Five things I learned after my first hat

My first hat came down over my eyes. The second would not go on at all. The third was fine — and along the way I learned five things I would happily have read beforehand.

1. A gauge swatch is not wasted time

Ten minutes, and it tells you how many stitches make ten centimetres with your hands and your yarn. Without it, a pattern’s stitch counts describe somebody else’s hands.

2. Head circumference is not hat circumference

The finished hat should be two or three centimetres smaller than the head: crocheted fabric stretches as you wear it. Make it exactly to size and it will sag.

3. The brim decides whether it stays on

Without a ribbed brim even the prettiest hat rides up. Two or three centimetres is enough, but work it tighter than the rest of the hat.

4. Height can be fixed later, circumference cannot

So start with the circumference. If the height is short you crochet more onto it; if the circumference is wrong you start over.

5. Measure as you go

Not at the end. Put it on your head half-finished — it looks ridiculous and it saves you a restart.