Homestretch Hat
If you’re like me, scrambling in the ninth inning to complete this year’s holiday knitting, then our Homestretch Hat is to the rescue!
Using just one skein of Purl Soho’s Gentle Giant, this super quick knit has no decreases and, best off all, requires no double pointed needles. For beginners intimidated by those things, as well as for more seasoned knitters who need a quick gift, the Homestretch Hat is a no-brainer!
Its classic silhouette looks good on everyone, and with a new palette of beautiful Gentle Giant colors to choose from, the Homestretch Hat will surely suit everyone on your list. Oh, and did I mention?… No double pointed needles! -Jake
Update: New Colors
December 2017
Now in two colors of our soft and cozy Gentle Giant, our Two-Color Homestretch Hat is not only a super quick knit, it’s also a real mood lifter!
Update: New Pom Poms
November 2019
We’re having a party and you’re invited! We’ve topped a few of our favorite hat patterns with festive pom poms including our Homestretch Hat! Using our Pom Pom Maker Set in the Small + Large and Extra Large + Jumbo sizes, adorn your Homestretch Hat and join in on the party here!
Update: New Style
December 2021
Our Happy Hat uses the same basic pattern as our original Homestretch Hat, but with the boost of sweet stripes and chipper pom poms! Check out our free Happy Hat pattern here and pick up a Happy Hat Bundle here!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Jake Canton. Click here to see even more of Jake’s designs!
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoHomestretchHat, and #PurlSohoGentleGiant. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Gentle Giant, 100% merino wool. Each skein is 48 yards; approximately 30 (36, 48, 48) yards required. We used, clockwise from top left, White Peppercorn, Heirloom White, Wolf Brown, and Silver Mauve.
- US 17 (12mm), 16-inch circular needles
Gauge
7 stitches and 10 rounds = 4 inches
NOTE: The Adult Large size uses the entire skein of Gentle Giant, so be especially sure to get the correct gauge if you’re making that size!
Sizes
Baby (Kid, Adult Small, Adult Large)
- Finished Circumference: 14 (16, 18, 20) inches
- Finished Height: 7 ¾ (8 ¾, 9 ¾, 10 ¾) inches
Pattern
Loosely cast on 24 (28, 31, 35) stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Place a marker and join for working in the round, being careful to not twist the stitches.
Round 1: Purl.
Round 2: Knit.
Repeat Round 2 until piece measures 7 3/4 (8 3/4, 9 3/4, 10 3/4) inches from the cast-on edge.
Cut the yarn, leaving about a 12-inch tail.
Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle, and thread the needle through all the live stitches. Pull taut, and then bring the tail to the inside of the hat and weave it in.
Weave in the remaining end, and steam to block, if desired.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
I love all the patterns but I have never knitted on circular
needles! It stops me from trying, do you have the same styles
in the flat?
Hi Joanna,
Thank you for writing in!
You could certainly knit this hat flat. To do so, I would cast on an extra 2 stitches for seam allowance, knit a rectangle in stockinette and then seam the two edges together using a mattress stitch.
If your interested in learning a new technique this is a great introductory pattern to circular needles! Once you get through the first row where you “join the round” it’s really easy knitting!
Here’s a tutorial from Purl Soho on how to knit in the round on double pointed needles (it’s the same for circular except you can cast on and skip down to the join into the round section). There are also a lot of great video resources on youtube for knitting in the round techniques.
I hope this helps and let me know if you have anymore questions!
Happy Knitting!
Jake
Just do it, you will be glad you did, it is super easy, it will be harder finding a circular needle this size and this short than actually knitting it. Good luck!
Joanna, circulars are SO easy!! You only need knit every round. You will do away with your straights once you try circulars, believe me. I got so tired of stitches slipping off my DPNs when knitting up socks that I went ahead and ordered several sizes of circulars for every project. Plus you can use the circulars for flat panels too! They are AWESOME and so easy to deal with, no more matching up DPNs you just grab one circular and voila, project is on ONE tool- no fidgeting with needles sticking out every where. There is no learning involved in circulars, it is simpler than DPNs by erasing the need to purl one side and knit another, like I said it’s knit every round just keep on going!
HI Joanna
It is super easy. I have just finished an Icelandic jumper and some woolly hats. I also used it (not as a circle) to make a blanket.
Are you sure this is knit in size 17 needle?
Hi Paila,
Thanks for writing in!
This hat was knit on a US 17, 16 inch circular needle. I like knitting the Gentle Giant yarn on both US 17’s and US 19’s but for hat’s I generally go with the smaller needle. I find it creates a tighter knit for a denser fabric, which I like with hats, and maintains a nice fit with use!
Happy Knitting!
Jake
Could you knit this on 15s? I just finished the snow day hat on a 15 with the same yarn and really like it!
Hi Liz,
Thanks for writing in!
I think that this hat should work out fine on a US 15! The only thing I would be mindful of is that the stitches will be a little tighter and denser, so the hats will stretch a little bit less and have a slightly snugger fit! All of which I personally like in a winter hat!
I hope this helps!
