Easy Hat, Mittens + Hand Warmers
Whether you are a brand-new knitter or a very experienced elf, our Easy Hat, Mittens + Hand Warmers will polish off your gift list in a jiffy!
The simplest of patterns, you can make these your first hat, pair of mittens, or hand warmers… Or the ones you turn to again and again when you need a fast and easy knit. Either way, their effortless, handmade beauty will make them a favorite every time!
The source of all this beauty? The amazing 100% merino fiber of Super Soft Merino!
This single ply yarn is a pliable, plump, generous beauty that is wonderfully, touch-ably soft.
It’s a chunky/ bulky weight, so your hats, mittens, and hand warmers will be done in a wink, but its loftiness means your knits will never feel heavy… Just cozy-as-can-be!
Super Soft Merino has a lively palette of 36 gorgeous colors, and you only need one or two skeins of your favorite to cast on for one of these accessible accessories… Or grab some extras and whip up a set!
Designed for Purl Soho by Lili Tobias. Lili spends most of her time knitting, listening to music, or doing both at the same time. She also happens to be our wonderful Customer Service Coordinator!
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoEasyHatMittensAndHandWarmers, and #PurlSohoSuperSoftMerino. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
HAT
- 1 (1, 1, 1, 2) skein(s) of Purl Soho’s Super Soft Merino, 100% merino wool. Each skein is approximately 87 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 45 (55, 65, 85, 105) total yards required. We used the colors Heirloom White, Super Pink, Pale Verdigris, and Sapphire Blue.
- US 11 (8 mm) 16-inch circular needles, for Adult sizes
- A set of US 11 double pointed needles, for all sizes
- Stitch markers, including one unique
MITTENS
- 1 (1, 2, 2) skein(s) of Purl Soho’s Super Soft Merino, 100% merino wool. Each skein is approximately 87 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 55 (70, 100, 140) total yards required. We used the color Berry Blue.
- A set of US 11 double pointed needles
- Stitch markers, including one unique
- Scrap yarn
HAND WARMERS
- 1 (1, 1, 2) skein(s) of Purl Soho’s Super Soft Merino, 100% merino wool. Each skein is approximately 87 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 50 (60, 87, 120) total yards required. We used the color Peachy Pink.
- A set of US 11 double pointed needles
- Stitch markers, including one unique
- Stitch holder (or scrap yarn)
GAUGE
12 stitches and 17 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
SIZES
HAT
Baby (Toddler, Kid, Adult Small/Medium, Adult Medium/Large)
- Finished Circumference: 13¼ (14¾, 17¼, 18¾, 21¼) inches
- Finished Height: 7 (8, 9, 9¾, 10¾) inches, with instructions to modify
SAMPLES: The Heirloom White hat is the Baby size, Super Pink is the Toddler size, Pale Verdigris is the Kid size, and Sapphire Blue is the Adult Small/Medium.
MITTENS + HAND WARMERS
Toddler (Kid, Adult Small/Medium, Adult Medium/Large)
- Finished Palm Circumference: 4¾ (6, 7¼, 8¾) inches
- Hand Warmers Finished Length: 6¾ (7¾, 10, 11¾) inches, with instructions to modify
- Mittens Finished Length: 8½ (9½, 12½, 14¾) inches, with instructions to modify
SAMPLES: We knit the Adult Small/Medium for both.
HAT PATTERN
BODY
Using a basic Long Tail Cast On, cast 40 (44, 52, 56, 64) stitches onto circular needles or double pointed needles, depending on the size you are making.
Place a unique marker and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.
Knit every round until piece measures 5½ (6½, 7, 7½, 8) inches from unrolled cast-on edge (edge will roll approximately ½ inch), or until 1¾ (2, 2½, 2¾, 3¼) inches from desired finished height.
CROWN
Set-Up Round: [K10 (11, 13, 14, 16), place marker] 3 times, knit to end of round. [4 total markers]
Decrease Round: [Slip slip knit (ssk), knit to 2 stitches before next marker, knit 2 together (k2tog), sm] 4 times. [8 stitches decreased]
Next Round: Knit to end of round.
Repeat last two rounds 2 (3, 4, 4, 5) more times. [16 (12, 12, 16, 16) stitches remain]
BABY, ADULT SMALL/MEDIUM, AND ADULT MEDIUM/LARGE SIZES ONLY
Next Round: [Ssk, k2tog, sm] 4 times. [8 stitches remain]
ALL SIZES
Cut yarn and thread tail onto a tapestry needle. Draw twice through remaining stitches and pull tightly to secure. Bring tail to inside of Hat to weave in.
FINISHING
Weave in all ends and gently steam block, if desired.
MITTENS + HAND WARMERS PATTERN
CUFF
Using a basic Long Tail Cast On, cast 14 (18, 22, 26) stitches onto three double pointed needles.
Place a unique marker and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.
Knit every round until piece measures 3 (3¼, 4½, 5) inches from cast-on edge.
GUSSET
Set-Up Round: K7 (9, 11, 13), place marker (pm), knit to end of round.
Increase Round: Knit to 1 stitch before next marker, make 1 right, k1, slip marker (sm), k1, make 1 left, knit to end of round. [2 stitches increased]
Continuing in stockinette stitch, repeat Increase Round every 3rd round 2 (2, 3, 4) more times. [20 (24, 30, 36) stitches]
Knit 2 rounds even.
Division Round: K7 (9, 11, 13), slip next 6 (6, 8, 10) stitches onto stitch holder or scrap yarn for Thumb (removing marker), knit to end of round. [14 (18, 22, 26) live stitches]
PALM
HAND WARMERS ONLY
Knit every round until Palm measures 1¾ (2½, 2¾, 3¼) inches from on-hold Thumb stitches, or until desired finished length.
