What You Will Need
Machine: Circular knitting machine with 46–48 needles (Addi Express Kingsize or Sentro 48). The tube diameter fits an adult hat.
Yarn: Worsted weight (medium), smooth, acrylic or blended. Approximately 80–100 g.
Tools: Scissors, darning needle, row counter.
Instructions
Casting On
Thread the yarn through the yarn guide. Turn the handle — the yarn catches on all the needles. After one full rotation, check that no needle is empty. If any are, place the yarn on them manually.
Knitting the Tube
Turn the handle smoothly and evenly. For an adult hat, you need approximately 70–80 rows (24–26 cm). For a slouchy hat, add an extra 15–20 rows.
Closing the Crown
Cut the yarn leaving a 40 cm tail. Thread it onto a darning needle. Carefully remove each stitch from the machine and thread it onto the yarn. Once all stitches are on the yarn, pull tight and secure. Draw the yarn through the center to the wrong side and weave in the end.
Brim
Fold the bottom edge (cast-on row) inward by 3–4 cm and loosely sew it in place — this creates a double brim. Alternatively, leave the edge unfolded (rolled brim) — the stockinette fabric will naturally curl and form a decorative rolled brim.
Variations
Striped hat — change color every 8–12 rows. Color changes are easy on the machine.
Pompom hat — add a yarn or faux fur pompom to the crown.
Double-layered hat — knit a tube twice as long and fold it over — double-layered and extra warm.
Sizes
| Age/Size | Machine | Number of Rows |
|---|---|---|
| Child (2–6 years) | 22 needles (small) | 50–60 |
| Adult S/M | 46–48 needles | 65–75 |
| Adult L/XL | 46–48 needles | 75–85 |
| Slouchy | 46–48 needles | 85–100 |
Common Problems
Dropped stitches in the middle — stop, manually place the stitches back on the needle using a crochet hook. Continue knitting. This happens more often with Sentro than with Addi — keep an even tension on the yarn.
Uneven tension — turn the handle at a consistent speed. Speeding up and slowing down creates irregularities.
