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| Belt Welt Hat |
First, I should mention that I'm pretty sure this is the most expensive skein of yarn I've ever purchased, and it was WORTH EVERY PENNY! So smooth, so wonderful to knit - seriously, I would take a bath in the stuff if I could afford it. Luckily, you don't have to use this luxurious of a yarn to make this pattern pop - any heavier weight worsted should do. But perhaps the best thing about this pattern is that it's a pretty simple knit that still yields a lot of graphic appeal. Or in other words, you won't have to put in a lot of work in order to end up with a hat that you'll be pleased with.
Sizes: Small Adult (Large Adult)
Yarn: Simplinatural by HiKoo by Skacel (40% Baby Alpaca, 40% Fine Merino Wool, 20% Mulberry Silk; 183 yards [167 meters]/100 grams); #098 Bright Blue – one skein (both sizes)
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| The finish. |
Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch marker
So let's get one thing straight, here. The only difference between the size small hat the large is needle size - if you want to make a small hat, use 6s and 8s. If you want a large hat, use 7s and 9s! And now that we've got that taken care of, using your smaller circular needle, cast on 90 stitches, place marker, and join in round. Then we'll knit the following ribbing row:
Ribbing Row: * p1, k1; rep from *
Knit this ribbing row until piece measures 4". And now, it's time to switch to your larger needles and the main pattern, which is Belt Welt from page 6 of Barbara G. Walker's A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns, and goes as follows:
Rows 1 - 4: knit
Rows 5 - 8: * p4, k2 *
Knit rows 1 - 8 four times, and then it's time to begin the decreases, which go as follows:
Decrease Row 1: * k3, k2tog, ssk, k11 * (80 stitches)
Decrease Row 2: * k2, k2tog, ssk, k10 * (70 stitches)
You may want to switch to your dpns about now...
Decrease Row 3: * k1, k2tog, ssk, k9 * (60 stitches)
Decrease Row 4: * k2tog, ssk, k8 * (50 stitches)
Decrease Row 5: slip first stitch from first dpn to last dpn (so, in effect, this will become the last stitch of the row rather than the first); then, * ssk, k1, p4, k1, k2tog * (40 stitches)
Decrease Row 6: * ssk, p4, k2tog * (30 stitches)
Decrease Row 7: * k1, (p2tog) twice, k1 * (20 stitches)
Decrease Row 8: * k1, p2tog, k1 * (15 stitches)
Decrease Row 9: * slip 2 together knitwise-k1-p2sso * (5 stitches)
Clip tail of yarn, thread through final 5 stitches and pull tight. Thread to inside of hat and knot. Tuck in ends.
Perfect timing to cast on for a new hat. It was so cold and snowy today, that I had to grab a hat that I knitted for my husband to put on my head. I Love the pattern and your color choice. This one is for me (or until my Mom sees it).
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you like it! :) We've had snow off and on all day too... so you're right! It's a perfect day for a hat!
DeleteI just finished this hat in hot pink. I love it. Another day of freezing rain followed by snow. Perfect day to cast on another hat. Thanks again.
DeleteHot pink - I love it (perhaps because I'm wearing a hot pink sweatshirt right now)!!! Glad it turned out well for you. :)
DeleteNeed to knit myself another hat. The temperature this morning was 9 degrees and my head was warm and toasty until my Mom saw the hat. Now she is wearing it. She is 91.
DeleteHa! Sounds like you made a winner!!!!
DeleteLove the pattern you've knitted up
ReplyDeleteand the colour is cool too.
Cheers, Anita.
Thanks Anita!
DeleteI thought this color was very pretty. And the yarn is so soft!!
Is small meant for a child or is it small adult?
ReplyDeleteHi Danielle!
DeleteIt's an adult small, although it would be suitable for a teen or even an older child (since the hat is slouchy and has enough negative ease). You could also turn it into a toddler's hat with yarn gauged at 20 stitches = 4 inches (and the appropriate sized needles), or a small child's hat with yarn gauged at 19 stitches = 4 inches (and the appropriate sized needles).
Haven't been able to work out the decreasing for the head despite many tries but really like the pattern
ReplyDeleteHi Jenni!
