially if you are making a large project like a sweater. This pattern does not have a gauge but most do. So knitting a swatch is how you check your gauge. Google it and you will find a much better explanation than I can give. But your gauge will give you a stitch count of how many stitches and rows you have per inch with your chosen yarn and needle size and so you can decide how many stitches to use. Always check your gauge. I didn’t when I was a beginner and it would have saved me a lot of headaches if I had!
Janine K Rands says
HI. I stopped by a Joann’s this afternoon and saw this Thick & Thin yarn on a clearance rack & then looked for patterns, and came across your hat. Always wanting a new hat and I love to knit with bulky yarn for a quick result, I thought this would be easy. I decided to start the cast-on and ribbing with size 13. After 3 rows, it looked way to big so slipped it off the needles and tried it on – and saw that it would slip over my eyes and happily I only had to take out the 3 rows.. I decided on 50 st, changing the rib to K1, P1 which tightens it. I’ll let you know in a couple days after finishing it.
Nancy Pankhurst says
I decided to knit this in the round b/c I didn’t want a seam. I decreased the pattern by 4 stitches (CO 52 instead of 56) It still turned out too big. Frogging it now and will re-do with 48 stitches. Quick and easy enough to re-do in one evening.
This project was a request from my brother for his girlfriend. He chose Malabrigo Rasta yarn instead of the Thick and Thin as suggested. Don’t get as a texture but still liking it.
ann wilschke says
Any idea how many stitches to cast on for a little girl? Trying to make it for a 5 year old. I would appreciate any advice!
Joni J says
I would maybe try 25 or 30, I have a big head and used 40 stitches on 15 needles
Cece says
Ladies hat: used needle size 13 and cast on 48