How to Knit a Fishermans Hat--Short Beanie--Watchmans cap

I've seen this hat everywhere the last few years but for some reason it has a million names. I decided on the Fisherman hat as the final option because I saw that name more often than not. I made this hat in only one size, which is a small, 20" head but you can easily make it bigger. I said 4 sts in the video but I realised it should be 8 added stitches for every extra inch. Pattern is in multiples of 8. The hat stretches a lot so bigger isn't always better. Happy knitting :)

IG* Corduroykidd
Ravelry* Corduroykidd
Ticktock* Corduroykidd
song credit*

If you want a nicer more in depth copy that covers sizing issues and with better math skills feel free to check that out here.

Resources*
How to knit*
How to purl*
Long Tail Cast On*
decreases*

*Old Pattern*
-Cast on 100 sts onto a 16" 4mm circular needle with worsted weight yarn
-knit 7 inches in k1p1 ribbing
-knit 21,k2tog, ssk, repeat until end of row
-knit20, k2tog, ssk, knit 19, k2tog, ssk, etc
-once it gets tight, switch to 4 4mm double pointed needles
-When you can't decrease anymore (10 st) cut your yarn and pull the end through the remaining stitches, tie off the tail on the inside and weave in all ends.

*2023 EDIT* I realised that my math was off lol and I legit did it wrong in the video. The other pattern is fine, it's just not what I intended. I can't believe I never noticed until now.

-Cast on 104 sts onto a 16" 4.5mm circular needle with worsted weight yarn
-knit 7 inches in k1, p1 ribbing with you first St of the round being a knit.
-*knit 21, k2tog, p1, SSk, repeat until end of row* Move stitch marker one stitch to the left every decrease round or take off entirely. Up to you. The extra St at the beginning of the round is needed for the last SSk at the end of the round which is why you need to move the marker or take it off.
-knit 19, k2tog, p1, SSK repeat until end of round
-Continue decreasing in this manner every round with two Sts less between "corners"
-once it gets tight, switch to 4 4.5mm double pointed needles
-When you have 16 Sts left, K2tog all around
-When you can't decrease anymore (8 Sts) cut your yarn and pull the end through the remaining stitches, tie off the tail on the inside and weave in all ends.

[molly]

This is the best knitting tutorial I’ve ever used, I keep coming back to it even when I’m making different stuff because it is the clearest demonstration, particularly of reducing and finishing, that I have found! Thank you!

[hectormallert]

I‘ve now completed my very first beanie! I cast on 100 stitches, knitted 52 rows of 1x1 ribbing and after that, started decreasing. I switched to double pointed needles after the third decrease row. I do recommend taking the initial stitch marker out when decreasing but I put 1 (in total 4) stitch markers in between the ssk and k2tog, that just makes it easier. I find the beanie to be a bit short for my liking, I will do 60 rows of rib next time and maybe cast on 120 for a looser fit. I ended up not using all 50 grams of worsted weight. All in all a really good-looking beanie and great tutorial, thanks! I like all of your diy apparel.

[tusenbiter]

Thank you! just started knitting, finished the hat, but lets just say it took alot more time than 3 hours. I've been wearing it all day (indoors and outdoors)

[indiestylejunkie]

I'm honestly surprised this doesn't have more views. I was looking for a pattern for this for AGES and your video came at the right time. Can't wait to try your pattern,

[snailrat]

For anyone who's dumb like me and had to undo the hat several times while following the written pattern instead of the video, I wrote it out to be idiot proof :')

-Cast on 100 sts onto a 16" 4mm circular needle with worsted weight yarn
-knit 7 inches in k1p1 ribbing
-knit 21 (in k1p1 ribbing!), k2tog, ssk, repeat until end of row
-knit20 (in k1p1 ribbing!), k2tog, ssk, repeat until end of row
knit 19, k2tog, ssk, etc...for this part just play it by eye
-once it gets tight, switch to 4 4mm double pointed needles
-When you can't decrease anymore (10 st) cut your yarn and pull the end through the remaining stitches, tie off the tail on the inside and weave in all ends.

[shadowess]

The best visual explanation I've ever seen of hat decreasing. Thank you!

[NYALABLUE]

I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A TUTORIAL FOR THIS HAT FOR AGES. thank you.

[mirandajordan]

First time knitting a beanie, and first time knitting in the round. I made a couple of modifications but found this video super helpful. I have a small head so I cast on 100 stitches (4.5mm needles but some thin wool double strand).
I then k1p1 for about 7 inches.
Then 21x k1p1, k2tog, ssk, repeat 4 times
Then 19x k1p1, k2tog, ssk, repeat 4 times
Then 17x k1p1, k2tog, ssk, repeat 4 times continuing by decreasing by 2 stitches each round.
NOTE: making sure that you keep the knits and purls inline, sometimes it starts with a knit sometimes with a purl (you can hopefully tell by now but I remember by the purl stitch having a little loop that looks like a little purl).
I also found that once I could recognize the double stitches I didn't need to count or have a maker.
I used magic loop to avoid buying double pointed needles and this worked till there was ~30 stitches left and then I just fished the hat there. It looks fine!
Thanks for the tutorial and hope this extra info helps!

[menahomberg]

It's good to have someone continental on YouTube. Usually, when I watch knitting tutorials, I only see people do the English method. I knit continental because I learned how to crochet before I learned how to knit and because I got so used to holding the yarn in my left hand rather than the right, I learned how to knit continental.

[banjercat]

I am new knitter and really want to make a simple watch cap, this is by far the best video I have see for doing that! Thank you so much!

[TheLlamaGddess]

This was the first knitting pattern I’ve ever followed and I’ve used it time and time again. Thank you❤

[Pitonprofsszor]

Thank you very much for this tutorial. The decrease technique was super helpful. I was able to knit a proper hat for my brother and he loves it. Thank you very much again.😁❤

[natalieperera]

I need some help! I love the pattern but don’t get the part where you say to move the stitch marker to the left one stitch. What happens to that one stitch? Is it counted in the next decrease row 19 stitches or do I just slip it? Or is it just a random stitch that I knit and doesn’t count towards any of the sections?

[pedrextor]

Thank you so much for this! I learned to knit with this video and the ones you linked (and some help from my girlfriend). I'm at my 3rd beanie now, not a single dropped stitch this time.

[tagqasim]

Thank you so much for a very nice beanie tutorial! 💓
I don't believe though the pattern used is fisherman's/ or fisherman's rib, it's rather regular 1×1 rib pattern (k1, p1).
I was looking for some diy technique patterns on fisherman's rib, when I found ur Wonderful video which I did enjoy very much!
I think Fisherman's pattern is where you alternate two rows after some set up.

For instance:
K1, p1(set up row-- can add more if u like)
K1below, p1
Then
K1, p1below
Then alternate

Happy knitting!

[aglam]

Thank you for the pattern. If I want to make it smaller than 100 stitches, by how many stitches should i reduce? Thank you

[briza]

Thanks for your thorough video. Easy to follow. Hopefully I can get my first hat made before winter comes!

[jfro]

Super clear decrease instruction!!! Thank you.

[ceceliasheart]

Its so comforting to have a teacher that is ambidextrous. As a student its very difficult to be expected to do everything right handed. I ambidextrous too but I go by feel, what feels better as I am working. ❤

[defyingblueprints]

Thanks for the clear tutorial! Making this hat right now after losing my winter hat.