The hat is knitted in one piece, shaped at the crown with simple decreases, and then sewn up the back seam. The brim can be rolled or folded up, depending on the look you prefer and how deep you want the hat to sit. It is a sweet pattern for baby shower gifts, hospital donations, charity knitting, or using up soft baby yarn from your stash.
Get more details about this project
What you need
- Baby weight yarn
- 3.75 mm / US 4 knitting needles
- Yarn needle for sewing the seam
- Scissors
Abbreviations
K – knit
K2tog – knit 2 stitches together
Inc – increase 1 stitch
St / sts – stitch / stitches
Garter stitch – knit every row
Instructions
Baby Hat Pattern
Cast on 70 sts.
Work in garter stitch until the piece measures approximately 3/4 inch from the cast-on edge.
Increase Row
Next Row:
K4, inc 1 st in next st; repeat from * to * until the last 5 sts, then K5.
You should now have 83 sts.
Continue working in garter stitch until the piece measures 5 inches from the cast-on edge.
Crown Shaping
Begin decreasing as follows:
Row 1:
K10, K2tog; repeat from * to * until the last 11 sts, then knit to the end.
77 sts
Row 2 and every even-numbered row:
Knit.
Row 3:
K2tog, K10; repeat from * to * until the last 5 sts, then K2tog and knit to the end.
70 sts
Row 5:
K6, K2tog; repeat from * to * until the last 6 sts, then knit to the end.
62 sts
Row 7:
K2tog, K6; repeat from * to * until the last 4 sts, then knit to the end.
54 sts
Row 9:
K4, K2tog; repeat from * to * across the row.
45 sts
Row 11:
K2tog, K4; repeat from * to * until the last 3 sts, then K2tog and K1.
37 sts
Row 13:
K2tog across the row until the last st, then K1.
Repeat Row 13 until 5 sts remain.
Break yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread the yarn tail through the remaining 5 sts and pull gently to gather the top of the hat.
Finishing
Using the long yarn tail, sew the back seam of the hat neatly from the crown down to the brim.
Weave in all loose ends.
Roll or fold up the brim to finish.
This is a lovely little pattern to keep on hand for last-minute baby gifts, especially if you like having a few handmade pieces ready for new arrivals. For matching family beanies, you might also like the basic adults knitted beanie or the kids knitted beanie.
How much yarn needed for this project??
Can you tell me how many balls of 4 ply per hat please?
There is only 13 increases in the hat, start with 70 stitches, subtract 5 for the last 5 stitches knit and it leaves 65, knit 4 then increases means you are making 1 increase for each group of 5 stitches, if you have more than 13 increases, you are increasing incorrectly or too often, original 70 stitches plus 13 increases does come out to be 83 stitches on the needle. The best increase to use on a garter stitch hat would be KFB, which is the knit front and back increase.
I’m not doing something right. I cast on 70 sts, but after the 3/4″ that next row I get 86 sts or 16 increases. I hope you can help me as I’d like to make this baby cap.
How much yarn did you need to complete this project?
I love this pattern would it be possible to knit this on circular needles and knit in the round?
During this COVID 19 pandemic I need to make donations by knitting baby booties and hat to our local hospital. Hoping it will reach the needy children.
What size head does this pattern fit?
The last delivery I made to the hospital was 50 preemie hats and 10 regular newborn. Do a bunch of Sunday afternoon ‘doodles’ and please some mothers, nurses and even babies this year.
I knit. Just for fun. This baby hat is a doddle. A Sunday afternoon thingy. But it s nice to see it standing tall and waiting for the little head it may keep warm.k
Can I send you a photo? It was so much fun? Thank you.
Hi Cathy – yes that would be great! Please send to [email protected]
What age (months) does this hat fit?
Am I the only one who needs to know how much yarn?
Made this in a couple of hours but replaced the body of the hat with stocking stitch. Worked fine, going to adjust it for a thicker yarn for the winter.
Please can you tell me what you mean by baby weight yarn? Would I be right with 4 ply?
Yes 4 ply would be a baby weight
The baby isnt here for me to measure i havent met him yas yet, so would you think this would fit a 4month old?
wonderful, how do I print the instructions to make the chickie hat?
Hi Ellen, just login and then you get a print this pattern button at the end of the pattern.
This sounded great and easy. Our church helps with the homeless in out community so I felt that this project would help them this winter.
Lynn