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Learn to Knit Your First Cap

So, you’ve knit a scarf or two, what now? Time to “move beyond the rectangle” and start knitting shapes!

This project is designed for knitters who are comfortable with the basics – casting-on, knitting, and purling. In this tutorial we learn the next steps – knitting in-the-round, working ribbing, working with double-pointed needles, and working decreases.

Pattern includes three sizes – Child, Adult Small, and Adult Large.

This pattern includes links to four instructional videos to guide you through the new techniques you’ll learn.

Materials Needed:
• one skein of Lion Brand Wool-Ease Worsted (widely available at craft stores), or any worsted-weight yarn
• size 7 US 16″ circular needles
• size 7 US double-pointed needles
• a tapestry needle for weaving in your ends

This pattern is available in three different formats, each includes links to 4-part video tutorial:

1. PDF Pattern, traditional and printable. $8.00 via PayPal

2. Amazon Kindle digital download (suitable for Kindle devices and devices that use the Kindle app): $6.00 US.

3. eReader (For non-Kindle eReaders, like Sony eReader and Barnes & Noble Nook, or any device using the Google Play Books app) $6.72 US

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63 comments on “Learn to Knit Your First Cap”

  1. Hello Staci,

    You have a great website and your videos are not only very easy to understand and well structured but also quite entertaining.
    I was wondering if there is a pattern and/or video for the nice blue cable cardigan you are wearing on this video (learn to knit your first cap)?

    Thanks much for your help,

    Anna

  2. i am always amazed at how easy you make knitting seam. You are a great teacher and the videos are great!

  4. Hi Anna – the sweater I’m wearing in this video is called Central Park Hoodie. It’s a great pattern, and fun to knit!

    S t a c i

  7. Love your site, patterns & videos! I am knitting this cap from your pattern, & realized I made a few mistakes a few rows back. I know how to rip out a garter stitch but this rib stitch is terrifying me. Can you please give me some tips on how to rip back without losing my sanity?

    Thanks so much!
    Peggy

  8. Hi Peggy – thank you for the note. I’m afraid there are no secrets to ripping out ribbing…you just have to be quick and get the live stitches back on the needle. However, I can share a technique with you that may help you, especially if you use it before you make a mistake. They’re called Lifelines, and I know many people who slide them into their work every few inches, just to be safe: https://verypink.com/2010/03/30/lifelines/

    Good luck!
    S t a c i

  10. thank you so much im 12 and i still understand how to do it and what your talking about thank love ya

  11. I am making a striped scarf in stockinette stitch & it is curling bad. will it lay flat when I block it? What can I do I hate to rip the whole thing out after I’m half way done. Thank you

  13. Hello Staci I am so glad for your sight I got the pattern you sugested & started it right away I really like it & it is so easy.
    Thanks again

  14. Staci THANKS so much for ALL you do ! It’s been YEARS since I learned to knit ( I was 8…so that’s 51 yrs ago ! ) It’s been 40 yrs since I have knitted anything, so it’s like a new hobby once more !
    MY QUESTION to you is this. I recently have been making your knitted dishcloths. However I have noticed that when looking at the dishcloth, the “YO’s ) ( the holes in the dishcloth ) look slightly BIGGER on one side of the knitted dishcloth than the other.
    Is this wrong, or will this become LESS NOTICEABLE when I blocck the dishcloths ?
    I am making 1-2 dishcloths for every gal on my Christmas list…..
    THanks in advance for your HELP !
    Jacqueline

  15. Jaqueline – yes, the yarn-overs in the dishcloth will start to look better after blocking (or just using, in the case of a dishcloth). Chances are that you are working your yarn-overs with different tensions in the two halves of the dishcloth.

    Thank you for the note!
    🙂
    S t a c i

  16. I just finished my first hat! Thank you. It looks adorable on my daughter who’s my best customer, and so forgiving. By to the scarf, for my husband this time. The videos are a great support to the patterns. Thank you again.

  17. Love this pattern and the hat! I need to increase the size somewhat. I have 4 sons and they all need at least 24.5″ to 25.75″ (yes, I know…they have big heads) and was wondering what increment of stitches I can increase by to get the size I need.

    Thanks!
    Peggy

  18. Thank you for all your lessons. I’ve wanted to advance beyond the basics for a long time but I haven’t known where to turn for help. Very pink.com is my new favorite site. My question: I trying this hat but every time I “join” my circle with stitches there is a long gap between the two sometimes over a half inch length of yarn. I have tried so many times to reduce this that my yarn is getting frayed. What am I doing wrong?

  19. Hi Carol – thank you for the note. Seeing a gap where you join in-the-round is very common for a newer knitter (or someone learning this technique). All you can do is your best, and keep practicing. After you’ve finished knitting the hat, you can easily go back and tighten that gap up when you weave in the end hanging there. Problem solved! 🙂

    Another thing you can do is to knit with a wool or wool blend. Wool is a very easy fiber to work with, and much more forgiving than other fibers when it comes to tension issues.

    Good luck!
    S t a c i

  20. Your website and videos are a not only breath of fresh air amidst a busy, stressful, exhausting typical week, but also a nice way to feel connected to my home country, being an ex-pat who greatly misses the states. Your energy and passion for knitting is utterly inspiring even for a novice knitter like myself:-). Thank you for all the dedication and charisma you put into your site–it really is appreciated around the world!