DeleteIf you can give me some more information about what you're having trouble with, I may be able to help out! My first suggestion, however, is easy - since the decrease starts by dropping 2 stitches for every 18, you could go ahead and place extra markers, one every 18 stitches. Then you can easily double-check whether or not you have decreased correctly in each set of stitches! And, like I said, if you can tell me more specifically the trouble you're having, I may be able to suggest something else. :)
Dear Gretchen
ReplyDeleteJust had an 'aha' moment. A misinterpretation on my part of ssk. Thank you for your prompt reply.
Regards Jenny
Good to hear! Let me know if anything else comes up. :)
DeleteThank you for the pattern. I just finished my hat and am really pleased with it. Perfect fit.
ReplyDeleteYay! That's what I love to hear. :)
Deletethank you so much for this adorable pattern. I love it.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear it! Let me know if you have any questions. :)
DeleteThis is so pretty! I was looking for a pattern that was fast and easy to work, but still look pretty and yours showed up :). Thanks a lot, Gretchen! I'll be using Expression Fiber Arts Pearlescent Worsted in colorway Seattle at Night (a gorgeous navy blue). I think it look great with this pattern.
ReplyDeleteOooh, that yarn looks gorgeous! Let me know if you have any questions. :)
DeleteThanks that was fun. I did the hat on white thanks
ReplyDeleteOooh, I bet that was lovely! Glad you liked the pattern. :)
DeleteI love the pattern and have made four hats so far; two for my grandchildren, one for my daughter and one for me! Thanks for the pattern!
ReplyDeleteYay! I'm glad to hear it. I hope everyone is enjoying their hats!!! :)
DeleteDue to arthritis I cannot use 16" circular needles. I use Magic Loop for hats. I understand the Belt Welt Hat up to Decrease Row 5. Could you please give me instructions for decrease rows 5-9 using Magic Loop?
ReplyDeleteHi there!
DeleteI'm guessing that it's the stitch slipping on row 5 that's tripping you up (please let me know if I'm wrong). Even with the Magic Loop, however, the idea is the same - you'll take the first stitch of the round and scoot it over to the other half of your Magic Loop, so that it becomes the last stitch. Then, when you reach it again, you'll work it in pattern as the last stitch. I have never knit in the Magic Loop myself, so this instruction may be wrong, but if you're having trouble actually getting it moved I think you'll need to slip/rearrange your stitches to where your first stitch is at the inner end of one of your needles (so it's next to the cable). Then scoot your work up the cable enough that you can pull the cable through one stitch over from where it was previously, to where your first stitch becomes your last, and then slip/rearrange your stitches back into place.
Thank you for the quick reply and for the pattern. You're correct that it is row 5 that is confusing. I'm not there yet. I will let you know how it goes.
DeleteThanks, Correne
Perfect! I'll be around if you need more help! :)
DeleteI'm at that point. When I move the first stitch over to the second needle (making it the last stitch) that moved stitch is in front of the last stitch and has not been worked. Obviously I'm missing something.
DeleteGretchen...It's me again...The stitches on my first needle are four purls followed by two knits. Are you saying Row 5 should be started on the second Purl? Correne
DeleteHi Correne!
DeleteI'm not sure exactly what you mean when you say that it's in front of the last stitch - it should become the last stitch, and it should basically look like you slipped it (the yarn should be behind it like a slipped stitch). As far as your other question is concerned - since row 4 of the decrease was all knitting and decreasing, I'm also a bit confused on this one! I'm sorry! Maybe you can email me pictures at ballstothwallsknits@gmail.com and it will be clearer?
Gretchen please help me! Row 5 is very confusing because I do not use double pointed needles(I hate them) Is there any way I
ReplyDeletecan finish this beautiful hat? Thank you very much!
Unfortunately since this hat is knit in the round you will get to the point where you have too few stitches to continue on a 16" circular. If you're adverse to dpns, however, you could always try the Magic Loop :) - you can find more information here: http://www.craftsy.com/blog/2014/10/demystifying-the-magic-loop/ (there are tons of tutorials and videos out there if that one doesn't help, too - just search Magic Loop and you'll find them!)