Jake
Would Cascade Magnum be a comparable yarn to use since the gauges are similar? I’ve been wanting to try knitting a hat and the no reduction sounds good to me as a place to start. Thanks!
Hi Rhiannon,
Thanks for writing in!
Yes the Cascade Magnum would work as a fine substitute! I would recommend doing a small gauge swatch as the yarn will not bloom quite as much as our Gentle Giant due to the fiber content. Magnum has extra yardage on it so you should have enough to do a small swatch!
I’m so glad to hear your going to try a hat! This is a great introductory hat pattern!
Happy Knitting!
Jake
How many yards are in a skein of the General Giant?
Hi Dawn,
Thanks for writing in! Our Gentle Giant comes in 48 yard skeins. For information about any of our yarns, you can click on the Product Details tab on the product page for each yarn. Here you will fins, gauge, yardages, recommended needle size, care instructions and more.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I have left over cashmere merino yarn – if I double it, would it work for this hat?
Thank you!
Hi Joy,
Thanks for sharing this great question!
I have not tried to knit the Cashmere Merino Bloom held double yet so I am not entirely sure how the gauge will compare. My initial guess is it will still be too thin, based on my experience holding DK weight yarns double, you will probably find this comfortable on a US 10-11. I would recommend trying a little test swatch to check the gauge. You could continue adding strands until you can knit it comfortably on a size US 17, I’d imagine it would take 3-4 strands held together which could create a very interesting texture.
I hope this helps and I’d love to hear any results you may get from this experiment! It sounds like a fun idea!
Happy Knitting!
Jake
Do you decrease the stitches at all towards to top or knit two together? Or do you truly just knit a funnel or cowl like piece and then stitch the top closed?
Hi Joan,
Thanks for writing in! For this quick and fun hat, there are no decreases. At the top of the hat, you will pull your working yarn through all of the stitches and cinch up the top!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
What comparable yarns can be used for this hat?
Hi Vivienne,
Thanks for writing in! Cascade Magnum would make a suitable alternative to our Gentle Giant. Blue Sky Bulky could also work well although it is a bit thinner than Gentle Giant.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
There doesn’t seem to be a way to download this incredably simple pattern how do I accomplish that
Hi Dale,
Thanks for writing in! To down any of our patterns as PDFs, you can use our print function. If you’re on a desktop version of the site, you will find a “print” icon in the right column just below the date and tags. If you’re on a mobile version of the site, you will find a “print” icon below the pattern and above the comments.
Follow the easy on-screen instructions to delete whichever parts of the pattern you don’t want to print or save. For example, you may decide to shorten the pattern by omitting certain images or the list of materials.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hi-
I would like to use a skein of Malabrigo Rasta to make this hat. Can you tell me what, if any, adjustments I need to make in order to use that yarn?
Thank you,
Lori
Hi Lori,
Thank you for writing in!
According to Malabrigo’s website this yarn comes out to 8 – 10 stitches = 4 inches while the I was getting 7 stitches = 4 inches for this hat project. It may work when knit on a size US 17 but I would recommend doing a small gauge swatch just to be sure. If you find that the stitches look too loose on a US 17 or your still not quite achieving this gauge than you can add an extra couple stitches to achieve a similar fit to this hats dimensions.
I hope this helps and Happy Knitting!
Jake
What size is the lady in the picture wearing?
Hi Emily,
Thanks for writing in! The model is wearing the Adult Large size in the color way Wolf Brown!
Happy Knitting!
Jake
Love your pattern but how can I translate them into european measures? Thank you.
Hi Ilo,
Thanks for writing in! When I need to translate a pattern from metric to US imperial, I like to use Google’s conversion tools. I type “convert cm to inches” into Google and a purpose built calculator will appear. You can certainly do the same thing in reverse to convert all of the measurements you seek into metric!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Looks so cute! What kind of ease do you recommend? I need to knit a hat for a person with a 23.5″ head, do you think the adult large will work? I can also add a couple stitches when I cast on…
Hi Jill,
Thanks for writing in!
The hat has a good amount of stretch so I think the Adult Large size should fit a 23.5″ head pretty well! It may be slightly snug but I personally like that in a thick winter hat! To give some context my head is 22″ and I can fit in both the Adult Small and Adult Large sizes comfortably. You can certainly add a few stitches for a roomier fit but if you are going to still use 1 skein then the hat won’t have quite as much height and it may be worth getting a second skein just in case.
I hope this helps and Happy Knitting!
Jake
I would love to be able to afford this beautiful yarn. Low income knitter 🙁
Hi Marie,
Thanks for writing in. We hear you! We totally understand that sometimes our yarn suggestions are more of an inspiration than a reality for many people. We are always happy to recommend less expensive (but still beautiful!) alternatives. In this case, we suggest that you try Blue Sky’s Bulky! There is slightly less yardage on this yarn so you will probably only be able to make the Baby, Kid or Adult Small size. You could also try Cascade Magnum which has a slightly higher marked price but you could get 2 Adult size and a baby size hat out of one skein.
I hope one of these recommendations works for you!
Thank you so much for asking. We’re sure that lots of other readers will thank you, too!
