Here's the basic pattern for my ribbed hat:
Using worsted weight yarn and a size 7 needle -- this gives a tightly stitched hat.
(I made it with with Red Heart Classic yarn (blue) and Patons Brilliant ("white twinkle", using 2 strands), on a size 7 needle)
Guage: 20 stitches and 26 rows = 4"x4"
Cast on 90 stiches
Rib: 1x1 rib for 1 1/2 inches: 1k, 1p to end -- start each row with a knit and end each row with a purl so you stay on track.
Body: Stockinette stitch for 3 1/2 inches: k one row, p next row
(put whatever kind of pattern you like here, I use
this site to create a chart for this guage and sketched out the logo you see above)
Decrease:
Row 1: k2tog, *8k, k2tog repeat from * to end
Row 2: purl row
Row 3: k2tog, *7k, k2tog repeat from * to end
Row 4: purl row
Row 5: k2tog, *6k, k2tog repeat from * to end
Row 6: purl row
continue in this fashion until 10 to 15 stiches remain (you'll see that the decreased stitches line up to form nice "darted" lines in the hat)
Finish:
cut the yarn, leaving a 24 inch tail. Thread the tail through the remaining stitches and use to sew up back of the hat. (see
Mattress Stitch video for how to sew up invisibly.)