The Big Hats collection is a group of quick hats knitted out of thicker weight yarns.

• For the experienced knitter, they are a superfast project when you need a quick gift, or because you want to spoil yourself before the cold weather sets in.
• For the beginner, these hats come with video tutorials to help you master some basic knitting techniques. The big yarn means that you will see results fast and have a lovely finished object in no time. I also hope to decode some of the phrases and terminology used in knitting patterns that might confuse new knitters.

All these skills you learn will be like a collection of little gems.

Watch my introduction to the collection https://youtu.be/aijLUOtJPqs

Pattern description and options

Field of Diamonds builds on the skills that you have already mastered. I suggest that you be able to knit and purl confidently, and then try this hat. It has a simple lace pattern.

The hat starts with a German Twisted cast on or a Knit-on cast on, there are video tutorials for both of these cast on methods. The German Twisted cast on is not the simplest cast on for beginners, but part of getting a finished object that you love, is about using the right type of technique in the right place. For a hat, you need a stretchy cast on! Nothing worse than a hat with a cast on that is too tight and so you don’t wear it.

This cast on takes a bit of practice but I believe that it is well worth the effort to learn. Watch the video, practice and be patient with yourself. Fortunately, the cast on number of stitches is fairly small for these hats, so you can just try again if you don’t get it right the first time.

If you can’t get the German Twisted Cast on right, that is okay. You have the option to do a regular knitted-on cast on but you will need to go up a needle size so that your edge has some stretch to fit onto a head. This may produce a cast on edge that is not quite as neat, but do not let the cast on stop you from progressing to the rest of the hat. You can always try the stretchy cast on with another hat, once you have built up your confidence.

This hat has instructions for a twisted rib, but you can use a 1x1(knit 1, purl 1) rib too if you prefer. You can use either type of ribbing in any of the hats.

You have the option to do just one diamond panel, or you can do the pattern the whole way around the hat. If you feel uncertain about doing the pattern panel at all then feel free to just knit all the rounds. Then move onto the decreases when you have reached the desired length.

If you are doing lace for the first time then, just work slowly and follow along with the video. Each and every row has a video to walk you through step by step. You only need to do the pattern over 11 stitches, so most of the time it is just plain knitting.

Choose your hat length and then continue to the decreases, with a video to show you how to thread up the stitches at the end and weave away your ends.

Material

Needles**
6 mm / US 10 circular needle (either 40cm /16” hat circular needle or a 100cm cable for magic loop)
and
8 mm/ US 11 circular needle (either 40cm /16” hat circular needle or a 100cm cable for magic loop. If you use a hat circular you will need double pointed needles for the top decreases)

Yarn
Chunky / Bulky yarn
100g: 100m / 110yds

Sample knitted in Hartlam Mooi River Bulky 100% Baby Alpaca
Colourway: Peach Melba – single diamond panel
Rise and Shine – diamond pattern all around

Yardage
Child / Teen: 90g (90 m / 98 yds)
Adult Medium: 100 g (100 m / 110 yds)
Adult Large: 120g (120 m / 130 yds)

Gauge
13 stitches and 16 rows over 10cm / 4” stocking stitch, blocked.

Size
Child /Teen, (Adult Medium, Large)
to fit: 47 - 50 cm (51 - 56 cm, 57 -61 cm) / 18.5 - 19.5” (20 - 22”, 22.5 - 24”)

Finished un-stretched dimensions:
Circumference
40cm (44 cm, 49cm) / 15.5” (17”, 19”)

Length from crown to rib:
25 cm / 10” or desired length