Best, Jake
I’ve never really known how to measure someone’s head for a hat. Where do you place the tape measure? Should you allow for some ease? Many thanks, Amy
Hi Amy,
Great question, thanks for sharing!
I always measure head circumference around where I would like the brim of the hat to fall. So I will generally place the tape measure right above the center of my forehead at the hairline and then bring it around the head holding the tape measure over the top of the ear and around the hairline on the back of the neck. With this hat there should be a good amount of stretch as well so you can afford to make a size with dimensions slightly smaller than your head measures. For example my head measures about 22″ and I fit comfortably in both the Adult Small and Adult Large sizes.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
Jake
This hat looks easy! I have two questions though.
(1) I can use size 17 double point needles, right?
(2) Is the bottom of the hat rolled up a little bit? It looks like the garter stitch, which would be the wrong side and inside of the hat, is showing, like a band, at the bottom.
Thank you!
Hi Kathleen,
Thank you for your comment!
You can absolutely use size 17 double pointed needles for the hat! The bottom edge is in reverse stockinette, one row of purls, which stops that bottom edge from curling up too much!
Happy knitting!
Jake
Would Malabrigo Rasta yarn work for this pattern?
Hi Jenny,
Thank you for writing in!
I looked up the Malabrigo Rasta yarn and it is hard to tell if it’s an appropriate substitute.
According to Malabrigo’s website this yarn comes out to 8 – 10 stitches = 4 inches while the I was getting 7 stitches = 4 inches for this hat project. It may work when knit on a size US 17 but I would recommend doing a small gauge swatch just to be sure.
I hope this helps and feel free to write back if you have anymore questions!
Happy Knitting!
Jake
I’m gonna try this hat and stitch is simple so I’m hoping to whip some up for Christmas presents, Thank you
I have some extra Plymouth Yarn Encore Mega left over. Can this hat be knit with that yarn?
Diane
Hi Diane,
Thanks for writing in! It looks like Plymouth Encore Mega is a touch thinner than our Gentle Giant. That said, so long as you can get gauge, you should be good to go!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
No decreases required? Is the top bunchy? Thanks of this new pattern!
Hi Jane,
Thanks for writing in! You are correct! There are no decreases at the top of the hat. You will pull the working yarn through the live stitches and cinch up the top. It looks quite fetching!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Love this pattern! Do you think I could make two baby hats from one skein?
Hi Caitlin,
Thanks for writing in! The baby size takes roughly 30 yards of the 48 yard skein so you can only get one hat per skein. If you have 2 skeins, you could make 3 of the baby hats.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Do you know what size the hat displayed on the model in the pictures is? It looks the perfect size for what I would need but wondered whether it is the adult small or adult large?
Hi Kelly,
Thanks for writing in! The model is wearing the Adult Large size in the color way Wolf Brown!
Happy Knitting!
Jake
Could you make this hat by using the magic loop method? It is a really cute hat! Great pattern!!
Hi Kathy,
Thanks for writing in, I’m glad you like the pattern!
You can certainly use the magic loop technique for this project!
Happy Knitting.
Jake
I made this hat using size 15 circs. It knitted up very well in a dense fabric which I need for Maine winters.
I love this pattern, great for last minute Christmas gifts!
The adult size large hat is circumference of 20″. Is there any stretch to the knit hat? My circumference is 22.5″. thanks much
Judy
Hi Judy,
Thanks for writing in!
Yes you can get a good amount of stretch out of this hat!
My head measure’s about 22″ and either the Adult Small or Adult Large fit me! The adult small is a little snug, which I personally like, but the adult large is also a comfortable fit!
I hope this helps! Happy Knitting!
Jake
great. I don’t like a ‘snug’ fit, but from what you are saying the adult large is good for me!
thanks
A great pattern, color ways and answers to questions. I love the simplicity and classic patterns but modern approach to your patterns and yarn. Keep making patterns free.
I visited Purl while in NYC this week and picked up 2 skeins of Gentle Giant. It took no time to make the hat. Love it. The largest needle I had was #15 and the adult large worked out fine.
Hi Jean,
Thanks for writing in and sharing your experience! I’m so glad you like the hats and it’s good to know that they work out on a US 15!
Happy Knitting!
Jake
I have only 20″ US 17 needles, and having knit the first round, it’s pulling a lot to purl the second. I don’t want to spend $27.50 on 16″ needles. Any advice? Thanks! Nancy
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for writing in! For hats we almost always recommend 16″ needles as longer needles will pull at the stitches and cause the hat to be too loose. If you have double points of the appropriate size, you can use those to make the hat. Otherwise, I would recommend purchasing the 16″ needles.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hi, is it better to use circular needles of that exact measurement? I tried on 32 inch 17 needles and it seemed too long… thanks!
Hi Jean,
Great question! For knitting in the round, you will want to use a needle that is shorter than the circumference of the item that you are knitting. If you use a longer needle, your stitches will be stretched out and the finished circumference will not be as your intended. For this project, we used a 16″ needle. Any longer and the hat will not come out correctly. You may also use double pointed needles for the entire project if you like.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
I LOVE this pattern! I was looking for a simple hat pattern that would allow me to learn and practice doing magic loop AND turn out a hat really quickly for my grandson. Wool-Ease Thick and Quick worked really well. Too well, actually. Now the whole family wants hats and I’m working on the fifth one already!!
