This adorable kids beanie hat pattern is the perfect pattern for a beginner knitter.
The simple beanie hat is a basic hat your little one will love wearing almost as much as you’ll love seeing him or her in it.
You can easily make it using any super bulky yarn of your choice.
I used Yarn Art Alpine Alpaca, which is really soft but you could also substitute it with any super bulky yarn, including Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick.
*Please scroll down to see the free pattern*
Kids Hat Knitting Pattern – Easy Level
The kid’s hat pattern is easy to follow, there are two options for you, knitting in the round or knitting the hat flat.
The hat uses basic stitches – knit and purl, to create ribbing and then stockinette stitch for the main body of the hat.
I made the hat with super bulky yarn 06, which knits up fast!
You can even complete this hat during one movie.
Knitting The Hat – What You Need To Know
If you are a beginner knitter this pattern will introduce you to shaping through simple decreases.
If you are new to knitting then knitting the hat flat on two needles will probably be easier for you.
If you are a little more experience, then knitting the hat in the round will probably be preferred.
If you would like to know how to knit a hat in the round, take a look at this post here – How To Knit A Hat For Beginners.
The Needles
- I used 10 mm (US 15) knitting needles.
- If you are knitting in the round, using 16-inch circular needles is needed to accommodate the number of stitches.
The Yarn
- I used 1 x skein YarnArt Alpine Maxi in Grey 334 for the hat with a coordinating colour for the pom-pom.
- This yarn is a wool/acrylic blend and very soft to touch.
- You can substitute this yarn with any yarn that is super bulky weight (06).
- A good substitute is Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick.
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 comfortable working the purl stitch.
- You should be comfortable knitting in the round.
- You should also be comfortable reading knitting patterns.
- And understanding knitting abbreviations and terms.
Beanie Hat Knitting Pattern
Purchase the inexpensive ad-free, PDF printable pattern in my shop here.
Notes
The hat knits up quickly in super bulky yarn, and the simple design makes for a relaxing and enjoyable knit.
- 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 – Easy
Gauge – 8st / 12 rows – 10cm (4″)
Size – baby 14″ / toddler 16″
The Supplies You Need
Yarn
- Yarn – 1 x skein YarnArt Alpine Maxi in Grey 334
- Content: 30% Alpaca Wool 10% Wool 60% Acrylic
- Ball Weight: 150 g (5.3 oz)
- Yarn Length: 120 m (131 yd)
- Scraps for the pom pom
- Yarn substitute – Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick.
- Any super bulky yarn 06
- Yarn weight guide
Needles
- Knitting needles – 10mm (US 15)
- In the round – 10mm (US 15) 16″ circular knitting needles
- You may also need 10.00mm (US 15) double-pointed knitting needles to complete the decreases if you are working in the round.
Notions
Other Tools
Abbreviations / Knitting Abbreviations List
- Approx = Approximately
- Beg = Begin(ning)
- Cont = Continue(ing)
- DPN’s – Double pointed needles
- K = Knit
- K2tog = Knit next 2 stitches together
- P – Purl
- PM – Place marker
- Rem = Remaining
- Rep = Repeat
- Rnd(s) = Round(s)
- St(s) = Stitch(es)
- St, St – Stockinette stitch – work one row knit, one row purl
Pattern
To knit in the round (on circular needles):
- Cast on – 30 / 34 sts, pm and join in the round, being careful not to twist sts.
- Row 1 – Knit to the end of the round.
- Row 2 – K1, P1 (rib) to end of round – complete a further 5 rounds of ribbing.
- Row 7 – Knit to the end of the round.
- Repeat round 7 – (10 / 12 times)
- Decrease for the crown as follows – (You may need to use the DPN’s now)
- K1 then K2tog repeat to 1st before the end of the round, K1 (16, 18) sts
- Knit to the end of the round.
- K1 then k2tog, repeat to 2 / 1 sts before the end of the round.
- Knit to the end of the round.
- Cut yarn and pull tight to secure.
- Sew in all ends
- Make a pom pom to stitch on the top of the hat.
To knit flat (on two needles):
- Cast on – 30 / 34 sts,
- Row 1 – K1, P1 (rib) to end of the row.
- Row 2 – P1, K1 – to the end of the row.
- Continue to work in 1 x 1 ribbing for a further 4 rows of ribbing.
- Row 5 – Knit to the end of the row.
- Row 6 – Purl to the end of the row.
- Repeat rows 5 and 6 – (10 / 12) times (ending with a purl row).
- Decrease for the crown as follows –
- K1 then K2tog repeat to 1st st, before the end of the row, K1 (16, 18) sts.
