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.
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