Can’t wait to start this project! Which type of cast on do you recommend? I am making the adult large and I want to conserve as much yarn as possible since it will take the entire skein.
Hi Almie,
Thanks for writing in! For this and most of our projects, we use the long tail cast on. We think that it creates a nice neat edge. As a rule of thumb, you want to pull 3 times the finished length of the cast on for your tail for the long tail cast on.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I have ordered 3 skeins of this yarn…..hope to make two hats ( the largest size) but only have
US 15circulars. Should I add a few more stiches to the cast on. Rather have them a tad loose than too tight. How would a Pom Pom look?
Thank you for the many hours of just pursuing this wonderful sight.
Hi Estelle,
Thanks for writing in and for your kind words! I think that this hat should work out fine on a US 15! The only thing I would be mindful of is that the stitches will be a little tighter and denser, so the hats will stretch a little bit less and have a slightly snugger fit! You could also add a few more stitches. To do so, you would knit a gauge swatch and find out how many stitches that you are getting per inch and multiply this number by 20 and cast on that number of stitches.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I am back to knitting after 30 years! I love your Gentle Giant yarn and would like to try this hat. Do you think I could handle this?
Thank you!
Hi Jane,
Thank you for writing in!
This project is perfect for getting back into knitting! There are no decreases or double pointed needles needed which not only makes it a quick knit but a pretty simple project to complete.
Happy Knitting!
Jake
I am so pleased with this yarn and pattern, have completed three hats and everyone is clamoring for them! (A lot of granddaughters).
Could you recommend another of your lovely yarns to use with this pattern? I have a 17, 15 and 11 circular needle so would like to stay in that range. Thank you in advance for any help . Estelle
Hi Estelle,
Thanks for writing in! How great that you have such appreciative recipients! In addition to this lovely hat, you could make our Snow Day Hat using US 15s or the Giant Rib Twisted Hat using US 17s or our Super Soft Merino Hats for Everyone using US 11s.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Would this pattern work with the new Shepherdess Alpaca yarn?
Hi Susan,
Thanks for writing in! Our Shepherdess is quite a bit thinner than the Gentle Giant called for here. Shepherdess comes in at about 2.5 – 3 stitches per inch whereas Gentle Giant comes in at about 1.5 – 2 stitches per inch. I don’t believe that it would substitute well here. You may want to try a pattern that calls for our Super Soft Merino (https://www.purlsoho.com/create/category/knit-accessories/knit-accessories-type-hats+knit-accessories-yarn-weight-super-bulky/) as it comes in at a similar gauge to Shepherdess!
Best,
Cassy
I love this hat…but wool (including alpaca) makes my head and ears itch. Do you have any bulky cottons that would work for this hat? Thanks. Kathleen
Hi Kathleen,
Thanks for writing in! I am so sorry to hear about your allergy! The biggest cotton that we carry is Blue Sky Worsted Cotton. You may be able to get gauge by holding 3 strands together but you would definitely need to knit a gauge swatch before beginning to be sure that you are getting an appropriate gauge.
Best,
Cassy
OMG, this patter is lovely. I made the hat in a little over 1 day and I can’t wait to make a few more. I used Blue Sky Fiber Bulky and it worked just fine. I love this pattern. Keep up the good work.
Hi there- would this hat work using 4ply yarn? I knitted my grand daughter a scarf and wanted to make a matching hat. Will I still get the nice edge at the bottom?
Hi Maya,
Thanks for writing in! Our Gentle Giant is a Super Bulky yarn coming in at 1/5-2 stitches per inch. This would make it somewhere between a 12-16 ply on the UK yarn scale. This would by substantially larger than a 4 ply. With a 4 ply yarn you may want to check out these patterns: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/category/knit-accessories/knit-accessories-type-hats+knit-accessories-yarn-weight-fingering/
Best,
Cassy
Could I double two strands of merino script and use a 11 needle to make this hat? Thank you.
Hi Roberta,
Thanks for writing in! Combining strands of yarn is a little more art than science when it comes to gauge. I would suggest trying 2 strands of Merino Script on a US 15 or 17 and seeing if you can get the gauge for this project and if the fabric is tight enough for a hat at that gauge. Given that Merino Script is thick in thin, I cannot say for certain but go ahead and make a gauge swatch and that will help you see if it will work out!
Best,
Cassy
I asked this in an earlier message I sent (on another pattern, but I guess I was really referencing this one….) If I am knitting my swatch for this hat to make an adult large… should I buy 2 skeins or will one skein capture the swatch and an adult large hat comfortably and have enough to weave in my ends nicely?
That you!
Hi A. Fox,
Thanks for writing in! For this pattern, when knitting a gauge swatch, you will need to pull it out and use the yarn to make the hat. The Adult Large size uses the entire skein of Gentle Giant and the next size down uses most of it. If you would like to make a gauge swatch without pulling it out, you will need and additional skein of yarn!
