After seeing a similar hat on the Banana Republic website this past autumn/winter, I decided I wanted to come up with my own button-tab hat. The hat is easily modifiable by just changing the stitch pattern of the brim and it''s a good way to use up some of those spare buttons in your button jar.

clockwise from top left: white tweed - seed stitch brim; green - mistake rib stitch brim; natural - 2x2 rib stitch brim; black - garter stitch brim


Button-Tab Knit Hat

Do not reproduce this pattern elsewhere. This pattern is for personal use only. In other words, don''t try to make money off of it.

Materials
Size US 7 straight needles (optional)
Size US 7 circular needle (16 inches)
Size US 7 set of double pointed needles
Your choice of worsted weight yarn
Stitch marker
Yarn needle
Button (size suitable for width of brim)

Pattern
Brim of hat will be worked flat. With straight (or circular needles), cast on 98 stitches.

Row 1 of brim: knit
Row 2 (and other even rows): *k2, p2; repeat from *
Row 3 (and other odd rows): *p2, k2; repeat from *
Row 14: purl
Row 15: Bind off first 10 stitches purlwise; purl to end of row. 88 stitches remain.

Transfer work to circular needles, place marker at beginning of round and work in the round in stockinette until hat measures 5 - 5.5 inches from cast on edge.

Begin decreases, switching to double pointed needles when there are too few stitches to work comfortably on the circulars.

*k9, k2tog; repeat from *
knit
*k8, k2tog; repeat from *
knit
*k7, k2tog; repeat from *
knit
*k6, k2tog; repeat from *
knit
*k5, k2tog; repeat from *
knit
*k4, k2tog; repeat from *
knit
*k3, k2tog; repeat from *
knit
*k2, k2tog; repeat from *
knit
*k1, k2tog; repeat from *
knit
*k2tog; repeat from *

Cut yarn and, with yarn needle, thread tail through remaining stitches, gather and fasten tightly. Weave in ends. Sew button to flap and base of hat.

*****

Knitting the above pattern will produce a hat with the 2x2 rib brim. The brim can also be worked in other types of ribbing, or in seed or garter stitch, if preferred.

You can make the brim as wide as you like; just try to do the bind off on an odd numbered row.

The brim tab can have a rounded edge by doing a one stitch increase at the beginning of rows 2, 4 and 6 and then doing a corresponding one stitch decrease on rows 8, 10 and 12.

Pattern now available for download as a pdf file.



More pictures at Flickr

Haley said...

cute hat! love the variations created by playing with stitch patterns, yarn and buttons.

February 7, 2008 5:20 PM

Em-En said...

Thanks! They knit up very quick too.

February 7, 2008 9:53 PM

sweetfigs said...

This is a very cute pattern. Thanks for making it a freebie. :)

February 13, 2008 7:39 AM

Em-En said...

You''re welcome sweetfigs. I hope you enjoy making it.

February 13, 2008 8:07 PM

Bridget said...

I''ve been trying to learn how to knit and now I''ll try even harder- those are fantastic! Thanks for the pattern, I can''t wait to try it.

February 20, 2008 12:30 PM

Em-En said...

You''re very welcome Bridget! :)

February 20, 2008 7:12 PM

Tab said...

Hey thanx! I bought a fairly mangy acrylic hat from an op shop b/c it was this same design, thinking that I''d end up taking a pattern from it one day, but you''ve saved me the trouble :) I''ve got the wool and needles out now and I''m about to cast on!

February 21, 2008 4:22 AM

Queen Boogie said...

Cute hat! Thanks for sharing the pattern. I''m going to try and make one for me this weekend :).

February 21, 2008 6:09 AM

notsocrafty.com said...

That is so cute, I love the button idea!

February 21, 2008 9:31 AM

Sheri said...

Love the hats! I''m curious what stitch pattern was used on the green hat...I''m having trouble figuring it out from the picture... Thanks so much!!

February 21, 2008 9:48 AM

Em-En said...

You''re welcome Tab. :)

I''m sure your hat is going to be rockin''.

February 21, 2008 6:03 PM

Em-En said...

You are most welcome Queen Boogie. The hat is a quick knit, so I bet you''ll have it done in no time. :)

February 21, 2008 6:04 PM

Em-En said...

Thanks notsocrafty. :)

February 21, 2008 6:05 PM

Em-En said...

Hi Sheri.

The green hat uses Mistake Rib (multiple of 4, plus 3) so the pattern needs a tiny adjustment. The instructions would be:

-Cast on 99 sts (not 98)
-For each row... k2, p2 across row; ending with k2, p1
-When casting off for the tab, cast off 11 sts (not 10)
-Proceed with pattern as written

Hope this helps. :)

February 21, 2008 6:12 PM

Jox said...

What lovely hats, I really like the Mistake Rib one.

February 22, 2008 2:23 AM

Em-En said...

Thanks Jox! I hope you make one of your own. :)