Central Iowa Knitters

Note: All links in this post direct you to Ravelry.com. Ravelry has a fantastic amount of information for knitters but you have to have a ravelry account to access the information. The good news is signup is free and simply. Join Ravelry and then join the CentralIowaKnitters group!

CIK used a donation from All Saints Catholic Church to purchase yarn for men’s hats to give to a local homeless shelter. The yarn has been wound and divided into kits with enough yarn in each to make one adult men’s hat. Bulky and Worsted Weight kits are available.

Sizing and Construction
A men’s-sized hat should fit a 22-24” head circumference. The hat itself should be slightly smaller, allowing for some negative ease to keep the hat snug against the wearer’s head. Also, hats should be knit to a smaller gauge relative to the suggested needle size on the yarn’s label. Using a smaller needle will give the knitted fabric a tighter weave – and more protection again the cold Iowa winters! For the chunky yarn, I recommend a US9 or US10 needle. For the worsted weight, try a US6 or US7. To knit a basic hat in the round you’ll need a 16” circular needle and matching double-points (dpns) to use once the hat decreases to smaller than the circular can handle. You can also use the magic loop method with an extra long circular needle (at least 40”).

Patterns
There is no right or wrong pattern to use to create your hat. The yarn in the hat kits is all wool or wool-blends so ribbing and cable-work will show nicely. A simple stocking-stitch cap will also work well. Below are some pattern suggestions for Bulky and Worsted Weight yarns. All patterns are free and available through Ravelry. With patterns that have a ribbed brim, the pattern author will sometimes recommend knitting the ribbing with a smaller needle than the rest of the hat.

Chunky Yarn Hat Patterns
Easiest: Hat Knitted Flat
The Basic hat
With this pattern you will knit the hat on straight needles and then sew up a seam when finished. The pattern has a K3P3 ribbed brim.

Easy: St St Hat with Rib Brim
Super Basic Hat Pattern
A simple knit-in-the-round pattern with a K2P2 ribbed brim.

Easy: Simple Rib Hat
Handspun Ribbed Hat
This hat has a K2P2 ribbing for the entire hat. The ribs are worked into the decreases so that the ribbing continues to the top of the hat.

Moderate: Cabled Hat
Snappy Hat
If you haven’t tried cables before, this is a nice pattern to start with. The hat has a K2P1K2P2 ribbed brim which leads into cables that run to the top of the hat.

Worsted Weight Hat Patterns
Easy: Ribbed Hat
Jay’s Basic Hat
This hat uses a K6P2 rib that continues from the brim to the top of the head.

Moderate: Ear Flap Hat
Basic Ear Flap Hat
Two ear flaps are constructed first, then joined with the rest of the stitches needed for the main hat body. The hat is all done in stocking stitch.

Advanced: Cabled Hat
Caramel Cable Hat
Another nice pattern to use to practice your cables! This hat has both an eight-stitch cable and a faux cable (twisted rib) that follow to the top of the hat.

Yarn Choices
All yarn for this project was purchased from Knitted Together in West Des Moines and Charity’s Yarn in Altoona. Below are the names of the yarns purchased. If you click on a yarn name you will get more information from Ravelry about it.
• Cascade Eco+ (chunky red)
• Cascade Ecological Wool (chunky grey)
• Ironstone Yarns New Wool (chunky loose-spun black)
• Berroco Vintage (worsted weight olive and brown)