The Long Tail Cast On is one of the most popular ways in knitting to get the initial stitches on the needles…I hope this video helps make it simple for you!

How long should a hat be before decreasing?

Distance from the cast-on edge

Baby 4”

Toddler 5”

Child 6”

Women’s. 7-8”

Men’s.  8-8.5”

These are just estimates. The answer is really dependent on when and how the decreases are implemented. If you prefer a slouchy look, add 1-2” to the length.

Gauge in knitting is simply the size of each stitch and the space between stitches. It is measured in stitches (horizontal measurement) and rows (vertical measurement). Since each stitch is usually pretty small, gauge is measured in stitches or rows per inch (2.54 cm), or 4 inches (10 cm).  The smaller number of stitches per inch, the larger the stitches.  Example:  4 stitches per inch will be larger stitches than 20 stitches per inch. The larger stitches are referred to as a larger gauge.