- Purl to the end of the row.
- K1 then k2tog, repeat to 2 / 1 sts before the end of the row.
- Purl to the end of the row.
- Cut yarn and pull tight to secure.
- Seam the edges using an invisible seam.
- Sew in all ends.
- Make a pom pom to stitch on the top of the hat.
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! xoxo
Sarah says
Hi! I absolutely love the picture of this hat, and I’m trying to make it for my daughter. I’m a little confused about the repeat row though. If I’m supposed to do the K1 then K2tog repeat across the hat, it’s impossible to do it 12 times like the pattern says. Can you help me?
handylittleme says
Hello! Can you tell me which row you are on? Thanks 🙂
Sarah says
I just realized what I was doing wrong! I was on the wrong row! Thank you for making me look at the the row numbers correctly! I’m on row 7 and somehow didn’t realize that I needed to repeat that row instead of the decrease row.
handylittleme says
Hello, ok no worries, if you need any other help with the pattern, just let me know. You can email me – handylittleme@gmail.com or use the contact form on the site. Thanks and happy knitting! 🙂
Chelsea Thornton says
Hello,
Would this fit a 5 year old?
handylittleme says
Hello, the hat size in the pattern is for a baby or toddler – for a child of 5yrs – you would have to increase the stitches you cast on so that the circumference is about 20-21 inches. You could increase the cast on stitches to 36 or 38 and measure to see. Thanks for visiting the blog and if you have any other questions, please email handylittleme@gmail.com.
Judi says
How much yarn do I need to complete this beanie hat !
I’m going to do it youth size.
Thanks
handylittleme says
Hello, I used 1 skein for the hat and some leftovers/scrap yarn for the pom. I used a large clover pom maker – 3 3/8 inch for the pom. I hope that helps and thanks for visiting! 🙂
Judith santellr says
Next question. I’m on step 9
K1 then K2tog, repeat to 2/1 sits before the end of row ?
Kinda got that but then step 10
K2, K1, K2, K1, K 2. What does that mean ?
Right now I have 10 stitches on the needle.
Thanks for your help
handylittleme says
Hello, in round 9 – the 2/1 sts refers to the size – because it depends on if you cast on 30/34 sts for the size you want. In the next round, you may have 10 sts if you made it for the larger size – and originally cast on 34 sts. You can knit those two stitches and then finish the hat. I hope that helps and thanks for visiting! 🙂
Lisa says
Hi, I was wondering what step 10 means? I knitted the larger size, so have 10 stitches left. I also knitted on 2 needles instead of in the round – beginner and didn’t want to get too complicated! (so am up to a row of purls) thanks!
handylittleme says
Hello, in step 10, if you are knitting flat and not in the round, change the knits to purls and you should be okay! So row 10 would be – P2, P1 to thend of the row – then P1 for the last stitch. I hope that helps! Thanks for visiting 🙂 Louise
Lisa says
Thanks for the reply! Does that mean purl 2 together, then a single stitch, then 2 together etc? Sorry, am new to all of this!
handylittleme says
Hello Lisa, in row 9 – you do the decreases by K2tog – knitting two stitches together. In row 10 – you are purling 2 stitches, purling 1 stitch and repeating that. You are not decreasing again on this row. I hope that helps! 🙂
Alissa says
Thanks for the pattern! I have a question about step 10 – K2, K1, K2, K1, K2… is this the same as just knitting the whole row?
handylittleme says
Hello! yes, it is – thanks for pointing that out – yes you should knit all of row 10. Thanks for visiting! 🙂
Elly says
Hi, my son is 6. Will 34 cast on fit him? (In another hat, I cast on as much as 72.)
handylittleme says
Hello Elly, I would think that 34 sts will fit the head of a 6 year old if you use super bulky yarn and the recommended needle size in the pattern. If you were going to use a different weight of yarn matched with different sized needles, then you would need to cast on extra stitches. I hope that helps! 🙂
Alyson Eller says
Hi! For step 7 on straight needles, do I repeat rows 5-6 ten times each or five times each for a total of 10 rows? Also, is step 9 actual two steps (a row with the decrease and then a row of knit)? Thanks! This is a great hat, I’m very new to knitting so I’m just a little confused!
Louise Bollanos says
Hello Alyson, for step 7 on straight needles – yes you repeat rows 5 and 6 10 times for the smaller sized hat and 12 times for the larger sized hat. Step 9 – K1 then K2tog repeat to 1st st before the end of the row, K1 (16, 18) sts – means that you K1, K2tog to the last st, then knit that last stitch. I hope that helps! 🙂