Basic baby hat knitting pattern

Make this basic baby hat knitting pattern your go-to for new baby gifts. Our adorable easy baby hat knitting pattern, designed by Kirstie McLeod for Simply Knitting issue 109, is made very simply in stocking stitch, with a neat little rib stitch edging and a softly rounded crown.

As an added extra, a pompom made with the contrasting yarn will set it off beautifully. Haven't created pompoms before? It's easy! Learn how to make a pompom with our step-by-step guide. It's the perfect flourish for our easy baby hat knitting pattern.

We think this basic baby hat knitting pattern is perfect for those exploring knitting for beginners. As you make this basic baby hat you'll learn how to change yarns to create stripes, and how to decrease for the crown of a hat. Plus you'll end up with the cutest little present for a new arrival! If you need something for an even smaller baby, try our premature baby hat pattern.

Basic baby hat knitting pattern materials

Paintbox Yarns Baby DK (55% nylon, 45% acrylic, 50g/167m)

• Yarn A Paper White (1700)
• Yarn B Ballet Pink (752)

A pair of 3¾mm knitting needles

Basic baby hat knitting pattern

Tension

18 sts and 23 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 3¾mm needles

Measurements

Check out our knitting abbreviations for all the terms used in this pattern.

Cast on 80 (88: 96) sts using 3¾mm needles and yarn A.

Row 1 Knit.

Row 2-4 (K1, P1) to end of row.

Change to Yarn B.

Row 5-6 (K1, P1) to end of row.

Change to yarn A.

Row 7-9 (K1, P1) to end of row.

Starting with a knit (RS) row, cont in st st for 4 rows.

**Change to yarn B, st st 2 rows.

Change to Yarn A, st st 4 rows, cont as set from ** rep patt until hat meas 13 (15: 17)cm from the cast on edge, ending on a WS row.

Baby hat crown

Row 1 *K8 (9: 10), k2tog; rep from * to end of row.

Row 2 and all alt rows Purl.

Row 3 *K7 (8: 9), k2tog; rep from * to end of row.

Row 5 *K6 (7: 8), k2tog; rep from * to end of row.

Row 7 *K5 (6: 7), k2tog; rep from * to end of row.

Row 9 *K4 (5: 6), k2tog; rep from * to end of row.

Row 11 *K3 (4: 5), k2tog; rep from * to end of row.

Row 13 *K2 (3: 4), k2tog; rep from * to end of row.

Row 15 *K1 (2: 3), k2tog; rep from * to end of row.

Row 16 *P2tog, P (- :1: 2); rep from * to end of row.

Sizes 6-12 mths & 1-2 yrs only

Row 17 *K ( -: 1), k2tog; rep from * to end of row.

Size 1-2 yrs only

Row 18 *P2tog; rep from * to end of row.

Make up the baby hat

Break yarn, thread yarn through rem sts and pull tight. With the RS facing, sew seam together, matching up the stripes. Weave in loose ends.

Download your basic baby hat knitting pattern

Get this easy baby hat knitting pattern as a download here: Basic baby hat knitting pattern PDF

Please note that in the basic baby hat knitting pattern download, row 13 uses purl stitches, but we recommend Row 13 *K2 (3: 4), k2tog; rep from * to end of row.

Basic baby hat knitting pattern video

See how to shape the crown in our basic baby hat knitting pattern with this ho to knit a baby hat video.