Adult Stocking Stitch Hat

Working abbreviation	Meaning
alt	alternate
cont	continue
dec	decrease(ing)
foll	following
inc	increase(ing)
k	knit
0	no stitches or times
p	purl
psso	pass slipped stitch over
rem	remain(ing)
rep	repeat
rs	right side
s1	slip 1 stitch knitways
sts	stitch(es)
tbl	through back of loop
tog	together
ws	wrong side
yfwd	Yarn forward
yrn	yarn round needle
cm	centimetres
mm	millimmetres
in	inch(es)

1 x 40cm circular needle size 3.75mm

1 x 40cm circular needle size 4.00mm

1 x 9cm circular needle or 1 x set of 4mm DPN's

Sizes: Adult female and Adult male

Width around the head approximately adult female  58cms and adult male 61cms

Using a 3.75mm circular needle cast on 126 or 134 stitches.

1st rnd: work in 1 x 1 rib (K1, P1)  (Place a stitch marker at the beginning  of the first round so that you know where your round starts and finishes)

Next rnd: Continue working in 1 x 1 rib until your hat measures 12cms for the adult female and 14cms for the adult male.

Change to size 4mm circular needle

Next rnd: Knit increasing 1 stitch at the end of the rnd. 

Next rnd: knit 

Next rnd: Continue to repeat the knit round until your hat measures 20cms for the adult female and 22cms for the adult male.

Shape the crown

You may find it helpful to place stitch markers at the decrease points in each rnd so that you can see where you need to decrease next


Adult female

1st rnd: K10, K2tog, K11, K2tog (5 times) K2 [117 stitches]

2nd and alternate rnds: knit

3rd rnd: K9, K2tog, K10, K2tog (5 times) K2 [107 stiches]

5th rnd: K8, K2tog, K9, K2tog (5 times) K2 [97 stitches]

Continue decreasing 10 stitches as set in every alternate row until you have 17 stitches remaining.

When you have 17 stitches remaining break off the yarn, run the yarn through the remaining stitches and draw up and fasten off.

If your work becomes unmanageable on your 40cm circular needle  move your stitches onto the 9cm circular needle or  DPN's  for ease to complete.

Adult male

1st rnd: K11,  K2tog (1 time),   (K11, K2tog, K12, K2tog) (4 times),  K11, K2tog (1 time) K1

[125 stitches]

2nd and alternate rnds: knit

3rd rnd: K10,  K2tog (1 time),   (K10, K2tog, K11, K2tog) (4 times),  K10, K2tog (1 time) K1

 [115 stitches]

5th rnd: K9,  K2tog (1 time),   (K9, K2tog, K10, K2tog) (4 times),  K9, K2tog (1 time) K1

 [105 stitches]

Continue decreasing 10 stitches as set in every alternate row until you have 15 stitches remaining.

When you have 15 stitches remaining break off the yarn, run the yarn through the remaining stitches and draw up and fasten off.

If your work becomes unmanageable on your 40cm circular needle  move your stitches onto the 9cm circular needle or  DPN's  for ease to complete.

Mx