Knitting a hat!?

Question

Okay.. i have been knitting for a few days with my friend but, i want to get my own supplies. I am looking at needles right now. but heres my question, If you want to make a hat, Do you use 1 pointed knitting needles or double pointed knitting needles. and why! Thanks sooo much! Please answer asap!!

Answer 1

The pattern will recommend needles.

If your pattern is for a hat knit flat and then seamed, it will suggest straight needles.  You can still knit it on circular needles if you prefer.

If your pattern is for a hat "knit in the round," without a seam (like a very long spiral), then you will need double pointed needles and/or a circular needle.  The entire hat can be knit on double point needles.  Most people knit the large diameter portion on circular needles and switch to double points during the decreases at the top because most find circular needles easier to manage than double point needles.

I personally prefer using an extra long circular needle and knitting using the "magic loop" technique.  I can purchase a single circular needle for each needle size and not have to keep different lengths and styles (straight, circular, double pointed).  If you feel adventurous google "magic loop" or visit your local yarn shop.

If this is your very first knitting project, it is probably best that you choose a pattern that is knit "flat" with straight needles and seamed.  Your first attempt at knitting in the round may prove frustrating, especially if you don't have someone to show you tips on doing it.

Answer 2

I would use 4 needles without nobs at the ends (is that called double pointed??). Why? Because with your stitches on 3 needles and the 4th to knit with you can make a nice hat without sewing it together in the end. You'll have to start with the width of your head and then increase the width going to the top.

I hope that this explanation was clear enough, because I never knitted with English description.

Good luck however

Answer 3

Depends on the hat pattern...you would use double pointed needles if you want the hat to be knit "in the round" so it's a circle/tube of knitting that you then knit to the length that you want.  On single pointed needles you'll basically end up with a square (or whatever) of fabric that then needs to be sewn up, so you'll have a seam.  The double-pointed needles make a more durable product, especially if you're not very good at sewing up the seams, and will fit the contour of your head better.

First you should look for a hat pattern you like and then follow their suggestion as to which needles you should use.

Answer 4

What happens is that when you start the hat you can use a circular needle ,usually 12 or 16 inches long ,and then when is time to start making decreases to shape the crown  you are going to be working with a lot less stitches so the circular needle is going to become too long .What I usually do is I work with circular needle until I made a few decreases and notice that the circular is too long ,then I change to double pointed needles .Always make sure that you get the same size for both kinds of needles ,for example if you're working with a size 6 circular needle ,when to switch to double pointed the also have to be size 6 . Happy knitting!

Answer 5

You can knit with either kind of needles.

With double pointed you don't usually have a seam to sew together.

But, with the straight needles you don't have to worry so much if the stitches will fall off at the ends,  And you can keep track of which way you are knitting easier.

Here is a site with free patterns:

http://lionbrand.com/cgi-bin/pg.fcgi

They also have knitting lessons too.  Just click on the Learning Center.

Hope this helps you out.  Good Luck with your projects.

Answer 6

Double pointed or circular needles are easiest for making a hat.

I use single point, double point and circular needles depending on the project.

I highly recommend bamboo needles over metal - your yarn works better on them in my experience. The best set of needles I have EVER owned is the Harmony Wood needles from knitpicks.com. They are so nice to knit with.

Answer 7

You can use the single point regular needles and then seam up the side of the hat, sometimes very aggravating to blend the seam correctly. Or you can use the set of double point needles and knit in the round and never have to learn the seaming first! But with double point it is hard not to have a "ladder" up where the needles join!!

You will eventually learn all techniques and have a large collection of needles!! I am currently in love with the new Bamboo needles!! Wow!!!

For a lovely newsletter and free patterns and a new forum go to http://www.knittingdaily.com and register. The editor is a riot sometimes and always has some good pointers for beginners to experts in the daily letter. Patterns are in .pdf formatting so are easy to download and print off.

Happy fibering to you!!!