Chunky Knit Hat: A Quick Hat in Super Bulky Yarn
A fast chunky hat knitted in the round in super bulky yarn, with a ribbed brim, a six-section crown and an optional large pom-pom, in three sizes.
Tutorial at a glance
Materials
- Super bulky weight (6) yarn
- US 13 (9 mm) 16-inch circular needle
- US 13 (9 mm) double-pointed needles
- US 11 (8 mm) 16-inch circular needle
- 1 stitch marker
- Large-eyed tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Tape measure
A chunky knit hat in super bulky yarn is one of the fastest projects in knitting: at 2.5 stitches per inch, an adult hat needs only 48 stitches and about 30 rounds. This pattern is worked in the round with a short ribbed brim, a plain knit body and a six-section crown, and it is written in three sizes. Thick yarn makes every stitch easy to see, which also makes it a good hat for practicing decreases.
What you need
- Yarn: super bulky weight (6), about 60 (70, 85) yd (55 (64, 78) m) for the hat, plus roughly 25 to 30 yd (23 to 27 m) for a large pom-pom. These are estimates, and super bulky balls are often short, so check the yardage on the label and buy a little extra.
- Needles: US 13 (9 mm) 16-inch circular needle and US 13 (9 mm) double-pointed needles (DPNs) for the crown; US 11 (8 mm) 16-inch circular needle for the brim.
- Notions: one stitch marker, a large-eyed tapestry needle, scissors and a tape measure.
Super bulky is number 6 in the Craft Yarn Council’s standard yarn weight system; look for that number on the label. A wool or wool-blend yarn keeps the hat light for its thickness. If DPNs this size are hard to find, magic loop on a long circular needle works too, as described in the guide to needles for knitting hats.
Gauge
10 stitches and 14 rounds = 4 in (10 cm) in stockinette (knit every round) on US 13 (9 mm) needles. That is 2.5 stitches per inch.
Watch out
Gauge matters more with thick yarn, not less. At 2.5 stitches per inch, being off by just half a stitch per inch changes a 48-stitch hat by more than 3 in (7.5 cm). Knit a swatch at least 14 stitches wide and measure it before starting.
Finished sizes
| Size | Cast on | Finished circumference | Fits head of about | Finished height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child | 42 sts | 16.75 in (42.5 cm) | 18.5 to 19.5 in (47 to 49.5 cm) | about 7 in (18 cm) |
| Adult Medium | 48 sts | 19.25 in (49 cm) | 21 to 22 in (53.5 to 56 cm) | about 8.5 in (21.5 cm) |
| Adult Large | 54 sts | 21.5 in (54.5 cm) | 23.5 to 24.5 in (59.5 to 62 cm) | about 9 in (23 cm) |
Circumference is the cast-on divided by the gauge: 48 ÷ 2.5 = 19.2 in. Each size is about 2 to 3 in (5 to 7.5 cm) smaller than the head, so the hat stays put. Head sizes are typical ranges; measure the wearer if possible. With so few stitches, sizes move in steps of 6 sts, or nearly 2.5 in (6 cm), so pick the size whose range is closest.
Instructions are written as Child (Adult Medium, Adult Large). One number alone applies to all sizes.
Abbreviations
- CO: cast on
- k / p: knit / purl
- st, sts: stitch, stitches
- rnd: round
- pm: place marker
- BOR: beginning of round
- k2tog: knit 2 stitches together (1 stitch decreased)
The pattern
Brim
- With the US 11 (8 mm) circular needle, CO 42 (48, 54) sts loosely, using the long-tail cast-on. Allow a generous tail: thick yarn uses it up quickly.
- Pm for the BOR and join to work in the round, checking that the cast-on edge is not twisted.
- Rib rnd: (K1, p1) to end.
- Repeat the rib rnd 4 more times, for 5 rnds in total. The brim measures about 1.5 in (4 cm).
The Child size has few enough stitches that they may feel stretched on a 16-inch needle. If so, use DPNs or magic loop from the start.
Body
- Change to the US 13 (9 mm) circular needle by simply knitting the next rnd with it.
- Knit every rnd until the piece measures 5 (6, 6) in (12.5 (15, 15) cm) from the cast-on edge.
Crown
The crown is divided into 6 equal sections of 7 (8, 9) sts, and each decrease round removes one stitch from every section. The larger sizes start earlier. Change to DPNs when the stitches no longer reach around the circular needle.
- Rnd 1 (Adult Large only): (K7, k2tog) 6 times — 48 sts.
- Rnd 2 (Adult Large only): Knit.
- Rnd 3 (Adult Medium and Adult Large only): (K6, k2tog) 6 times — 42 sts.
- Rnd 4 (Adult Medium and Adult Large only): Knit.
All sizes now have 42 sts. Child begins here.
- Rnd 5: (K5, k2tog) 6 times — 36 sts.
- Rnd 6: Knit.
- Rnd 7: (K4, k2tog) 6 times — 30 sts.
- Rnd 8: (K3, k2tog) 6 times — 24 sts.
- Rnd 9: (K2, k2tog) 6 times — 18 sts.
- Rnd 10: (K1, k2tog) 6 times — 12 sts.
- Rnd 11: K2tog 6 times — 6 sts.
The crown takes 7 (9, 11) rounds and adds about 2 (2.5, 3) in (5 (6.5, 7.5) cm). Why the sections are spaced this way is explained in the guide to crown decreases.
Tip
With so few stitches, counting is quick. Count after every decrease round; the total should always divide by 6.
Finishing
- Cut the yarn, leaving a tail of about 10 in (25 cm). Thread it through the 6 remaining sts with the tapestry needle and pull firmly to close the top.
- Take the tail to the inside. Thick ends are bulky, so weave each one through the backs of several stitches in one direction, then back a short way in the other, and trim.
- Top the hat with a large pom-pom if wanted. A pom-pom about 3.5 to 4 in (9 to 10 cm) across suits the scale of the stitches. The method, and how to tie it on so it stays, is in the tutorial on how to make a pom-pom for a hat.
Ways to adjust it
Add a fold-up cuff
Work 14 rib rnds instead of 5, about 4 in (10 cm), and then work the body until the piece measures 7 (8, 8) in (18 (20.5, 20.5) cm) from the cast-on edge before starting the crown. Folded in half, the cuff is about 2 in (5 cm) deep. Allow roughly 25 yd (23 m) more yarn.
Make it slouchier
Knit the body 1.5 to 2 in (4 to 5 cm) longer before the crown.
Knit it flat instead
Without circular needles, the same weight of yarn can be worked back and forth and seamed, as in the chunky flat-knit hat on straight needles.
Frequently asked questions
How many stitches should be cast on for a chunky hat?
It depends on gauge. At 2.5 stitches per inch in super bulky yarn, this pattern uses 42 stitches for a child, 48 for an adult medium and 54 for an adult large.
How much super bulky yarn does a hat need?
Roughly 60 to 85 yards for the hat itself, depending on size, plus about 25 to 30 yards for a large pom-pom. These are estimates, so buy a little extra.
Can a chunky hat be knitted on a 16-inch circular needle?
Yes for the adult sizes. The child size has few stitches and may feel stretched, so double-pointed needles or magic loop can be used from the start.
Why does this chunky hat use six crown sections instead of eight?
With so few stitches, six sections remove stitches at a gentler rate per round and divide evenly into 42, 48 and 54 stitches, giving a rounded top.
