I’ve always been a big fan of knitting. I fell in love with it right away, and have never stopped. It’s amazing how something so simple can be so satisfying! I’ll admit that as much as I love knitting, it took me a while to learn how to knit baby hats.
When I finally did, though, they turned out great!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Knitting baby hats can be a fun and useful project for knitters of all skill levels. |
| By following a simple pattern and using soft, baby-safe yarns, you can create adorable and cozy hats for infants. |
| When selecting a pattern, consider factors such as size, style, and type of yarn. |
| Take time to measure the baby’s head circumference and choose the appropriate sizing chart. |
| Don’t be afraid to experiment with different knit stitches or patterns and to incorporate additional design elements, such as pom-poms or stripes. |
| Make sure to follow basic care instructions and to wash the hat properly to ensure it stays in good condition. |
| Expand your skills and creativity by trying out other baby-related knitting and crochet patterns, such as blankets and sweaters. |
Here’s how you can make your own:
Measure Baby’s Head
To measure the circumference of your baby’s head, wrap a tape measure or string around the widest part of his head. You can either do this while he’s wearing a hat or take it off and measure without it on.
Make sure that you don’t pull too tight as this will distort your measurement by making it smaller than the actual size of his head.
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Pick The Right Yarn
You’re going to be using your hands a lot, so it’s best to go with a soft yarn that’s easy on the skin. Cotton makes for a great beginner project because it’s washable and durable.
You can also choose wool or acrylic if you’d like something that is more water resistant than cotton, but those materials are generally harder to work with (and therefore not ideal for beginners).
Choosing the Right Yarn for a Baby Hat
| Yarn Type | Description | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylic | Soft and easy to care for; widely available in various colors and weights. | Affordable, durable, and machine-washable. | Not as breathable as natural fibers; less skin-friendly; can pill over time. |
| Wool | Warm, soft, and natural; great for cold weather; can be used in a variety of knitting patterns. | Moisture-wicking, naturally flame-retardant, and elastic. | Can be itchy or scratchy for some babies; may require more attention and care when washing. |
| Cotton | Lightweight, breathable, and soft; great for summer hats; hypoallergenic and absorbent. | Breathable, easy to care for, and good for sensitive skin. | More expensive than acrylic yarn; can stretch over time; may not hold shape as well as wool. |
| Bamboo | Soft, silky, and eco-friendly; naturally antibacterial and hypoallergenic; great for sensitive skin. | Breathable and allows heat to escape; easy to care for and machine-washable. | Fewer color options than other yarn types; sliding stitches can be tricky for some knitters. |
| Cashmere | Luxurious, soft, and warm; perfect for special occasions or gifts. | Softer and warmer than wool; lightweight and breathable. | More expensive than other yarn types; requires special washing care and may not be as durable. |
Note: When choosing yarn for a baby hat, it is important to consider factors such as baby’s sensitivity, weather conditions, and the gauge of the yarn. Always read the yarn label for care instructions and other important information.
Choose The Right Needles
You will need to use the right size needle for the yarn you are using, so check with the manufacturer if you aren’t sure what size is best.
If you have a gauge swatch that shows how many stitches and rows per inch of knitting your chosen needles produce, simply multiply these numbers together to determine how much yarn you need for your project (i.e., if you knit at 4 sts per inch and there are 50 inches in a hat, then 25 stitches get used up by every inch of hat).
If you do not have access to this information but still want to follow along with one of our patterns, here’s how we recommend figuring it out:
Pull out some scrap yarn from our pattern stash that has similar stitches per inch as those in the piece being knit (this would also be helpful if your pattern has multiple stitch counts across different row gauges).
This will help ensure that any errors made while swatching can be corrected before starting on real yardage!
New to knitting and not sure where to start? Our ultimate guide to knitting for beginners covers everything from the basics of knitting to advanced techniques and patterns, allowing you to start creating stunning projects in no time
Cast On Your Stitches
Casting on is one of the first knitting techniques you’ll learn. It’s a simple process, but it can be tricky to get right if you haven’t tried it before.
There are a few different methods for casting on stitches, and all of them have their own pros and cons.
The most common method is called “long tail cast on,” where you begin by making a slip knot with about 5-10 inches (12-25cm) of working yarn hanging from one needle.