DeleteHi, love the hat design, but I am not an in the round knitter, so would like to try on straight needles. I think I need to do something different, any hints. If not a good idea, will look for a different pattern. thanks, Yvonne
ReplyDeleteHi Yvonne!
DeleteThis pattern won't be *exactly* the same knit flat, but it will be very very close (the only differences will be in the decrease). I'm happy to help you with a conversion - just give me a few days and I'll get one posted!
Perfect, that would be great, thank you.
ReplyDeleteHi again! So the decrease does end up one stitch off knit flat (since I slipped a stitch in my circular decrease and you can't do that if you're not in the round). I think it'll still look good, though! Let me know if you have any questions...
DeleteFirst of all, remember that the only difference between the size small hat the large is needle size - if you want to make a small hat, use 6s and 8s. If you want a large hat, use 7s and 9s! And now that we've got that taken care of, using your smaller needles, cast on 92 stitches. Then we'll knit the following ribbing rows:
Ribbing Row 1 (wrong side): p1, * p1, k1; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left in row; end p1
Ribbing Row 2: k1, * p1, k1 * until you have 1 stitch left in row; end k1
Knit this ribbing row until piece measures 4" and you’ve just finished a wrong side row. And now, it's time to switch to your larger needles and the main pattern, which goes as follows:
Row 1 (right side): knit
Row 2: purl
Row 3: knit
Row 4: purl
Row 5: k1, * p4, k2 * until you have 1 stitch left in row; end k1
Row 6: p1, * p2, k4 * until you have 1 stitch left in row; end p1
Row 7: k1, * p4, k2 * until you have 1 stitch left in row; end k1
Row 8: p1, * p2, k4 * until you have 1 stitch left in row; end p1
Knit rows 1 - 8 four times, and then it's time to begin the decreases, which go as follows:
Decrease Row 1 (right side): k1, * k3, k2tog, knit 2 together through back loops (k2tog-tbl), k11 * until you have 1 stitch left in row, end k1 (82 stitches)
Decrease Row 2: p1, * p10, purl 2 together through back loops (p2tog-tbl), p2tog, p2 * until you have one stitch left in row, end p1 (72 stitches)
Decrease Row 3: k1, * k1, k2tog, k2tog-tbl, k9 * until you have 1 stitch left in row, end k1 (62 stitches)
Decrease Row 4: p1, * p8, purl 2 together through back loops (p2tog-tbl), p2tog * until you have one stitch left in row, end p1 (52 stitches)
Decrease Row 5: k1, * k2tog-tbl, k1, p4, k1, k2tog * until you have 1 stitch left in row, end k1 (42 stitches) (also, this row will shift the decrease over by one stitch, deviating from the original pattern. Unfortunately this is unavoidable since you can’t slip a stitch in a flat pattern the same way I did in the round!)
Decrease Row 6: p1, * p2tog, p4, p2tog-tbl * (32 stitches)
Decrease Row 7: k1, * k1, (p2tog) twice, k1 *; end k1 (22 stitches)
Decrease Row 8: p1, * p1, 22tog, p1 * (17 stitches)
Decrease Row 9: k1, * slip 2 together knitwise-k1-p2sso *; end k1 (5 stitches)
Using a tapestry needle, transfer the final 7 stitches to a scrap of yarn to hold for later. Seam hat from ribbing, and, when you reach top, thread seaming yarn through final 7 stitches and pull tight. Thread to inside of hat, knot, and tuck in ends.
Thank you very much, will try it. Appreciate your help.
ReplyDeleteHi, it worked perfectly, thank you!
ReplyDeleteYay! So glad to hear it! Sometimes my brain goes sideways when I convert patterns so I'm always happy for the feedback!!! :)
DeleteYou were an angel to go to the trouble of re-working your lovely pattern for the above anonymous knitter. I think your hat is beautiful, but so is what you did for the knitter. I stumbled on your pattern and am knitting a hat for a donation to an organization that collects hats for kids.
DeleteThat sounds like a lovely thing to do! :) And I try to help when I can!!!