Best,
Cassy
I’m knitting presents for a group of friends, and this hat has been great–easy, fast, love the style. I’ve now finished two, which I’m about to deliver. Your instructions say to steam to block, but I don’t have a steamer. OK to block as usual (cold water with mild detergent, then lay it out flat to dry)? Thanks for your patterns and tutorials, which have gotten me back into knitting after many years away….
Hi Holly,
Thanks for writing in! We would not suggest wet blocking Gentle Giant. As it is a loosely spun yarn, wet blocking can compact the fibers. This takes away from the lovely loft and bloom of the yarn. If you have a iron with steam, you can use this to steam your finished hats. Turn the steam on the iron and hold it several inches over the hat and apply steam. You will not want to apply the iron directly to the item or press it through a towel as this will also compact the fibers.
I hope that this helps!
Cassu
I am a total beginner attempting my first hat. Baby’s noggin measures 18.5″ at browline (where I imagine the hat will sit). Which size do you suggest I make?
Thanks!
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for writing in! As hats should be knit with a bit of negative ease, I would suggest knitting the kid size for your little one! You may need to use the height of the baby size but it should work well!
Best,
Cassy
I just finished this hat. It was so easy and the yarn is beautiful. Is there any reason why I should block it? It looks perfect the way it is.
Thank you for providing such beautiful yarns and free patterns.
Hello Randi,
Thank you for writing in. Blocking is totally optional, so if you are happy with it I would say don’t worry about it!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Great pattern! After reading several comments concerning switching needle sizes based on availability, I strongly recommend purchasing a set of interchangeable needles for anyone who loves to knit hats. I have several (nice friends who checked my list to Santa), but the Denise is my go-to set. They are SO worth the investment. I finally donated all my straight and other circular needles to someone who volunteers at our cancer center teaching patients this great craft. Just a suggestion . . .
Would Drops Andes work for this pattern? As I have bought too much and need to use it.
Thank You.
Hello Shivan,
Thank you for reaching out! As long as you are achieving a gauge of 7 stitches per 4 inches on a size 17 needle it should work out great. I would just knit up a little gauge swatch to see if this yarn will work. I hope this helps!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Thank you, but I still get 7 stitches to just under 3 inches on the US 17s, but on US 13s I get 10 stitches to about 3.5 inches. What would you suggest I do to adjust my gauge?
Hi Shivan,
Thanks for writing back! It seems as though Drops Andes may be a good bit thinner than our Gentle Giant. To get the required gauge, you may need to go up to a US 19. Alternately, our Super Soft Merino Hats for Everyone might be a better fit for your yarn! It seems as thought the gauge of Andes is a bit closer to our Super Soft Merino.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hi there!
How could I go about adding a brim to this hat so it can be rolled? Would it just require a few additional inches at the bottom? Do you think one skein would be enough for an adult small?
Thanks so much!
Hi Hannah,
Thanks for writing in! To add a bit of a rolled brim, I would suggest adding 1-2 inches to the hat. This should give you a nice roll to the brim. Adding additional length will require a second skein as we used most of it for the adult small and all of it for the adult large!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Thank you for sharing such a great, quick hat! I love that Gentle Giant. Any tips for the last bit where you thread through the live stitches? Even pulling it as tight as I could I ended up with a little .75” diameter opening at the very top. I can live with the sort of James Turrell thing I’ve got going, but I bet someone has a trick to cinch it all the way tight and eliminate the hole. Thank you!
Hi Chelsea,
Thanks for the kind words! It can be difficult to get all those bulky stitches gathered up nice and tight! I would try threading through the stitches with a scrap of a thinner sturdy yarn in a matching color, such as a worsted weight plied wool, so you can really give it a good tug without being afraid of the yarn breaking. If that still doesn’t work, I think all those cute bunchy gathers at the top of the hat should distract anyone from noticing any opening that might be left!
Good luck, and I hope that helps!
Julianna
I did not receive my free download
Hello Enel,
Thank you for reaching out! If you’re on a desktop version of the site, you will find a “print” icon in the right column just below the date and tags. If you’re on a mobile version of the site, you will find a “print” icon below the pattern and above the comments.
Follow the easy on-screen instructions to delete whichever parts of the pattern you don’t want to print or save. For example, you may decide to shorten the pattern by omitting certain images or the list of materials. To remove images, click the drop down next to the image icon and change from 100% to 0%.
I hope this helps and let us know if you have any further questions!
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hey! I followed the pattern, but it confused me when it said repeat round 2. The picture looks like stockinette stitch, but if you just knit the rest then it turns out weird! Should I just stockinette it?
Hi Sienna,
Thanks for writing in! It sounds like you may not be knitting your hat in the round – although knitting every row when working flat creates garter stitch, knitting every row when working in the round does create stockinette stitch.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
I am trying to buythyarn, but can’t view my purchases and buy
Hello Ruth,
Thank you for writing- I’m sorry you are having trouble completing your purchase! You can find our Gentle Giant Yarn here from here you should be able to add the color of your choice to your basket and check out. If there continues to be issues please contact our Customer Service e-mail address Customerservice@purlsoho.com.
