This slouchy lace hat is a great beginner knitting pattern. I know that to be true because I designed it for and tested it on the students I teach knitting to at my local community college. The pattern teaches a few simple stitches and is worked in sections. This makes it easy for new knitters to increase their skill sets as they work through the pattern. I really enjoyed making this pattern and I hope you’ll enjoy it too!

This hat has one size, which should fit a wide range of adult heads. The ribbed band at the bottom of the hat is 20” relaxed and 30” when stretched to its full length.

You’ll need:

• One set 16-inch (40cm) circular needles and one set of double pointed needles. Recommended size is US 8 (5mm).
• One or more stitch markers
• Scissors or snips
• Tapestry needle
• Ruler or tape measure

This beginner knitting pattern is designed to use a soft and stretchy four ply worsted weight wool yarn. I used Malabrigo Rios in the color way 841 Tranquilo for my original sample.

If you’re thinking of substituting a different yarn, any worsted weight yarn that’s got some stretch and squish to it should work. Non superwash wools and acrylics might not drape quite as well (this pattern takes advantage of superwash’s tendency to stretch out or “grow”), but this is defiantly something to evaluate on a yarn by yarn basis.

Yarns with little squish and stretch, will need smaller needles to hit gauge and will have a bit less drape. However, this pattern is forgiving enough that they’re still a solid option. I knit up an additional sample in Blue Sky Fibers organic cotton and needed US size 6 needles (4.0mm) to get gauge.