DeleteWhat a great hat! I'm off to the yarn store today - - - I'll be whipping up a few more for Christmas gifts (plus probably one for myself). Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful! Let me know if you have any questions, and happy knitting!!! :)
DeleteI have a 100 percent superfine alpaca Peruvian tweed gauge is on #6 needles 20 stitches for 30 rows 4x4ins. Do you recommend doubling the yarn Anna
ReplyDeleteHi Anna! I imagine you could probably get gauge to work by doubling it; you could also just knit the hat on size US 5 & 6s by casting on 108 stitches instead of 90 stitches and then following the directions as written (although you'd probably want to make the hat 1/2 - 1" longer before the decreases). Let me know if you have any other questions! :)
DeleteThank you Gretchen for getting back to me but now I am confused about the decrease do you knit two together and then SSK also? My decrease is not working out either. Anna
DeleteHi Anna!
DeleteYes, decrease rows 1 - 6 all contain an ssk and a k2tog (since these decreases more or less mirror each other, it creates symmetry). And did you decide to hold your yarn double or to cast on more stitches? Let me know and I'll see what else I can do to help! :)
Hi! Thanks for sharing so many great patterns. Love them all! I can knit in the round but really rather knit flat and then seam so I am just thrilled that you have taken time to provide directions to make this hat flat. My son needs a hat he is making me look bad by wearing a cheap ($1.99) hat he bought at a corner store. I know I'm an awful knitting mother I may be shunned by my knitting neighbors. But your generosity has saved me if I start tonight by Tuesday he will not only have a warm natural fiber hat but a matching but not to matchy cowl. I will again be able to hold my head high while strolling the streets of my neighborhood of an evening while yarn bombing the street signs. I truly appreciate your generosity.
ReplyDeleteWonderful! Glad I could help. :) And I feel your pain - I'm ashamed every time my husband wears his store-bought hat too!!!
DeleteSo so lovely. A great hat!! I like how the design carries right into the crown
ReplyDeleteGlad you like it! :) I am I big fan of natural-looking decreases!!!
DeleteThank you for the great pattern and instructions. Enjoyed making this little beauty!
ReplyDeleteAh, wonderful to hear it! Glad it turned out well!!! :)
DeleteHi Gretchen,
ReplyDeleteIf I wanted to knit this pattern with chunky weight yarn instead of worsted, should I cast on fewer stitches (what number do you think might be appropriate?), use larger needles (like 8s and 10s or 9s and 11s), or both? Let me know if you have any thoughts or if my question is confusing and weird, thanks!
Hi! First off, yes, you will need to cast on fewer stitches with a larger needle, but it's tough to be exact without more specific gauge information. Do you have a yarn in mind? If so, let me know what the package says about gauge and I can help you more! :) Ideally, you would be able to cast on 18 fewer stitches, however, and then the pattern and decrease will both work as written!
DeleteI used your pattern to make a hat out of chunky weight yarn and it turned out great! Thanks for your inspiration. I had to modify the pattern a little to make it work. I used size 9 and 10.5 circular needles for the body and size 10 dpn for the decrease rounds (because I didn’t have size 10.5).
ReplyDeleteI started with 72 stitches. With the main body Belt Welt pattern, I did
Rows 1-3 knit
Rows 4-6 *p4 k2*
Repeated rows 1-6 three times instead of four. The hat turns out to be probably an Adult XS. I used Patons Classic Wool Roving in Frosted Plum.
Wonderful, I'm so glad to hear that it worked out well for you! :) And I occasionally cheat with my dpns too - I don't think anyone can tell!!!
DeleteWonder pattern and easy to follow UNTIL I got to Decrease Row 9.
ReplyDeleteI am completely lost on this decrease row. It says slip 2 together knitwise - k1 - p2sso.
I understand slip 2 together knitwise and then knit 1. How do I do the p2sso???
Here's a link to a video. :)
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en3Yq2er4RI
I wanted to tell you that I appreciate you and your patterns so much. I have knit patterns for chemo patients at our local cancer clinic, hats for homeless teens and hats for crew on our Alaskan cruises. Being able to access patterns from sites like yours has been truly invaluable and I just want to thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi Judy! What a lovely comment, thank you! I'm happy to hear that my patterns have brought joy to so many people! :)
Delete