In this post, you will see how to knit a baby hat with easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions.
This is a basic pattern for those of you who are beginner level, and the techniques you will need to know are casting on, casting off, the knit stitch, the purl stitch, decreasing through K2tog and P2tog.
This baby hat is knit flat with straight needles and later seamed to finish.
A Basic Level Knitting Pattern
If you are learning how to knit, baby knitting patterns are great to start with before you move on to more complicated patterns that include cables and other advanced techniques.
When you knit a baby hat you will be able to practice basic knitting stitches and learn to shape the top of the hat with simple decreases.
The hat is knit with straight needles and is seamed to finish.
This means that is is not knit in the round with circular needles.
*Please scroll down to see the free pattern*
The Yarn I Used To Knit The Baby Hat
I used Rico Creative Cotton Aran (50g/85m/93yds) for the hat in the color Smokey blue.
The cotton does on occasion split when you knit, like most cotton yarns but you can fix it and make it look neat with a little patience.
This is a medium weight yarn 04.
You can substitute with most cotton including most DK yarn that is compatible with size 4.5mm (US 7) knitting needles.
Yarn Substitutes
- Jarbo Garn – Reko Bomull
- Drops Design – Drops Loves You 8
- Scheepjes – Cahlista
- Paintbox Yarns – Cotton Aran
- King Cole – Big Value Recycled Cotton Aran
- Cascade Yarns – Nifty Cotton
Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this pattern:
This pattern is great for any beginner knitters.
- You should be comfortable casting on and casting off, as well as knitting in garter stitch.
- You should be able to knit the purl stitch.
- You should be able to knit in stockinette stitch.
- How to K2tog.
- You should also be comfortable reading knitting patterns.
- And understanding knitting abbreviations and terms.
More Baby Knitting Patterns
You may also be interested in making matching items to make a lovely handmade gift set.
Baby Hat Knitting Pattern – Straight Needles
Grab the printable PDF from my shop here.
You can grab three beginner-friendly patterns including the baby booties, hat, and cardigan in a discounted bundle here.
You can also find this pattern in this Ebook here – 10 Baby Knitting Patterns Ebook.
Notes
The hat knits up quickly and the simple design makes for a relaxing and enjoyable knit.
The hat is knit flat on straight needles and then seamed when complete.
If you like this pattern you may also want to make the adult version here – How To Knit A Hat With Straight Needles.
- Please do not copy, sell, redistribute or republish this pattern.
- If you wish to share this pattern, link to the pattern page only.
- You may sell items produced using this pattern.
- Do NOT use the copyrighted photos for your product listing.
- For the copyright T&C’s please read my Terms of Use.
Skill Level – Basic
Size –
- This pattern is to fit baby size 0-3 months / 3-6 months / 6-9 months.
- The first set of numbers applies to the small size, the second set to the medium size and the third to the large size.
Gauge – 18 sts and 24 rows in 4×4 inches / 10x10cm
The Supplies You Need
Yarn
- 1 x Rico Creative Cotton Aran 50g/85m/93yds in the color – Smokey Blue.
- Any medium weight yarn 04
- Yarn weight guide
Needles
Notions
Abbreviations / Knitting Abbreviations List
- Approx = Approximately
- Beg = Begin(ning)
- Cont = Continue(ing)
- K = Knit
- K2tog = Knit next 2 stitches together
- P = Purl
- P2tog = Purl the next two stitches together
- Rem = Remaining
- Rep = Repeat
- RS = Right side
- St(s) = Stitch(es)
- St St = Stocking Stitch
- WS = Wrong side
Pattern
Time needed: 3 hours and 30 minutes.
How To Knit A Baby Hat
- The Turned Up Brim
Cast on 54 (61/68) sts.
Row 1 (RS): P1, K2 – rep to the end of the row.
Row 2 (WS): P2, K1 – rep to the end of the row.
Rep rows 1 and 2 until the piece measures 2″ (2.5″/3″) from the cast-on edge.
- The Main Body Of The Hat
Row 1 (RS): K1, P2 – rep to the end of the row.
Row 2 (WS): K2, P1 – rep to the end of the row.
Rep rows 1 and 2 until you have worked 7″ (8″/9″) from the cast-on edge ending with a WS row.
- Decrease
Row 1: K1, P2tog – rep to the end of the row.
Row 2: K1, P1 – rep to the end of the row.
Row 3: K2tog – rep to the end of the row.
Row 4: Purl – rep to the end of the row.
Row 5: K2tog – rep to the end of the row.
Row 6: Purl – rep to the end of the row.
Cut yarn leaving a tail of around 15 inches.
Thread through the rem sts and pull up tight.
- Making Up
The last step is seaming the two edges of the baby hat together.
I used a seaming technique called the mattress stitch.
This allows you to create an invisible seam in your knitting so you don’t see where the edges meet.
To do this you:
Place the edges together – line them up.
Start at the top of the hat, with the right sides facing you.
Thread your needle and secure the top of the hat first with a stitch.
Then start to push the needle through the first stitch on one side of the fabric edge.
Then move over to the other side and push your needle through the first stitch.
Pull them together and continue to seam picking up an edge stitch on one side and again on the other as you go.
You can pick up stitches every one bar or two bars on the edges – this is up to you. I generally pick up every 2 bars.
Just be careful that what you do to one side of the knitting should also be done on the other side to keep them even.
- Finishing
When you come to the brim of the hat, you need to turn this over – so the right sides are facing you to seam.
This is so you get an invisible seam on the right sides of the knitted fabric.
When you have finished seaming, secure your yarn on the wrong side and weave in any loose ends.
Your baby hat is now finished.
- Turn The Brim Over
Turn the brim over and finish by weaving in any loose ends.
I love seeing your finished projects!
If you enjoyed making the hat, I’d love to see yours on Instagram, be sure to tag me @handylittleme.
If you are on Facebook, stop over to the handylittleme Facebook page and share a photo! I’d love to see your work!
Happy Knitting!
Elizabeth says
Thanks for sharing your patterns. I’m a first time granny and would love baby knitting patterns. Would really appreciate it.
Louise Bollanos says
Hello Elizabeth,
You can see more baby knitting patterns here – https://www.handylittleme.com/baby-knitting-patterns/
I hope you enjoy the patterns!
Louise 🙂
Zaynab says
Thank you for the pattern! After a decrease row, do you start with knitting or purling for the 3 in between rows??
Louise Bollanos says
Hello Zaynab,
If the decrease row you have just worked is on the right side – meaning it was a knit row, then the next row would be a purl row, because you are working in stockinette stitch.
I hope that helps!
Louise