Starting a Beanie from the top

Toni@2 wrote

on Dec 24, 2008 12:10 AM

 I need to start this hat from the top and I am using some fine sock type yarn for the top of the hat. I can't seem to get the correct amount of stitches on my needles and then I don't know when to increase the stitches nor the exact placement. I have been trying to add a stitch to each needle but had to pull it out when it became a cinlinder about the size of a quarter. Following the rule for the Pi shawl did not work either. Hope anyone can help with this one.

Thank you.

AndreaW wrote

on Dec 24, 2008 4:13 PM

 Hi Toni...

Can you tell us the name of this pattern + where to find it?

If I had some more info it might be easier to help you. Hopefully I can access the pattern.

There is a method of starting where you have a loop of the yarn + you work a stitch either side (of the yarn) alternately onto one dpn until you have the beg # of sts. Then you can divide the sts onto several dpns + "snug up" the beg loop to gather the top. I've seen a diagram somewhere....

    Take Care,    Andrea

sallykg@roadrunner.com wrote

on Jun 24, 2009 9:04 AM

I'm not sure if this will help, but I start with 8 stitches (which would be 2 per dpn) and increase each stitch on the first row (to 16 stitches, 4 sts to each needle).  Then I knit one, increase one, knit two, increase one, knit one.  The next row I just knit, and further rows I increase in the second and the second to last stitch on each needle.  Every other row is just knit.  It should look fairly flatish - the curve comes in when you no longer increase.

I am not much for patterns, but I use this to make plain and striped hats, but if there is a specific pattern involved, you should go by the pattern to keep it nice.

Sally K.