Knitting hats is easy, especially when you start with something small and simple like a baby hat! You can learn how to knit a baby hat with this free, beginner-friendly pattern and tutorial. You can find the free pattern here on this page, or you can buy the ad-free, printable PDF from our shop. I also have a video that shows you how to knit this baby hat step-by-step!
UPDATED: JANUARY 2, 2025 BY BRITTANY
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Skill Level | Beginner
Available Sizes | Baby, Toddler, Child
If you’ve finished a basic knitting project like a scarf or a blanket, and especially if you’ve already made my Easy Knit Hat, then you’re ready to knit a hat with crown decreases!
The best project to learn the basics of shaping a hat crown while you knit is to learn how to knit a baby hat with a simple and easy pattern, like this one.
This really easy knit baby hat will show you how to do just that. It’s incredibly simple, and you can finish it in a single sitting!
About This How to Knit a Baby Hat Tutorial
There are two ways to knit a hat – with circular needles or with double-pointed needles. In most cases, you’ll use a combination of the two! I think it’s easiest to start knitting a hat with circular needles, then switch to double-pointed needles to knit the crown. Why? As you decrease the number of stitches for the crown, the project won’t fit around your circular needles anymore. That’s where your double-pointed needles come in.
With this project, you’ll get more practice with your basic stitches like knits and purls, and you’ll learn how to knit crown decreases using double-pointed needles. After you’ve finished this hat and are comfortable knitting a crown with double-pointed needles, check out my everyday ribbed knit hat tutorial to learn how to knit a crown with long circular needles in a technique called “magic loop”.
Keep reading for more frequently asked questions and pattern details for this simple knit baby hat, or jump down straight down to the free pattern to get started.
Pattern Overview:
- Supplies
- Buy the ad-free, printable pattern
- Abbreviations
- Pattern Notes
- Gauge and Finished Size
- How to Knit a Baby Hat – Pattern Instructions
- How to Knit a Baby Hat – Tutorial
- More Beginner-Friendly Knitting Patterns
You can view the pattern completely free on this page. But, if you prefer having a digital copy that you can save or print, we’ve got you covered with that option as well.
If you’d like to support our work here at B.Hooked, purchasing the digital pattern is a wonderful way to do so!
Recommended Supplies
- Any #6 Super Bulky Yarn; Shown: Lion Brand Mandala Thick & Quick (Colorway pictured: Turbine)
- Baby 30 yds / 27 m
- Toddler 56 yds /37 m
- Child 75 yds/ 46 m
- US 13 Circular Knitting Needles, 16″
- US 13 Double Point Needles
- Yarn Needle
- Scissors
Lion Brand Mandala Thick & Quick yarn is a fun choice for a baby hat because of its color options and how the colors change with this pattern. Each hat will look unique! Plus, it has a soft feel that’s great for a baby hat.
If you can’t find this yarn or want to use something you already have, look for another super bulky (#6) weight yarn. If you’re not familiar with yarn weights, I have an article that explains it all here. Any yarn in this weight category will work fine, but a smooth yarn is best for knitting your first baby hat. That way, you can see the stitches better! Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick is another great option.
For the needles, you can use any 16″ fixed or interchangeable circular knitting needle as long as it’s a US 13. I recommend Knitter’s Pride Dreamz knitting needles for beginners because the stitches stay on the needles, but they’re still really smooth to knit with. If you don’t already have a pair, I suggest starting with this one.
If you need double-pointed needles, I like this set. Wooden DPNs are great for beginners because the stitches won’t easily slide off as you knit.
Pattern Notes
This really easy knit baby hat is worked from the band up to the crown. You’ll start with circular needles and switch to the double-pointed needles when the stitches no longer fit on the circular needles. If you’re familiar with knitting gauge swatches, go ahead and do one to see if it matches the pattern’s gauge:
Gauge: 11 stitches and 13.5 rounds = 4″ in stockinette stitch
Never heard of gauge before? No worries! Gauge is just a simple but crucial step to ensure your stitches are the size they’re supposed to be. This way, you can be confident that your hat will match the size dimensions listed below. Why bother checking? Even if you use the same yarn and needle size, your stitches might turn out a tad bigger or smaller than those in the pattern.
Think of knitting like handwriting – we all use the same letters, but everyone’s style is unique. You might knit your stitches a bit tighter or looser than someone else.
That’s why it’s always a good idea to check your gauge. Use whatever needle size you need to match the pattern’s gauge, ensuring your hat turns out the perfect size and that you have just enough yarn to finish. I have a really helpful article about gauge, and it’s worth reading if you want to knit more projects!
Baby Hat Sizing Details
Alright, let’s talk about sizing for this hat pattern. I’ve got it set up for three sizes, but you won’t see words like ‘baby’, ‘toddler’, or ‘child’ written out. Instead, you’ll see instructions like this:
36(42, 48)
Here’s the deal:
- The first number (36 in this case) is for the baby size.
- The middle number (42) is for the toddler size.
- And the last number (48) is for the child size.
So, if you’re knitting the baby size, you’ll use the first number; for the toddler size, go with the middle number; and for the child size, use the last one in the parentheses.
Just keep an eye out for these sets of numbers as you go through the pattern, and you’ll be making the perfect size hat without any confusion!
Finished Sizes
- Baby | 14.5″ circumference; 6.5″ long | fits 15-16″
- Toddler | 16.5″ circumference; 7.5″ long | fits 17-19″
- Child | 18.5″ circumference; 8.5″ long | fits 19-21″
How to Knit a Baby Hat – Pattern Instructions
Band
Rounds 1: CO 36 (42, 48) . *K1. P1. Rep from * to end of round.
Round 2: *K1. P1. Rep from * to end of round.
Repeat: Rep last round 5 (5, 7) more times.
A digital pattern is available in our shop so you can print out the pattern
Hat Sides
Next Round: K all sts.
Repeat: Rep the last round 10 (14, 15) more times.
Crown
Round 1: *K4. K2tog. Rep from * to end of round. {30 (35, 40) sts}
Round 2: *K3. K2tog. Rep from * to end of round. {24 (28, 32) sts}
Round 3: *K2. K2tog. Rep from * to end of round. {18 (21, 24) sts}*
Round 4: *K1. K2tog. Rep from * to end of round. {12 (14, 16) sts}
Round 5: *K2tog. Rep from * to end of round. {6 (7, 8) sts}
Finishing
Fasten off leaving an 8″ tail. Use a yarn needle to thread the tail through the remaining stitches.
Then just pull the tail to close the hole. Run the tail around the opening a few times to secure it, and weave it in along the inside of the hat.
By using this pattern, you agree to our terms of use:
This pattern is for personal use only. You agree not to modify, publish, transmit, sell, create derivative works or in any way exploit any of the content within this page, in whole or in part. If you wish to share this pattern, share a link to this webpage only. You may sell finished items made from this pattern.
Copyright, B.Hooked Crochet, LLC
How to Knit a Baby Hat Step-by-Step Tutorial
Video not displaying? Watch this tutorial on YouTube instead.
More Knitting Tutorials + Patterns for Beginners
Making step-by-step tutorials for beginners is kind of our thing. If you aren’t ready to knit a hat yet, check out some of our other tutorials with free knitting patterns specifically for beginners:
