Decreasing is an essential stitch to learn when it comes to knitting hats. It’s the process of decreasing the number of stitches you are working with on your needles. It helps create a tapered shape, which makes it ideal for knitting hats, gloves, and other items that need a fitted shape. For those who are new to knitting hats, this article will provide you with an overview of how to decrease knitting hat.
How to Decrease Stitches in Knitting a Hat
The first step in decreasing stitches is understanding the basic knit stitch. The knit stitch consists of two steps, casting on and then knitting off each loop or stitching on your needle until all the loops have been knitted off. To decrease one stitch, you simply need to knit two stitches together as if they were one large stitch. This decreases the total number of stitches but still maintains the same look as regular knitting without any gaps between the stitches or loops.
The next step is to find out what type of decrease you should use when knitting your hat. There are three main types of decreases used for knitting hats, K2tog knit two together, SSK slip knit and s2kp slip two together, and knit one pass. Each decrease has its own unique look and uses different techniques to achieve that look. With K2tog, you simply take two sts from your left needle and then insert them into your right needle at once, and then knit them as if they were one st.
For SSK, you slip each st onto your right needle separately before slipping them both back onto your left hand again and then knitting them together as one st.
Finally, for s2kp you slip 2 sts onto your right needle together before knitting 1 st through both loops at once and passing both sts off at once from your left hand.
When using decreases for a hat pattern, always make sure that you follow the instructions carefully so that you don’t unintentionally change the shape or size of your finished product. Also, be sure to count your sts regularly throughout the project so that everything adds up correctly in the end.
Also Read: How To Knitting Loom Hat
How To Shrink Knit Hat
If you’ve got a favorite knit hat that’s just a bit too loose, don’t worry. You don’t need to toss it and start over with a new one. Instead, you can shrink it down to a better fit. Here’s how:
Check the care label
Before attempting to shrink your knit hat, check the care label. Some hats may not be suitable for shrinking, or they may require specific care instructions to avoid damage.
Wash in hot water
Fill a sink or bucket with hot water and a small amount of laundry detergent. Gently place your hat in the water and let it soak for a few minutes. Then, use your hands to agitate the hat in the water, ensuring it gets completely saturated.
Rinse in cold water
Once the hat has soaked for a few minutes, drain the sink or bucket and rinse the hat in cold water. This will help to set the fibers and prevent them from becoming too matted together.
Squeeze out excess water
After rinsing, gently squeeze out the excess water from the hat. Be careful not to wring or twist the hat, as this can damage the fibers.
Air dry
Lay the hat flat on a clean towel and reshape it to its original size and shape. Allow the hat to air dry completely, which may take a few hours or overnight.
Check the fit
Once the hat is dry, try it on to see if it has shrunk to the desired size. If it’s still too loose, you can repeat the process again until you achieve the perfect fit.
With these simple steps, you can easily shrink your knit hat and get a better fit. Just remember to always check the care label and handle your hat with care to avoid damage.
Also Read: How to Knitting Hat: Complete Beginners Guide
Conclusion
Decreasing is an important part of successfully creating a knitted hat with a tapered shape that fits properly around someone’s head or neck area. To do this, it is important to understand how to cast on and off different types of decreases such as K2tog (knit two together), SSK (slip knit), and s2kp (slip two together, knit one pass). Taking care of following instructions carefully can help ensure that all stitches are decreased correctly without unintentionally changing the shape or size of the final product. Keeping track of all steps taken throughout the project ensures accuracy in counting all stitches in order for successful completion.