Absolute Slouch

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Description

The Absolute Slouch is a chunky slouchy beanie worked almost entirely in garter stitch. Columns of slipped stitch add visual visual contrast along the bottom edge. They are placed at even intervals around the beanie, alternating between longer and shorter columns. The brim of the Absolute Slouch is slightly smaller than the body, and the crown is scrunched.

Availability

My Patreon supporters and members of The Woolly Hat Society get exclusive early access to new free patterns and tutorials. Once the exclusive period is over it’s published here on the blog.

Support

If you have a question about this pattern, pop it in a comment below. Sorry, but I’m unable to help with my free patterns or tutorials via email or private messages.

Social Media

Share your hand-knit Hats online with these hashtags!

#WoollyWormhead

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Yarn
100g/149yd/136m chunky weight, single ply or plied yarn.

Needles & Notions
Pair 5mm/UK6/US8 straight needles or size needed to obtain gauge
Stitch marker as necessary
Tapestry needle

Sample details
We Are Knitters Meriwool [149yd/136m per 100g; 100% Merino]

Shown in size 21.5in/54.5cm on model with 21in/53.25cm circumference head
Gauge
15sts x 30rows to 4in/10cm on 5mm needles over Garter St.

Sizes
To fit size: 19 [21.5, 23.5] in/ 48.25 [54.5, 59.75] cm
Finished size: 17 [19.25, 21.25] in/ 43.25 [49, 54] cm
Not sure which size to make? Check my handy size and measuring guide!

Skills required
Garter Stitch

Increases & decreases

Seaming garter stitch

Slipped stitches

Cable cast-on

Abbreviations

K: knit

P: purl

rpt: repeat

st(s): stitch(es)

S1: slip stitch purlwise with yarn at the back

kfb: knit into the front and back of the stitch

k2tog: knit next 2sts together

Pattern notes

This pattern is deceptively simple and is ideal for beginner knitters keen to learn new techniques – increasing, decreasing, slipped stitches and mattress stitch for garter stitch are featured techniques. The Hat is worked flat and seamed for an invisible finish.

How to

Using Cable cast-on method cast on 64 [72, 80] sts.

Brim

Row 1 (RS): Knit all the stitches

Row 2 (WS): *K2, S1, K1; rpt from * to end

Repeat these 2 rows until work measures 1 [1.25, 1.5] in/2.5 [3.25, 3.75] cm from the cast on edge, ending after a Row 2 (WS).

Inc Row (RS): *K4, kfb, K3; rpt from * to end [72, 81, 90 sts]

Body

Row 3: *K7, S1, K1; rpt from * to end

Rnd 4: Knit all the stitches

Repeat these 2 rows until work measures 3 [3.75, 4.5] in/7.5 [9.5, 11.5] cm from the cast on edge, ending after a Row 4.

Row 5: Knit all the stitches

Repeat this row until work measures 7 [8, 9] in/17.75 [20.25, 22.75] cm from the cast on edge, ending after a WS row.

Crown

Row 1: K 0 [1, 0], *k2tog; rpt from * to end [36, 41, 45 sts]

Row 2: Knit all the stitches

Row 3: K 0 [1, 1], *k2tog; rpt from * to end [18, 21, 23 sts]

Row 4: Knit all the stitches

Row 5: K 0 [1, 1], *k2tog; rpt from * to end [9, 11, 12 sts]

Break yarn and draw through remaining 9 [11, 12] sts, tighten to close.

Finishing

Using the yarn tails, and using the mattress stitch method for garter stitch, close the back seam.

You may wish to either duplicate stitch or use the ends of the yarn to otherwise tidy up the bottom edge at the seam point.

Weave in all ends. A gentle wash and blocking is required to help the stitches settle.

Absolute Slouch is another one of the designs that I'd put together for the Absolute range, which I decided to shelf before it got started. And rather than let these designs go to waste in a folder on my PC, I figured I'd release them as free patterns.

These designs were designed for beginner knitters & whilst they're not as in-depth as absolute beginner patterns possibly need (this was one of the main reasons for shelving the project - this type of pattern writing is pretty time consuming & quite a shift from my usual style) they are still simple enough for confident beginners to try.

​​Free patterns are exclusive to members of The Woolly Hat Society for a month, before being published here for all to access.