Then insert your right needle into this loop and wrap the working yarn around it as if to knit stitch. You should have an extra loop hanging off your right needle now this will be your first cast-on stitch!
Continue wrapping until there are enough stitches to work in pattern; then cut the working yarn and use the tail end at least 6 inches (15 cm) long to graft together when you finish knitting your hat or lace scarf by pulling it through all loops onto itself at once while holding tension against both sides until they meet in center then tie off tightly like normal bind off just made sure nothing was loose!!!
If you’ve mastered knitting a baby hat and are looking for your next challenge, why not try knitting a cozy knitted sweater for kids? Our step-by-step guide will show you how to create a warm and stylish sweater that your kids will love to wear
Knit The Ribbing
You’ll now knit the ribbing.
Ribbing is simply a way to make your knitting look more decorative and finished, and it can be done in any number of ways. The most popular are: slip stitch, knit 2 together (k2tog), purl 2 together (p2tog).
To do this type of ribbing on your baby hat, you will be working the stretchy rib pattern for about an inch: *K1, P1* Repeat from to end of round. Then switch to stockinette stitch for the remainder of your hat.
Knitting the Ribbing for a Baby Hat
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Cast on the number of stitches required for the hat pattern. |
| Step 2 | Switch to a smaller needle size and knit the first two rows in the rib stitch pattern, typically K1, P1 or K2, P2. |
| Step 3 | Continue knitting the rib stitch pattern for a length of 1-2 inches, depending on the desired length of the brim. |
| Step 4 | Switch to the larger needle size and begin knitting the body of the hat in the desired pattern, such as stockinette stitch, seed stitch, or cable knit. |
| Step 5 | Knit the body of the hat for the desired length, making sure to evenly decrease stitches towards the top of the hat. |
| Step 6 | When the hat reaches the desired length, cut the yarn leaving an 8-10 inch tail. |
| Step 7 | Thread a tapestry needle with the yarn tail and run it through each remaining stitch on the needle, gently pulling to close the top of the hat. |
| Step 8 | Secure the yarn tail on the inside of the hat, and weave it in to prevent unraveling. |
Note: The rib stitch pattern creates a stretchy and snug fit for the hat brim. Make sure to match the gauge with recommended needle sizes and yarn weight for best results.
Increase Your Stitches
The instructions for increasing stitches vary depending on whether you’re using double pointed needles (DPNs), the magic loop method, or circular needles. I’ll explain them all below.
With DPNs:
Begin by casting on enough stitches to create a small hat circle with at least an inch of ease (2 inches is best). Let’s say you cast on 64 stitches and want to knit a baby hat that measures 8 inches around after blocking.
That means your stitch count will be 72 stitches, because you’ll want to knit in the round until the hat is 6 inches tall — meaning there will be 6 inches of knitting before decreasing back down to your original stitch count at top where brim will begin.
So if we assume our gauge is 5 sts per inch (which would be generous), our total number of rows needed would be 72 x 5 sts = 360 rows!
But since we know it’s going to take us less than 360 rows due to our increasing every other row by 2 stitches ever time round about 52 times until each side meets back up together in center again…how long does this take?
Well let’s say we increase every other row for about 200 rounds total – then our final row count will end up being about 438 rows total which should give us a finished circumference size somewhere between 7-8″.
Knit In Stockinette Stitch
Stockinette stitch is a form of knitting where you knit all rows. To do this, simply insert your needle under the front loop of your stitches and knit them as normal.
Then, on purl rows, instead of inserting your needle under both loops (as you would for normal purling), only insert it under the back loop – this will create a neat line along the bottom edge of your work that looks like ribbing.
You can use any color you’d like for this section; just remember that when it comes time to sew up your hat later on in these directions, you’ll want to use something stronger than basic white yarn so that the join isn’t obvious!
Starting a new knitting project can be overwhelming, but with our guide on how to cast on and get started, you’ll be ready to get started on any project with confidence. Learn the basics of casting on and get tips on how to start knitting for beginners.
Start Your Decreases
Now it’s time to decrease. The number of stitches that you need to decrease by depends on how big the head is and how far apart your decreases are. For our hat, we decreased 4 stitches every other round, so we’ll be decreasing 12 sts total every two rounds.