I hope this helps and good luck!
-Marilla
I find these short circular needles really difficult to work with. This time, for the “Gentle Giant”, I got a 20″ length and STILL it feels cumbersome. Also, such needles, expensive as they are, can only be used for a rather short number of stitches. Would this particular hat – and other similar ones – not knit properly if we used, say, 30″ needles? Just wondering, because I’ve never tried, but the project would seem more maneuverable.
Hi Lina,
Thanks for reaching out! Although small circumference circular needles can be a bit awkward, unfortunately a 30 inch needle would be too long, since the circumference of the hat is only 20 inches. If you are familiar with the magic loop method for knitting, that might be a good solution since it uses a 47 inch needle which would both be more comfortable to hold and be more useful for other projects.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
I have US-13, 16-inch circular needles. (My US-17 needles are 24-inch, which I know won’t work.) Do you think I might be able to make the US-13 needles work for this, or do I need just to purchase US-17 needles? Thanks in advance for your help!
Hello Manda,
Thank you for this question! Yes, you will need to either get the US-17 16″ or US-17 Double Pointed Needles. Unfortunately the US-13 will be to small for this yarn.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Thanks! I got the US-17 needles and am casting on this afternoon.
Those for whom I wish to knit these can’t have wool. What weight yarn would you recommend?
Hello Jeannie,
Thank you for reaching out! This hat is knit with a Jumbo weight with a gauge of 1.5 – 2 stitches per inch.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
I’m a true beginner trying to learn to knit off my phone. I just need to know if I choose to use 2 different colors do I just purl 1 row with my solid color to get the same look as your hats?
Thanks so much for the help..
Hello Patty,
Thank you for reaching out! We knit this hat up with a single tone and did one round of purling to start.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Because this is knit in the round and the color changes are tight and smooth, couldn’t she add a second color whenever she wants?
Hi Peggy,
Thanks for writing in. We knit up this hat in just one color, and we purled the first round! It is completely possible to add in a second color. Hope this clarifies things!
All the best,
Lili
I’m a Beginner at first knit work. For This Beanie May I use not circular needles but normal one- 15mm 19Us?thank you ❤️
Hello,
Thank you for reaching out! This hat is knit in the round so it has to be done with circular needles. Our Four pokes Hat and out Simple Hand Warmers and Hat are both knit flat. However they both use thinner yarns.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
This pattern has been a lifesaver for odd balls of yarn, I’ve knitted it with double strand 8ply & worsted, chunky, novelty yarn and each hat has turned out great. It’s a very forgiving design in that it doesn’t have to be an exact size and it’s a very comforting fit. Thank you Purl Soho!
Can this pattern be adapated to allow for a more ‘slouchy’ look? Would I just make the tube longer before binding off? Or would it not really look right because the yarn is heavy? How many skeins do you think I’d need to make a size L adult hat with some slouch in the back? Thanks!
Hi Sheila,
Thanks for writing in! Yes, you could definitely knit the body of the hat longer to add a bit of slouch! You are right that this yarn makes a very heavy or thick knitted fabric, so I wouldn’t make it extra slouchy, but a few inches would look nice without looking exaggerated. Since even the largest size of this hat only requires one skein of Gentle Giant, two skeins should be plenty to knit two or three extra inches, and even add a pom pom if you would like!
I hope that helps, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
Thank you for the quick response. I’m ordering now and will let you know how it turns out!
Hello! I am a new knitter and this hat is my first experience with circular needles and knitting in the round. I’ve cast on and gotten through a few rows but it looks like the hat is being knit inside out – I see the stockinette stitch pattern on the inside of the circular needles but not the outside. Is there a step at the end where I flip the hat, or have I done something wrong, or will this issue correct itself as I keep knitting? Thank you!!
Hi Adrienne,
Thanks for reaching out! This is a very common mistake that knitters who are new to knitting in the round make – though I do use the term “mistake” loosely in this case, as you haven’t really done anything wrong! All you have to do is turn the hat right side out by pushing it through the center of the circular needles so that the knit side of the fabric is facing out. You could technically knit the whole hat inside out and turn it right side out when you are done and it would turn out exactly the same, but it is nice to have a better idea of what the finished hat will look like by turning it right side out now!
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Very helpful, thank you for the reply!
Hello, I am just wondering how many stitches would I need to cast on if I were to use 4.5mm needles and 10 ply yarn? I am a beginner and really like this pattern but don’t have the required yarn/needles!
Thank you
Hello Jade,
Thank you for reaching out! Unfortunately this hat’s proportions are designed for this specific gauge. I would recommend checking our out our Essential Hat, Mitten + Hand Warmer Set. This will be much closer to what you have.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Probably a stupid question–I started the Adult Small, and I guess I was pulling it too tight, but the circumference was closer to 16 1/2 inches (I was nearly done, but I ripped it all out). And it didn’t seem to be very stretchy (I tried to put it on my own head). Anyway, I’m thinking of trying to knit more loosely and I was thinking of casting on 33 stitches instead of 31. Stupid idea?
