One-Hour Banded Rolled Brim Chunky Cozy Hat

Knitting the 1-hour hat.

I love this hat. It knits up so fast and is warm and cushy. The perfect last-minute gift. From picking up the yarn to cast on to all ends weaved in, each one took less than an hour to knit. If you’re a slower knitter, it can still be done in an evening. It’s made with a bulky yarn on big needles so goes fairly quickly. Even if it takes you more than an hour, it’s a lovely, warm hat.

I wanted to use up leftover yarn from last year’s fox, wolf, and monster hoods so decided to make some hats. If you make it solid, it will take almost the full skein of Lion Brand’s Hometown USA bulky yarn. Since I was using up partial skeins I got creative in merging two or more colors. I think they turned out rather nice. They are so warm and cozy soft. I made many of them to give away but I will confess that I ended up keeping two for myself. The purple, solid hat is Cozy Wool and is one I kept for myself.

Size 15 needles, both 16” circular and either DPNs or long circular

Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Gauge- 2 st per inch

Basic Hat Pattern Using One Color of Yarn

Cast on 42 stitches

Place stitch marker and join, being careful that cast on row has not twisted.

Knit 3-4 rows

Work 1x1 rib for two rows (k1, p1)

The rib acts as a brake to stop the rolled brim

Knit until 5-6” from ribbing rows.

Start decreasing by *k5, k2tog, repeat from * to end of row

Knit the next row

Now *k3, k2tog, repeat from * to end of row, knitting any stragglers that don’t fit in count

(I usually switch to longer circular needles at this point, to work magic loop. If you're using DPNs you can change to DPNs at this point. Gets a bit tight to work on the 16" now.)

Then *k2, k2tog, repeat from * to end of row, again just knit final stitches as needed

Now *k1, k2tog, repeat from * to end

Finally, *k2tog, repeat from *

Cut tail at least 8” long, string onto tapestry needle, thread yarn through remaining live stitch loops and pull snuggly to close hole. Stitch into inside of hat and weave in tail securely, trim remaining tail.

String cast on tail onto tapestry needle and insert into first stitch to close any gap from the join then on inside of hat weave in end and trim tail.

For green hat with brown band and green mini hearts:

Start the basic hat pattern then:

Knit green for 2-3” from rib rows, change to brown yarn but don’t cut green yarn.

Knit 2-3 rows of brown

*Slip stitch, knit with green, repeat from * across row

Knit 2-3 rows of brown

Switch to green and continue.

Switch to pink and continue until it measures 5-6” from rib then start decrease rows

For Pink Hat

Start the basic hat pattern then:

Knit a few rows from rib

Change to brown but don’t cut pink yarn, Knit 2-3 rows brown

*Slip 1 stitch, knit with pink, repeat from * across row

Knit 2 rows brown

*knit with pink, slip 1 stitch, repeat from * across row

Knit 2 rows brown

*Slip 1 stitch, knit with pink, repeat from * across row

Knit 2-3 rows brown.

Switch to pink and continue until it measures 5-6” from rib then start decrease rows.

If you’re using up scraps, be creative in the bands across center of hat. For example, in the brown and ivory hat I had balls of each that were similar size so the band is fairly large.

It should be fun. Be creative with color combinations.