Stitches

How do I adjust a knitting pattern for different yarn and needles?

I would like to make this hat for my husband. http://marniemaclean.com/patterns/carlsbad/index.html The pattern calls for US#1 knitting needles and fine gauge cotton yarn. If I want to use size 7 or 8 circular needles (that's what I have) and use this great light weight yarn I already have, how do I adjust the number of stitches to cast on. Thanks for any help you can provide!

Public Comments

1. first you need to figure out what gauge suits your yarn, now take the stitches per inch times the how big around your head it. round this number up to the next whole number and that is how many stitches you cast on.
2. First you knit a 4 inch by 4 inch swatch using the pattern stitch called for and your own yarn and needles. Then measure in the center of the piece across the width. Write down your measurement of stitches to the inch. Then measure the long way down the piece. This is the row measurement. Count the rows to an inch and write this down. Just remember to measure your husband's head and reduce this measurement by 1 inch because yarn stretches. Substitute your stitches to the inch and rows to the inch for the pattern's ones. That is all there is to it. Good luck!
3. Well, you can gauge it out, but if you have the light weight yarn, you're not going to like the hat because it won't be the hat that's pictured. You'll have something very open and lacy, rather than the solid, sock type knit hat pictured. And a heavier yarn, well, you might as well be knitting a winter hat (yes, cotton can be warm). If you want to get what you see, get the right sized needles.