    I couldn’t help noticing the beautiful shawl in the background of the cap video–do you have a pattern/tutorial available for it?

    Cheers from a fan in Norway:-)

  21. I am taking help from your tutorials, while I was watching Beanie Hat tutorial, I wanted to know is there any proportion on the decreasing stitches keeping in mind the actual stitches. In one of your Beanie Hat tutorials you mentioned, In 1st row k8 k2g, k8 k2g then other row k7 k2g, in 3rd Row k6 k2g, and so on………

    but in other tutorial you started decreasing like k5 k2g, in 2nd Row k4 k2g and so on, then in 3rd Row k3, k2tog

    give me an idea if we have 200, 100, 50 actual stitches, please explain how we start decreasing of 200, 150, 50 so the crown shape will be perfect. Or just explain the decreasing concept.

    Thank you for your help.

  22. Staci, To buy the e-book on Amazon, how do we look it up? Is it also paid for by Pay Pal? Thanks, Nancy

  24. Hi Staci, Thank you for your wonderful way of teaching. I was wondering if the pattern; “Your First Cap” is suitable for a chemo cap. I’ve heard that acrylic is more suitable than wool and that seamless caps are preferred. I look forward to your reply. Thank you. 🙂

  25. Hi Carol – yes, this cap pattern is appropriate for chemo caps, and seamless. I have never made them myself, so you may want to get some additional advice on the fiber type to use – but I think a soft yarn is probably best.

    Good luck!
    S t a c i

  26. I was just curious. Would it be possible to knit the cap entirely on double-pointed needles? Do you start off with the circular needles just because they’re easier to use? Thank you.

  27. Mary – you can absolutely use DPNs instead of circular needles. Most knitters use both, only because there are a lot of stitches at the beginning, and you would need really long DPNs to hold all of them.

    S t a c i

  32. Staci, I have learned so much from watching your videos. It’s like having a private knitting lesson every time I watch one. Your instructions are always thorough and easy to follow and you have a great many wonderful tutorials that are always SO helpful! Just want to thank you for providing the vast amount of information on knitting.

  34. Heather – sorry, I would need to test knit it in that size to give you a solid answer. There are three sizes available in the written pattern – just not baby.

    S t a c i

  35. Hi Staci,
    I bought this pattern and started working on it.. after few rows I realized that the base was like– twisted.. like an infinity scarf… (I hope you get the idea) What do you think I did wrong?
    -Shay

  37. Hi Staci,
    Thank you for your reply. I did twist the stitches.. I corrected it and did it all over again… and finished it ! It was a real thrill to knit something “3D”. So I have knitted a couple of scarves, the dishcloths/coasters you have on the website and now the hat. I want to learn how to crochet. What do you suggest is the best project to start with? Also, do you offer a pattern for kids’ poncho? Either in knitting or crocheting? I would really love to buy it and make one.
    Thanks for everything you’ve done and are doing for all the knitters around the globe.
    Looking forward to your reply.

    -Shay

  38. Do you have a great pattern to knit socks using 9″ circular needles instead of double point. I have started using them and I love them. A sock pattern would be great.

  39. Hi Staci, Thanks so much for answering my question with the link.
    I am mov’in forward…..perfect!
    Nancy

  40. Hi Staci, I have a quick question about the hat. Do you block the hat or any hats? Since they are in the round, do you block differently. If so, then how so?
    Thank you.
    Nancy

  41. Hi Nancy – I should do a video on this. 🙂 Here’s what I do…I set the hat out flat to dry until the top side is dry. Then I put the hat over my fist and twirl it around and around to reinforce the roundness, then set it out for the other side to dry. Each time I walk past the drying hat, I put it on my fist again and twirl it around. Works well for me!

    S t a c i

  42. How long are your double point needles? Is there a good standard length to use with about any project? So I don’t have to buy so many lengths? Thanks!

  44. Hi Staci, I got bored crocheting and have taken up knitting. While it is driving me crazy, I still love it – thanks to you. I almost gave up until I found you. Quick question about this beginner hat. I was wondering if I could use a size US 6 or 8 needle without ill effects. My size 7’s just split. I got a sample kit and they are some sort of wood that split while I was screwing the cord on. Well, at least I learned what not to use!

  45. Denise – for this hat, yes. This hat is very stretchy, so altering the needle size by one size isn’t very risky.

    S t a c i

  46. Hi. My niece is knitting this project and she had a quick question. The inches given next to each size, does that refer to head size or finished hat size. As always, thank you for the amazing videos!

    Latanya

  47. Hi Staci,

    Thank you so much! I am VERY new to knitting and this project worked well for me! It’s the first project that I’m really happy with. I used your scarf pattern too. Do you suggest moving to the socks next?

    I found the beanie pattern challenged me with new techniques and skills. My only concern was what to use for worsted weight yarn. I ended up using 8ply (scarf) and 12 ply (beanie) next time, because these are the easiest sizes to find in Australia. What do you suggest when converting yarn to Australian types? Thank you.

    Melanie

  49. Hi Staci,

    I love, love, love the Central Park Hoodie you have on in the video. I was wondering if you would consider doing a video tutorial on this sweater? I really want to make it but I could some guidance from you. While I’m here I want to thank you for your website. I would have never got as far as I have without your help.

  50. Denise – thank you for the suggestion! I’ve had many requests to do a tutorial on that sweater…I’ll have to see what I can do.
    🙂
    S t a c i

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