Hi Judy,
Thanks for writing in! If you haven’t already, I would suggest knitting a gauge swatch to see how much that will affect the size of the hat. At our gauge of 7 stitches to 4 inches, two additional stitches would only add about an inch to the circumference, and if your gauge is even tighter, it will add less, so two stitches might not be enough to get your finished hat circumference to where you want it to be. If your gauge is significantly tighter than ours, I would recommend knitting the hat on a US 19 instead – it should get you to the right gauge and loosen everything up so the knitted fabric is stretchier!
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi there, I have a set of size 17 needles that are 24″ long . Will the extra length cause much trouble or could I use it for this project? I am an advanced beginner/intermediate knitter.
Thanks,
Audra
Hi Audra,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately, for most of the sizes, you won’t be able to knit this hat on a 24″ needle. Since the finished circumference of the hat is significantly less than 24 inches, it won’t be possible to stretch the stitches that far around the needle. It may be possible to knit the Adult Large on your needle, but it is still four inches smaller around than the needle, so it will be somewhat uncomfortable to knit and you may find that the stitches come out a bit distorted from being stretched. If possible, I would strongly recommend getting a 16 inch needle instead!
Best,
Julianna
Hello,
Could I substitute the Gentle Giant yarn recommended for the homestretch hat for Cascade Magnum? I bought enough for an eleventh hour blanket a couple of years ago and have never made it. I thought perhaps I could make some hats instead?
thanks Lea 🙂
Hi Lea,
Great question! Although I would recommend knitting a gauge swatch just to make sure, Gentle Giant and Cascade Magnum do usually knit up to the same gauge, so you should be able to use it for this hat. You could also try our Trio of Colorwork Hats!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
I love this hat. However, I am a woman with a large head–most hats are a little too small for me. Is the large size for a man or for a woman with a larger head?
Hi Karen,
Thanks for asking! Our largest size knits up to a 20″ hat, unstretched, which should be suitable for a man or a woman at the larger end of the size spectrum. I hope this helps!
Happy Knitting!
Cassandra
Hello.
Thanks for posting all of these comments. Here’s an additional question: Is the pompom shown on the hats in the pictures made with the same wool/yarn.
Thanks!
Hi Kristina,
Great question! Yes, for our Two-Color Homestretch Hats, we used Gentle Giant for the pom poms as well, to create the fluffiest, jumbo-est pom pom possible!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Hello. I am very much a beginner knitter. I just completed the hat (it’s beautiful) and somehow, my last row is only 34 stitches. I am unsure what I did incorrectly before removing the circular needles. How would you suggest fixing/adding the 35th stitch? I already thread the loose stitches.
Also, I did a long tail cast on so there is about 12″ of yarn at beginning of hat (which seems wasteful). What cast on do you recommend for this pattern?
Hi Amy,
Thanks for reaching out! As long as you don’t have a dropped stitch or any holes in your hat, there’s no need to add the extra stitch at this point! You can go ahead and cinch the top of the hat tightly and weave in your ends. We use and recommend the Long Tail Cast On for most of our projects, but incorrectly estimating how much yarn you will need to work it is a common frustration – you’re not alone! Next time, you can try wrapping your yarn around your needle once for every stitch you will be casting on and then adding about six inches. This should give you a better idea of how much yarn you will need to cast on so you won’t run out or end up with too much extra!
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi. I love this hat. I have about a million friends I would like to make this for. I am wondering if I can knit this hat on a round loom. It seems like it wouldn’t be too hard to translate into a round loom pattern. Hopefully so! Thank you.
Hi Katherine
Thanks for the great question! As long as your loom has the corresponding number of pegs, I don’t see why it wouldn’t work! The only issue you might have is the purl round at the beginning, which if you replaced with a few more stockinette rows you could have a rolled brim. Please let us know how it works out!
Happy knitting!
Jessica
Hi just wondering if it is possible to use 15″ needles for this project?
Hi Olivia,
Thanks for writing in! Getting the correct gauge is very important in making sure your hat fits, so I would definitely recommend knitting a gauge swatch. If you are able to match our gauge of seven stitches to four inches, then yes, you can use a US 15!
Best,
Julianna
Hi, directions say Adult large finished circumference is 20″. Does that mean it will fit up to a 20″ sized head, but will be to tight for larger heads? Thanks, I’m new at this.
Hi and thanks for reaching out! Knitted hats fit best when they have a little negative ease, meaning that the actual circumference of the hat should be a little smaller than the wearer’s head. This 20 inch hat should comfortably stretch to fit a 22 to 23 inch head!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Can one use the Gentle Giant yarn with the Small/Large pom-pom kit? I want to make a hat for a child and I think the larger pom-pom kit would make something too large proportionately for a child’s head. However, I want the yarns in the hat and the pom-pom to match.
Thanks,
Hi Lia,
Thanks for reaching out! You could absolutely use Gentle Giant on the Small/Large pom-pom maker and it will result in a smaller/more dense pop pom!
All the best,
Gianna
Hi! I have enough Gentle Giant left over from the granny square blanket (I used the different center colours as borders as well as the off white and it looks fantastic!!)
I can’t find the right size and length circular needles. Can you please advise on how to go about making it with dbl pointed needles?
