How to Make Basic Bulky Knit Hat in Rows AND Rounds Free Knitting Pattern by Kristin Omdahl

How to Make Basic Bulky Knit Hat in Rows AND Rounds Free Pattern by Kristin Omdahl

I designed this fast and easy beginner knit hat pattern many years ago using chunky weight yarn. Recently I played around with my dk weight yarn, Be So Baby Yarn, and tripled it to get the right gauge to recreate this pattern!

Video Tutorial for Basic Bulky Knit Hat Pattern

What beginning knitters love most about this pattern is that it is knit in ROWS, and has the option of being knit in rounds, too. As a beginner, it can be very intimidating working in the round. That’s why I designed this hat in rows originally but gave the optional instructions in rounds, too! In the beginning of this knit hat tutorial video, I will show you how to make this quick, simple and wonderful hat in rows. After so many years knitting, I also know that knitting in the round isn’t nearly as scary as it sounds. So if you continue to the end of the video, I will show you how to make the SAME hat in rounds as well.

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As a teacher, I think it is important to teach in steps. Once you get the foundation of these stitches and yarn and develop your confidence in them in rows, it will be easy to add rounds to your repertoire of skills.

Please send me your pics! I want to see your Bulky Knit Hats, in rows OR rounds!!!

xoxo, Kristin

What is so interesting to me about tripling yarn for a project is that you can make so many choices about which colors to combine in the 3 strands to create magnificent color work within an otherwise simple project. If you gradually change the color over several rows/rounds, one strand at a time, you can create gradient color changes like self striping yarn1 Only better, because YOU get to choose the colors! Be So Baby Yarn comes in 28 gorgeous colors and the options for making a gradient color change hat are limitless! You can watch a video on this gradient color changing technique here:

Another amazing option you have when tripling yarn is the ability to use Navaho Knitting or Chain Plying technique to use 3 strands of one color of yarn all from the same ball of yarn! You can watch a video on this technique here:

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Bulky Knit Hat In Rows or Rounds Free Pattern

Materials:

  • 600 yds #3 dk weight yarn, held tripled

  • US13 (9mm) 16″ circular knitting needles

  • Yarn needle

  • Scissors

Best #5 Bulky-Weight Yarns for Knitting and Crochet

Gauge: 8 sts / 16 rows/rounds = 4 in (10cm) in pattern

Finished size: 22 in (56cm) circumference hat

Stitch Guide: See knit glossary for knit (k), purl (p), cast on (CO), and knit 2 together (k2tog).

In rows Instructions for Basic Bulky Knit Hat Pattern:

Note: Yarn is held tripled throughout this project.

CO 44 sts with color 3 strands of color A.

Row 1: *K1, p1. Rep from * across. — 44 sts
Rows 2 – 8: Rep row 1.

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Rows 9 – 16: With 2 strands of color A and 1 strand of color B, rep row 1.

Rows 17 – 24: With 1 strand of color A and 2 strands of color B, rep row 1.

Rows 25 – 32: With 3 strands of color A, rep row 1.

Row 33: *K2tog across. — 22 sts

Row 34: Purl across.

Row 35: *K2tog across. — 11 sts

Next row: *pass the 2nd to last st up and over the last st and off the needles. Rep until only 1 st remains. Fasten off, leaving long tail for sewing up seam.

Assembly:

Sew up side of hat. Weave in loose ends.

In the Round Instructions for Basic Bulky Knit Hat Pattern:

Note: Yarn is held tripled throughout this project.

With 3 strands of color A, CO 44 sts, join in a ring, being careful not to twist.

Rounds 1 – 8: *K1, p1. Rep from * around.

Rounds 9 – 16: With 2 strands of color A and 1 strand of color B, rep round 1.

Rounds 17 – 24: With 1 strand of color A and 2 strands of color B, rep round 1.

Rounds 25 – 32: With 3 strands of color A, rep round 1.

Round 33: *K2tog around. — 22 sts

Round 34: Knit around.

Switch to DPNS to continue in the round.

Round 35:: *K2tog around. — 11 sts

Round 36: *Pass the 2nd to last st up and over the last st and off the needles. Rep until only 1 st remains. Fasten off. Weave in loose ends.

8 thoughts on “How to Make Basic Bulky Knit Hat in Rows AND Rounds Free Knitting Pattern by Kristin Omdahl

  1. Caitlyn says:

    Thankyou so much for posting this pattern, I have been looking for a chunky beanie pattern to make for a friend. I used rows and mattress stitched it together and it turned out great.

  2. Gloria says:

    I have a question about the pattern in the round. Do I start decreasing at 8″ or go to round 32 as written in the pattern? I am at 8″ after completing round 24.
    So far the hat is looking great.
    Thanks!

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