This hat is designed specifically for beginner knitters, and will help build your skills from knitting flat to knitting in the round, adding in purl stitches and then decreases.

I named this hat after one of my favorite people, my kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Tietze (pronounced TEE-tsee), who was an endless fount of imagination and patience.

This pattern originally appeared—and is still available—as part of the “How to Teach Beginning Knitting” teaching module. The teaching module gives a guide to teaching a three-part beginning knitting course, and offers this pattern as one that can be used as a first project for beginner knitters.

The smaller hat will fit older children and adults with head circumferences of 20– 22” / 51–56cm. The larger hat (pictured) will fit adults with head circumferences of 22–24” / 56–61cm.

Materials

• Malabrigo Twist (100% baby merino wool): 1 skein (150 yds / 137m), shown here in #618 / Liquid Ambar

Or substitute 150 yds / 137m of another Aran-weight wool yarn (that is, yarn that has a typical gauge of 4 sts/in).

Good substitutes include: MadelineTosh Chunky, Manos del Uruguay Wool Clasica, Berroco Jasper, Lorna’s Laces Lion & Lamb Multi, Noro Kureyon, Noro Silk Garden, Plymouth Boku, Araucania Aysen.

Choose a light color so that you can see what you are doing as you learn to knit.

• US 8 / 5mm needles (or size needed to get gauge) in ALL the following types; if you are a beginner, needles made with bamboo are recommended:

straight needles
16” or 20” circular needle
24” circular needle

• 8 stitch markers

• scissors

• measuring tape or ruler