Thank you!
Hi Amy,
Thanks for reaching out! You can find the needle here: SKACEL Addi Turbo Circular Needles, you can select the needle size as a US 17 and the length as 16″! If you would rather work on the double pointed needles you can cast on as you would on to the DPNs and join in the round working as you would on circulars. Only thing to take into consideration is that the double pointed needles may not be long enough to fit all of your stitches on which could cause some problems while you work. I would suggest going with the US 17 16″ circular needles to insure you can fit all of the stitches comfortably.
I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Gianna
Is it me, or are there no directions for decreasing stitches in this pattern? Thanks
Hi Beth,
Thanks for reaching out! This hat in fact does not have any decreases! You knit until the hat measures 7 3/4 (8 3/4, 9 3/4, 10 3/4) inches from the cast on edge and then you Cut the yarn, leaving about a 12-inch tail and thread the tail onto a tapestry needle, and thread the needle through all the live stitches and pull taut. Since there are no decreases when you pull the yarn through the live stitches to finish you get the great little pulled in top!
I hope this clarifies things!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi! It looks like it is all purl stitches on the outside! Should I be knitting one row and then purling the next, it seems like if I knit the whole thing it will just be a knit stitch! Let me know! Thank you!
Hi Chase,
Thanks for reaching out! Since this hat is worked in the round and not flat you are only working over the right side of the fabric and that is why you knit every row! If you were to knit one row and purl one row while working in the round you would end up with a Garter Stitch rather than Stockinette Stitch!
I hope this clarifies things!
Warmly,
Gianna
Can I knit this on a # 17 straight needle?
Hi Jo,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, you could definitely knit this hat flat on a US 17 straight needle and then seam it up at the end!
Warmly,
Gianna
I have just finished my gauge swatch, I am a little off (8 stitches/4″, my row count is good at 10. What are my options? Could I cast on 40 stitches (for the Large size), but then how much more yarn would I need (I do have 2 skeins of your Gentle Giant yarn)? Or to save on the yarn should I just use a larger needle, what size would you recommend (I have the Addi turbo US17)? Any other suggestions? I’m in Hawaii so I will have to wait for the order to be mailed, bummer I really wanted to get started on this hat (ha ha, obviously not for me but for my niece in Chicago!)
Hi Cindy,
Thanks for reaching out! Since your gauge is so close to the written gauge you may be ok going forward with the US 17 needles! You may be able to adjust your tension a bit to get the 7 stitches for 4″ or even when you block the finished hat you can re distribute the stitches to get the right gauge! But since this hat doesn’t have crown shaping you can easily adjust the cast on, which size are you planning on making?
Warmly,
Gianna
Good ideas, thank you. I’m planning to make the adult large.
i want to make this hat and do not know what size pom pom maker i should purhase. Please advise. thanks so much.
Hi Judy,
Thanks for writing in. The size of the pom pom maker you should buy depends on what weight yarn you’re using! If you’re using a bulky weight yarn like Gentle Giant, then I would recommend buying the Jumbo Set! Hope this helps.
All the best,
Lili
Hello,
I would like to try this with the Super Soft Merino. The yarn calls for a US11. Does this make sense or should I go bigger (smaller?). I will do a swatch to be sure but thought you could advise to save time. I did make it with the Gentle Giant and love it. I don’t mind if it looks a little different because of the yarn change. It’s more or less an experiment. Many thanks.
Hi Joyce,
Thanks for reaching out! Since Super Soft Merino is a lighter weight yarn than Gentle Giant and uses a smaller needle, so to knit this hat you will want to go down in needle size (we recommend a US 11). To start out you will want to work a gauge swatch, this is an important part of the process when changing yarn/needle size. From there you will be able to calculate your stitches per inch to determine how many stitches to cast on! For more information about gauge, I would suggest checking out our lovely tutorial All About Gauge, it is an excellent resource to use!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Can I make this hat with Comet yarn. Any adjustments?
Hi Stevee,
Yes, Comet is a great choice for this hat! Just be sure to knit up a gauge swatch before beginning so that you can determine the best needles to use. You may need to size up or down to achieve the gauge of the pattern!
All the best,
Lili
Hello – I should have all the right tools and yarn to make one of these HomeStretch hats (I purchased it all from your site!) but I think the pattern that goes with says to cast on, then purl one row, then knit the rest. When I look at the pictures of your finished hats, it looks like there are 2 purled rows instead of one. I have made many hats but still consider myself a beginner and not very good at recognizing various stitches. Can you clarify?
Hi Laurie,
Thank you for your question! We made these hats with just a single round of purl stitches. The cast on edge sits right below that round and gives it the look of two purl rounds but it is just the one. I hope this helps clarify but please let me know if you have any other questions!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
Hi, I love this hat but am struggling with a nice finish where I connect it in the round after casting on. Do you have any tips for making it look seamless?
Thanks in advance,
Hi Sofie,
Thanks for writing in! The best way to ensure a smooth cast-on edge is to weave in your end over the “join.” This will allow you full control over how the stitches align, and you should be able to smooth everything out. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili