Q&A for How to Knit an Easy Hat

Keep knitting until the hat is almost big enough to fit on your head before you begin to decrease. If it comes out a little large, you can roll up the bottom edge of the hat a bit more.

You can't really know since it depends on the yarn. The best way is to knit a swatch and then measure it. This will give you the most accurate answer.

You remove the stitch markers from the hat. You can do this by either getting stitch markers that open up (like safety pins) or by slipping them off your needle as you pass them while knitting and no longer require them.

You could, if she's willing and you don't want to do it yourself. But there's more satisfaction in making something yourself, and it's always good to learn a new skill! Plus, it's cool to be able to tell people, "Hey! I made this myself!" You can do it. Good luck!

Measure his/her head, knit a swatch. This will tell you how many stitches you need.

When you first begin circular knitting, you need to place a stitch marker at the very last stitch in the row. (If you don't have any stitch markers, a paper clip will do just fine). That way, you'll know every time when you've reached the end of your row and begun a new one. This is extra important in circular knitting so that it comes out right and everything looks even.

The same way you would on regular needles. Knit one stitch, purl one stitch. Repeat. If you've cast on an odd number of stitches, you will need to knit (or purl) two stitches at one (and only one!) place.

Use 5 double-pointed needles. Divide the stitches you need by 4 (for example 120/4=30). You place 30 stitches on the first needle, 30 on the second, 30 on the third and 30 on the fourth. Then you use the fifth needle to knit. (Your fifth needle will constantly replace the needle that held the quarter that you just knitted.) After you have knitted the first (120) stitches, you join the beginning and the end to create a square. (By this method, you also need to make sure that you untwist the stitches that you have already done.) Now you can start knitting in the round or square (while still on the needles, it will look like a square). Follow the rest of the steps as explained above.

You may not be joining in the round correctly.

No. You either need the double-pointed needles or the round ones. If you don't have a way to get those, you may be able to make do with taking the end piece off your needles, but that will make it hard if you want to knit normally with those needles later. It's just best to try to get the round ones.

If you twisted the thread, the only choice you have is to take out all the stitches and start over.

It depends on what you're knitting as the answer will vary.

It depends on the size of the adult's head. You should measure it, then multiply that number by the stitches per inch of your swatch. If it’s a gift, an adult head is about 22 inches.

Each side of a hat in nearly all patterns is knit the same way with the same measurements. These instructions show knitting a hat with no seams, but around and around, what is commonly called "circular knitting" using "circular needles". These needles are connected with a cord that is flexible, allowing the crafter to knit continuously in a circle, or tube shape, once the stitches are joined. There are no defined sides other than what the crafter designates. Most often the beginning join becomes the back of the hat.

You should knit the swatch with the pattern you plan to use. Yes, the hat shown in the article is done in stockinette.

Yes. You could also use straight needles or a loom.