You can decrease in a variety of ways; here are some examples: knit 2 together (k2tog), slip slip knit (ssk), or purl 2 together (p2tog). If you’re using a cable cast-on method like the one above, that works too! Just make sure that when you work those stitches out they will be facing each other so they can be knit together later on.
After decreasing your stitch count down to 24 sts or fewer (depending on how many decreases you did) start knitting until the hat is long enough for baby’s head.*
Decrease Until You’re Left With Only Six Stitches Total
You can decrease by knitting two stitches together on a RS row. On a WS row, purl two together. If you’re decreasing in the middle of your work and don’t want to fuss with turning it over to do that, it’s easy to slip one stitch knitwise and then k2tog without turning the piece over.
Once you have only six stitches left (or five, if you started with an odd number), switch to straight needles and knit in pattern until the hat is as long as it needs to be (about 3 inches).
Looking for more crochet patterns to expand your skills and creativity? Check out our collection of crochet toy patterns for children’s imaginations for a variety of fun and unique toy patterns to keep children’s imaginations running wild
Cut And Weave In Your Yarn End
Once you have finished knitting the hat, you will need to weave in the ends. To do this, cut your yarn so that you have a long tail (about 6″) and leave it on one side of the hat.
Thread your yarn needle with this end and take it through each stitch all around the edge at least once.
This will be enough to secure it in place so that it doesn’t unravel when washed or worn. If you want to make sure it won’t come undone, go over some parts of your stitches a few more times depending on how much extra length there is left after weaving them through once or twice already.
Cutting and Weaving in Yarn Ends for a Knitted Baby Hat
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Cut the yarn, leaving an 8-10 inch tail to weave in. |
| Step 2 | Thread the yarn tail through a tapestry needle. |
| Step 3 | Gently weave the needle through the back loop of each stitch in the row above the one you just finished, working your way back and forth until the yarn end is secure. |
| Step 4 | Repeat the above process with the other end of the yarn, starting and ending in a different spot to ensure a secure hold. |
| Step 5 | Snip off any excess yarn tails with scissors, making sure to not cut too close to the hat. |
Note: Weaving in yarn ends is an important step in finishing the hat and ensuring it doesn’t unravel over time. It’s also important to make sure to not cut too close to the hat, or the yarn tail may come undone.
Conclusion
This is a simple stitch for the beginner knitter. It’s also a great project to take with you on the go, as all you need is some yarn and knitting needles!
If you want more patterns and tutorials like this one, check out our free pattern library at Craftsy! We’ve got lots more for beginners who want to learn how to knit.
Further Reading
For more information and patterns related to knitting baby hats, check out the following resources:
wikiHow: Knit a Baby Hat: This instructional article provides a step-by-step guide to knitting a baby hat with detailed images and helpful tips.
Handy Little Me: Flat Knit Baby Hat Pattern: This website shares a flat knit baby hat pattern, perfect for those just starting out with knitting.
FeltMagnet: Easy and Basic Baby Hat Free Knitting Pattern: This easy-to-follow pattern with accompanying videos is suitable for beginner knitters who want to make a basic baby hat.
FAQs
What size should a baby hat be?
Baby hat sizes can vary depending on the age and size of the child. It is best to measure the child’s head circumference and consult a sizing chart to ensure a perfect fit.
What materials do I need to knit a baby hat?
To knit a baby hat, you will need knitting needles, yarn, a tapestry needle, and a pair of scissors. Make sure to choose the right type of yarn that is soft and safe for babies.
How long does it take to knit a baby hat?
Knitting time can vary depending on the complexity of the pattern and the skill level of the knitter. A simple baby hat pattern can take anywhere from a few hours to a day to complete.
How do I clean a knitted baby hat?
Hand-wash the knitted baby hat in cold water using a gentle detergent specifically formulated for wool or yarn. Gently rinse the hat, then lay it out on a dry towel and reshape it while it dries.
Can I make a knitted baby hat without a pattern?
Yes, you can make a knitted baby hat without a pattern, but it can be helpful to use a basic template or reference to ensure it will fit properly.
My name is Hellen James, and I’m a crochet and knitting expert. I’ve been crocheting since I was just a kid, but I started taking it seriously when I realized that it was a great way to de-stress and relax. Now that I have kids of my own, I love teaching them how to do it too!