All of the free patterns and tutorials on this website are supported by my amazing Patreons! If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be able to continue to produce or host freebies. We’d love to have you join us and in return, you get exclusive behind-the-scenes material, member-only discounts and early access to new free content. Membership starts at $1 per month. You can also say thanks for the freebie via the Tip Jar.

Hat Description

The Simple Slouch is worked in stocking stitch. It’s a roomy Hat featuring a sideways garter stitch brim and a gathered crown. The pompom is optional

Pattern Availability

My Patreon supporters and members of The Woolly Hat Society get exclusive early access to new free patterns and tutorials. Once the exclusive period is over, they’re published here on the blog for everyone to use.

Pattern Support

If you have a question about this pattern, pop it in a comment below. Sorry, but I’m unable to help with my free patterns or tutorials via email or private messages.

Social Media

Share your hand-knit Hats online with these hashtags!
#WoollyWormhead
#WWSimpleSlouchHat

Yarn

100g/160yd/147m
Chunky weight, single or plied yarn; solid, semi-solid or variegated yarns.

Needles & Notions

Set 5mm/UK6/US8 DPNS/Circular or size needed to obtain gauge
5mm crochet hook
Approx 1yd/1m waste yarn
Stitch marker as necessary
Tapestry needle

Sample Details

Shown in Hand Spun [160yd/147m per 100g; 100% Superwash Merino]

Shown in size 22in/56cm on model with 21.75in/55.25cm circumference head

Gauge

16 sts x 24 rows to 4in/10cm on 5mm needles over Garter St.

Sizes

To fit size: 18 [20, 22, 24] in/ 45.75 [50.75, 56, 61] cm
Finished size: 16.25 [17.5, 18.75, 20] in/ 41.275 [44.5, 47.5, 50.75] cm

Not sure which size to make? Check my handy size and measuring guide!

Skills Required

Crochet Provisional cast-on
Knitting in the round
Increases and Decreases
Slipped Stitch Selvedge
Picking up Stitches from a Slipped Stitch Selvedge
Pompoms
Grafting Garter Stitch
Gathered Bind-off
Modified Gathered Bind-off
Blocking a Hand Knit Hat

Abbreviations

K: knit
P: purl
rpt: repeat
R/rnd(s): rounds
st(s): stitch(es)
M1: pick up the horizontal loop before the next stitch, place it onto the left needle & knit into the front of it

How To

Using waste yarn and Provisional Cast-on method, cast on 7 [8, 9, 10] sts. Change to main yarn.

Brim

Row 1: Knit to last stitch, bring yarn forward, slip stitch purlwise, turn

Row 2: Knit all sts

Repeat these 2 rows, working a Slipped Stitch Selvedge along one edge, until 128 [138, 148, 158] rows, or 64 [69, 74, 79] ridges have been worked.

When counting ridges ensure that the ridge count on both sides of the work is the same, including the ridge created with the provisional cast-on.

Then work Row 1 once more, leaving the yarn at the back. Break yarn leaving a 1yd/1m tail.

Carefully remove Provisional Cast-on stitch by stitch, taking care to keep in pattern, transferring live stitches to 2nd needle. Bring both sets of stitches together and perform Grafting for Garter Stitch across all the stitches.

With the slipped stitch selvedge facing upwards, and using a circular needle, pick up and knit 65 [70, 75, 80] sts along the top edge of the band. You’ll pick up one stitch for each garter ridge, and the stitch will be picked up from behind the selvedge edge – pick up the stitches by slipping the needle underneath the edge of the ridge.

Join in the round. Place stitch marker to indicate start of round.

Inc Rnd: *K5, M1; rpt from * to end [78, 84, 90, 96 sts]

Body

Rnd 1: Knit all sts

Repeat this round until work measures 7 [8, 9, 10] in/ 17.75 [20.25, 23, 25.5] cm, excluding the Brim.

Crown

Using either the Gathered Bind-off or the Modified Gathered Bind-off, transfer all stitches from the needle to yarn and gather to close.

Pompom

Cut 2 circular pieces measuring 2.5in/6.25cm diameter from thin cardboard. The inner circle should be approx. 1.25in/3.25cm. Placing the two pieces of card together, wrap the yarn through the centre and around the outer circle until all the card is covered. Continue wrapping the yarn until either the centre hole has closed or all the yarn has been used.

Carefully cut the yarn along the edge of the circle to reveal the covered card. Cut all of the yarn, then tie a knot between the two layers off card, effectively tying all the pieces of yarn together, before removing the card. Trim pompom before attaching securely to the Hat.

Finishing

Weave in all ends and block as required. Attach pompom after blocking.

Need Help With This Pattern?

If you’ve a question about this pattern, please pop it in the comments below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can! I’m afraid I’m unable to offer help via email or private message, but you’re welcome to post in our forum.

Print This!

If you’d like to print this free pattern, either use the ‘Print’ button below or right-click in your browser, adjust the settings to suit your needs, and select ‘Save as PDF’ for a digital copy, or your printer for a paper copy. You can use the scale option to reduce or enlarge the font.