Jen Lucas

Determining Stitch Counts for Hats

Jen Lucas
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Duration:   9  mins

Description

Knitting hats will always be a favorite project for knitters of all experience levels. With countless hat patterns available, sometimes you just want to use the yarn you have on hand and knit a hat without following a set pattern. In this video, knitting expert Jen Lucas shares how to determine the correct stitch count for knitting a hat in any size.

Jen begins by examining the yarn label on a skein of worsted weight yarn. This yarn recommends a gauge of 20 stitches per 4” (10 cm) using US Size 7 (4.5 mm) needles. Jen divides 20 by 4, giving her 5 stitches per inch.

Next, Jen advises considering who the hat is for. While you might know the head sizes of your friends and family from past projects, if you’re unsure, she suggests consulting the Craft Yarn Council’s head circumference chart.

Jen demonstrates with an example of knitting a hat for her own 22” head circumference. She explains negative ease, how to adjust for different stitch patterns, especially ribbed ones, and how the yarn label’s information is just a starting point for determining the stitch count.

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