Bind off all stitches.
Continue to Thumb, below.
MITTENS ONLY
Knit every round until Palm measures 2½ (3, 3½, 4) inches from on-hold Thumb stitches, or until approximately 1 (1¼, 1¾, 2) inches from desired finished length.
RIGHT MITTEN ONLY
Set-Up Partial Round: Remove unique end-of-round marker, k6 (8, 10, 12), pm, k7 (9, 11, 13), replace unique marker for new end of round. [1 stitch remains unknit in the round]
LEFT MITTEN ONLY
Set-Up Round: Remove unique end-of-round marker, k1, replace unique marker for new end of round, k7 (9, 11, 13), pm, knit to end of round.
BOTH MITTENS
Decrease Round: [Slip slip knit (ssk), knit to 2 stitches before next marker, knit 2 together (k2tog), sm] 2 times. [4 stitches decreased]
Next Round: Knit to end of round.
Repeat last 2 rounds 0 (0, 1, 2) more time(s), then repeat Decrease Round 1 (2, 2, 2) more time(s). [6 stitches remain]
Cut yarn and thread tail onto a tapestry needle. Draw twice through remaining stitches and pull tightly to secure. Bring tail to inside of Mitten to weave in.
THUMB
Slip on-hold stitches back onto three double pointed needles and place marker for end of round. [6 (6, 8, 10) stitches]
Set-Up Round: Join yarn at base of Thumb and knit to last stitch, pick up and knit 2 stitches along base of Thumb. [8 (8, 10, 12) stitches]
Next Round: Knit to last 2 stitches, knit 2 together (k2tog). [7 (7, 9, 11) stitches remain]
HAND WARMERS ONLY
Knit 1 (2, 3, 4) rounds even, or until desired finished length.
Bind off all stitches.
MITTENS ONLY
Knit 5 (6, 7, 8) rounds even, or until approximately ¼ inch from desired finished length.
Next Round: K1, *k2tog, repeat from * to end of round [4 (4, 5, 6) stitches remain]
Cut yarn and thread tail onto a tapestry needle. Draw twice through remaining stitches and pull tightly to secure. Bring tail to inside of Thumb to weave in.
FINISHING
Weave in all ends and gently steam block, if desired.
Love these easy patterns make it simple to teach young children.
Hi Dorothy,
We’re so happy to hear that you’re a fan of this pattern! Thank you for your kind comment!
All the best,
Cat
Can you tell me please why the edge on these is not curled up, since this is all knit-in-the-round stockinette?
Hi Joan,
Great question! Stockinette edges tend to curl more across longer edges, but sometimes on projects with shorter edges (like hats and mittens), the edge won’t curl as much. We also blocked our samples, which also minimizes rolling!
All the best,
Lili
The adult medium/large hat is turning out to be humongous, and I have a large head. It’s falling in my eyes. I am debating frogging the entire hat and starting over with less stitches. I love the yarn and the simple pattern, but think the size is a bit misleading. It’s more like an XL!
Hi J,
I’m so sorry to hear that your hat is turning out too large! Can you let me know what your gauge measurements are? It could be that your stitch gauge is too large, which would cause the hat to be too large.
It also could be that the Adult Small/Medium size would be a better choice! Hats are generally designed to fit with negative ease so that they fit snugly around your head, so it’s best to choose a size that’s at least 2 inches smaller than your head circumference. So if your head circumference is under 23 1/4 inches around, then the Adult Medium/Large size will probably be too large!
All the best,
Lili
Since I tend to knit tightly, too large should not be a problem. I am getting 15 st / 4 inches, so 3.75 stitches per inch. I frogged the entire hat and started over with 60 stitches since it’s divisible by 4.
Based on the 18.75” circumference given for the small/medium hat, then add 2” to accommodate negative ease, that is way too small for my head.
Oh interesting! It looks like your gauge is tighter than the gauge of the pattern. I just wanted to let you know that with a gauge of 3.75 stitches per inch, a hat with a 60-stitch cast-on will end up having a 16-inch finished circumference. It sounds like that might be smaller than you’re aiming for, since you mentioned that the Adult Small/Medium size would be too small!
All the best,
Lili
hi for kid and toddler size does us 11 size 16 work?
Hi Rene,
Thanks for your question! We recommend always knitting a gauge swatch to make sure you are able to meet the pattern gauge for correct sizing and fit. In this case, the gauge is 12 stitches and 17 rounds per 4 inches in stockinette stitch. I recommend starting with a needle size of US 11 but depending on knitting styles, some knitters will see after swatching that they will need to size up or down on their needles. You can check out our All About Gauge tutorial here for a look at how to do this.
I hope this helps but let us know if you have any other questions!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
I knitted my first hat, yeeha! Thanks to the description that said that the pattern is abolutely simple I finally dared to cast on some (cheap) yarn and started yesterday afternoon. This morning I finished my first ever self-knitted had, on circular needles of which I was until yesterday, ahem, a bit affraid of using :-). But soon I enjoyed the rhythmic clicking of the needles and the shape that grew and grew. And OK, my hat doesn’t really look like the nice model in the photos and while decreasing I may have counted not completely corrected and some other minor mistakes, but I’m soooooo proud I did it! Will definitely try some other yarns and count better next time because I’m going to try out this pattern again (and again and again and…) Thank you Purl Soho for this nice uncomplicated pattern. I’m a big (Belgian) fan of your patterns and website. Most of the patterns are beyond my reach, but I’m always having a goooooooood time just by browsing your site <3.
Hi Barbara,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! We always welcome feedback and hearing that you found joy in this pattern was such great news! Now you are well on your way to all things in the round!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella