Free Ribbed Hat Knitting Pattern

Here’s a free knitting pattern for a ribbed hat! A very easy knit hat pattern that’s great for beginners. This unisex slouchy beanie is worked in a 1×1 rib stitch and will fit most adults and some children. 

This lightweight hat is the perfect accessory for transitioning in and out of Winter, thick enough to keep your head and ears warm, but not so thick that you’ll be burning up.

The Hacked Hat

You might be wondering how this hat got its name. I mean what does a nice knit hat have to do with hacking? Well, there is a story behind it…

One of the first hats I ever made was a slouchy hat made of denim cotton yarn. But as cotton tends to do, it stretched out quite a bit after a few wears. One day I wore it to work with a black hoodie and had my headphones on at my desk, and all my coworkers told me I looked like a hacker- LOL.

My cotton denim hat is now too stretched to comfortably wear, but I found the perfect yarn to make a slouchy hat that would stay on my head! Red Heart Chic Sheep by Marly Bird. 

It’s 100% merino, so soft and a great value. Did I mention easy to come by because it’s available and big box craft starts and the colours!! I used the prettiest soft grey for this hat, and I have a bright coral colour in my stash that’s waiting to be knit.

And so with an idea and the perfect yarn, the Hacked Hat was born!

The Hacked Hat is a unisex beanie worked in a 1×1 rib stitch. The stretchy nature of the stitch means it will fit most adults and some children without the need to adjust the pattern. The fit of the hat can be adjusted to be more or less slouchy as desired.

Hacked Hat Pattern

Skills required:

• Knitting in the round
• Knit
• Purl
• Knit two together 
• Purl two together

Yarn

• 149-164yds/136-150m of worsted weight yarn. 

• Sample used 149yds/136m of Red Heart Chic Sheep by Marly Bird in Sterling

Needles

• US size 6 (4mm) circular needles 16” (or longer if you wish to knit with the magic loop method)
• US size 6 (4mm) DPNs

Notions

• Yarn Needle
• BOR Marker
• Scissors

Gauge

• 32 sts and 28 rows = 4”/10cm in 1×1 rib st. unstretched

Finished Measurements

• Folded Flat 7” x 10”/18cm x 25.5cm

Abbreviations

BOR: beginning of round

CO: cast on

k: knit

k2tog: right leaning dec; knit 2 together 

p: purl

p2tog: right leaning dec; purl 2 together 

rnd(s): round(s)

st(s): stitch; stitches 

Instructions

CO 100 sts., join to knit in the round, place BOR marker. Be careful not to twist your sts. 

Rnd 1: K1, p1 to end.

Repeat this round until hat measures 9.5” (24cm). Approx. 62 rounds, depending on your row gauge. Proceed to decreases.

If you wish your hat to be more or less slouchy then either start the decreases sooner, or repeat rnd 1 until desired length is reached. 

Decreases

Switch to DPNs

Rnd 1: K2tog, p2tog to end (50 sts.)

Rnd 2-4: Knit.

Rnd 5: K2tog to end. (25 sts.)

Rnd 6: K2tog to last st., k1 (13 sts.)

Finishing

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Use a yarn needle to thread the tail through the remaining sts. And pull to tighten. 

Weave in all ends. 

You’re ready to rock your new hat!! And maybe become a computer whiz 😉 

Use #hackedhat to share your WIPs and FOs on Instagram. Don’t forget to tag me @knitsofsteele!

Click here to view my designs on Ravelry. 

You are allowed to sell your finished items made with the Hacked Hat pattern. You may not use my photos/images to sell your items. Please give pattern credit to Knits of Steele/Cassandra Steele on your listings. Happy knitting!