One for all Cap
This is not so much a pattern but some guidelines to knitting a cap top-down. This method suits pretty much all stitch patterns and yarns, so no specific information is given regarding yarn, needle size or gauge. The great thing about this pattern is that you can adjust the size as you knit, no swatching is necessary, so you can use these guidelines to knit a cap for anyone.
Some details about the sample caps:
The mustard-yellow cap for DH is about size 23" (116 sts), knitted of KnitPicks Telemark Lichen with #3 (3,25mm) needles. I used a bit over 1 ball (60 grams) of yarn.
Mom's heather cap is about 24" (124 sts), and I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease and #3 needles.
My light blue cap is about 22"-23" (84 sts) and I used Lion Brand Organic Cotton and #7 needles.
My brother's blue rib cap is about 24" (112 sts), and I used KnitPicks Telemark.
The most basic cap - Instructions
Using provisional yarn and a crochet hook, slightly bigger than the label suggests for your yarn, crochet a chain of at least 8 ch (for plain cap) or at least 12 ch (for rib cap). I recommend making a chain slightly longer than the number of cast-on sts (for example ch12 or ch16). You will remove this provisional cast-on later. After the chain, cut yarn and make a knot in the yarn on the tail, so you'll know which is the end of the chain. You'll need this information when removing the provisional cast-on. For this crochet chain cast-on method, there is a tutorial, which you might find useful.
If you use a circular needle or Magic Loop method, place stitch markers accordingly: on pick up row, [pick up 2 sts for plain cap and 3 sts for rib cap, pm], rpt [-] to the end. Mark the beginning of row with a marker, too. I knitted my caps using 5 DPN's, and the instructions are for one needle only, so if you use another method, repeat the instructions 4 times for one row. See below. Regardless of your method, mark the beginning of your row with a removable stitch marker. Because of the provisional cast-on method (see below), you will not be able to tell the beginning of row in round knitting.
Before picking up sts, leave a 8" yarn end for removing the cast-on edge and picking up sts.
Using the actual yarn for cap, pick up sts along the chain:
8 sts or 2 sts per needle for plain cap,
12 sts or 3 sts per needle for rib cap.
Continue in stockinette st or ribbing. Knit a couple of inches before removing the provisional
cast-on. See below for instructions for removing the cast-on.
For plain caps, I use the M1A (Make One Away) or KLL (Knit Left Loop) and KRL (Knit Right Loop) increases. I find the M1A increase the neatest in ribbing but in plain caps, perhaps the KLL and KRL increases are the best. For these increases, see the tutorial at KnittingHelp.com.
After picking up sts:
For plain cap:
R1: k1, M1, k1.
R2: k all sts.
R3: k1, M1, k until 1 st rem, M1, k1.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 until the cap is big enough. If you use 5 needles to knit the cap, the sts on one needle should measure about 6" for a 24" cap. After the necessary number of increases, continue in stockinette st until cap is long enough and BO all sts.
R1: k1, M1, k2.
R2: k1, M1, k2, M1, k1.
R3: k1, p1, k2, p1, k1.
R4: k1, M1, p1, k2, p1, M1, k1.
R5: k1, *p2, k2*, rpt *-* until 1 st rem before m, k1.
R6: k1, M1, *p2, k2*, rpt *-* until 1 st rem before m, M1, k1.
R7: k2, *p2, k2*, rpt *-* to end.
R8: k1, M1, k1, *p2, k2*, rpt *-* until 4 sts rem before m, p2, k1, M1, k1.
R9: k1, k2, *p2, k2*, rpt *-* until 1 st rem before m, k1.
R10: k1, M1, k2, *p2, k2*, rpt *-* until 1 st rem before m, M1, k1.
R11: k1, p1, k2, *p2, k2*, rpt *-* until 2 sts rem before m, p1, k1.
R12: k1, M1, p1, k2, *p2, k2*, rpt *-* until 2 sts rem before m, p1, M1, k1.
R13: k1, *p2, k2*, rpt *-* until 3 st rem before m, p2, k1.
Repeat rows 6-13, end with row 13. After the necessary number of increases, continue in k2, p2 ribbing until cap is long enough and BO all sts.
Weave in all yarn ends and block gently.
Removing provisional cast-on
After you have knitted at least a couple of inches,
you can remove the provisional cast-on to create
a neat crown for your cap.
Note: in the picture, the white yarn is the provisional
cast-on chain. The loop in the yarn end indicates the
direction of crocheting. I finished crocheting with the
end with the loop, and this is the yarn end to remove
first when removing the cast-on edge.
When removing the crochet chain, use the yarn end you
left before picking up sts for the cap. Thread a tapestry
needle with the yarn end, and remove the crochet chain
and at the same time, pick up the sts of the cap with
the needle. The idea is to prevent unraveling and pick up
sts at the same time.
In this picture, while I pulled the white yarn end, unraveling
the crochet chain, I picked up sts with the tapestry needle.
Continue as set until the provisional crochet chain is
completely removed.
Once you've picked up all the sts using
the needle, pull the yarn end to close
the "ring" and to close the hole.
Using the needle, pull the needle to the
WS of cap through the little hole in the
middle. Weave in the yarn end.
The Flame Cap
This cap was knitted with KnitPicks Telemark (1 ball of black, and less than 1/2 ball of both blues), and #3 (3,25 mm) needles, with a gauge of approximately 5,5 sts per inch (24 sts = 10 cm or 4") in stranded knitting.
I knitted the cap from the brim up, but this cap could've been knitted top-down. I cast on 116 sts (29 sts on 4 needles) for the cap, knitted 3 rows in garter st before joining to knit in the round and continued according to the chart.
Chart for the Flame Cap
After knitting the chart, I knitted 4 rows before decreasing. I decreased 8 times on every other row. In the beginning of a needle, I knitted an SSK decrease, and at the end of a needle I knitted 2 together. I repeated these decreases on every needle. I knitted one row even before next decreases and continued this until I had 12 sts on a row and pulled the yarn through all of them.
If you knit this cap top-down, begin with 12 sts and knit according to the plain cap instructions (knit in stockinette st). After you have 29 sts on each needle (or 116 sts total), knit 4 rows even before beginning the flame cap chart from the top. Knit according to chart, and end with 3 rows of garter st. BO all sts.
If you have any questions, suggestions or corrections, please let me know.
If you knit this cap top-down, begin with 12 sts and knit according to the plain cap instructions (knit in stockinette st). After you have 29 sts on each needle (or 116 sts total), knit 4 rows even before beginning the flame cap chart from the top. Knit according to chart, and end with 3 rows of garter st. BO all sts.
If you have any questions, suggestions or corrections, please let me know.