If you’ve ever knitted the Turkish Bed Socks, you’ll understand the secret to this super stretchy baby knit hat pattern. Because larger needles are used with fingering yarn, there’s more than the usual stretch to the garment and as a result, this knit baby hat pattern is designed to fit longer. The average newborn size head is 14″ and the stretch in this hat allows it to easily fit from 11″ to 17″! An easy knit with a much longer life – what’s not to love? Since it’ll fit any size infant, you can knit with confidence that the fit will be just right.
Downloadable PDF HERE
gauge: 7 stitches per inch in stockinette
materials:
75 yards fingering yarn
size 3.25mm double pointed needles or circular needle(if knitting in magic loop)
click here for Knitting Abbreviations
instructions:
cast on 76 stitches with a stretchy cast on, such as German Twisted and join to knit in the round. If you tend to cast on tightly, you may want to cast on over 2 needles.
(k2, p2) around for 24 rounds
knit for 24 rounds
decreases:
(k 17, k2tog) around
k8, k2tog,(k16, k2tog) to last 8 stitches, k8
(k15, k2tog) around
k7, k2tog,(k14, k2tog) to last 7 stitches, k7
(k13, k2tog)around
k6, k2tog, (k12, k2tog) to last 6 stitches, k6
(k11, k2tog)around
k5, k2tog,(k10, k2tog) to last 5 stitches, k5
(k9, k2tog) around
k4, k2tog,(k8, k2tog) to last 4 stitches, k4
(k7, k2tog) around
(k3, k2tog, (k6, k2tog) to last 3 stitches, k3
(k5, k2tog) around
k2, k2tog,(K4, k2tog) to last 2 stitches, k2
(k3, k2tog) around
k1, k2tog,(k2, k2tog) to last stitch, k1 (12 stitches left on needle)
(k2tog)around
knit 20 rounds. Cut yarn and bring yarn through live stitches with a tapestry needle. secure with knot. Leaving needle on end, tie knitted end in a knot to finish hat with a topknot. Weave in ends.
Gift it to the newest little person you know! I promise it will be “just right”.
Buy a copy of the downloadable PDF HERE
Your introduction to these instructions say that the hat is done on larger needles. I do not consider 3.25mm (3 us) needles large by any means. Is this a misprint?
Hi J o”Brien – they are just larger than you’d normally use for sock yarn – that’s all I meant.
you should make clear all the abbreviations. It is impossible to follow for somebody is new in knitting. For example, I don’t have a clue what it means:Sl1k, k4, p to last 5 sts, k4, k1 tb. Please do not assume everybody knows.
Hi Magdalena, I’ve added a link to our Knitting Abbreviations post at the beginning of the pattern so you can look up how to do each stitch. Hope that’s helpful!
This is a very presumptuous and rude comment! This pattern is free and so is Google. You can very easily find out what the abbreviations mean.
I cannot believe your rudeness to t’Mom Says’ even several years later! Her response to you was very gracious.
It is you who needs to learn Knitting terms not for others to spend their time giving you a hand held lesson free online. Geez!
This is such a sweet and simple pattern. I have some Koigu that is screaming at me to use it. My friend is delivering next week – I do think I need to make her a couple of these! Thanks for sharing!
You’re so welcome Sue! Yay for koigu! ❤️
Thank you so much for sharing your pattern with us! It is adorable!!!
You’re welcome Sissy!
Any chance that you remember what yarn you used for this? I love the colors!
Hi Samantha! It was a Blue Moon Fiber Arts “Socks that Rock” skein. It didn’t have a colorway name, it was one of those “Loose Ends” skeins.
I have a beautiful lace weight yarn I’d like to use. How would you adapt for the somewhat finer yarn?
Thank you,
Virginia
Hi Virginia! The hat is approximately 10″ – 11″ around unstretched, so you’d want to knit a swatch with your lace weight yarn and needles a few sizes larger than you’d usually use – maybe size 2’s? Once you determine the number of stitches you get per inch, multiply it by 10 to get the number of cast on stitches. Problem is, I’m not sure the decreases would work evenly, but you could use another decrease method to fit the number of cast on stitches you have. You’d also need to knit more rows in the section just before the decreases to make sure the hat was long enough. You can be generous there because you can always fold up any excess in the brim. This will all take some trial and error. If you decide to give it a try, let me know how it turns out for you!
Thanks for all the info. I will give it a try and let you know.
Virginia
Will using size 3 needles be to large for preemies? Maybe just follow directions but just us size 1 or 2 needles?
Thanks for the patterns. Only found your site through Google and in this case Google was my friend 🙂
Have a great day! Judy
No, I don’t think it’ll be too large, Judy. These little hats start out only 10 inches around which will fit some pretty small preemies. So glad you found us! Enjoy the pattern. 🙂
Hi, I don’t understand k8, knit 2 together (k16, knit 2 together), which is it?
Hello Barbara! It’s both. First you k8, knit 2 together, then you do the (k16, knit 2 together) until you get to the last 8 stitches. The instructions placed within parenthesis indicate that you repeat them as indicated. In this case, until you get to the last 8 stitches. Hope that’s helpful!
Hi would it be okay to use a 4mm circular 30cm long? It’s either that or my 2.5mm sock circular. Thanks! Lisa.
Hi Lisa, Give it a try and see if your stitches stretch all the way around it. If not, you can use the magic loop method to deal with the extra length of wire.
This was the first hat I ever made, and it turned out well! Was i supposed to turn the hat inside out at some point? Mine looks a little different… 🙂
Great pattern, many thanks! Have just knitted first one, need to do at least one more as I’m going to be a grandmother to twins (everything crossed)
Congratulations Monika! You are going to be knitting your fingers off! 😀
Thank you so much for this precious hat pattern! It’s been my go to hat for gifting, and now that I’m about to have baby #2 I get to knit one for my daughter! Thought I’d leave a comment of thanks for sharing this pattern with us!
You’re so welcome Abby!
This hat is perfect for when you don’t know the baby’s size yet. It’s my go-to for hospital hats now! Thanks for sharing!
I have been a crocheter for decades. I am now wanting to hone my knitting skills. I am going to give your pattern a go. I want to knit for the NICU. For preemies knitting is just softer and more stretchy. Thank you for sharing with all of us.
Just wanted to pop in and say THANK YOU for a great little hat pattern. I am getting ready to cast on after I send this. My daughter is pregnant with her fist baby, a little girl named Melanie (Grandma’s Mellybean). As soon as I found out, I started planning all of the things that I would knit for her. This is top of the list. “Mama” wants her to wear “grandma’s hat” in the nursery at the hospital. Thank you for making this pattern free to all of us. And please ignore the very hateful and rude comments being left about this hat pattern. Not all knitters are like that. There are tons of us that are grateful for your hard work on this pattern. And I am one of them.
Thanks Jacqulyne! Hope you enjoy the pattern – AND the new Grandbaby! 🙂
Have you ever tried making this pattern in a thicker yarn? I was just wondering how well it would scale up to fit older children or even adults. I love the style with the cute little knot on top! If you’ve not tried, I may have to get experimenting 🙂
Also, thank you so much for giving the permissions to sell things from your designs! I found this blog yesterday and have bookmarked a few things I like that will be great for selling at craft fairs. I shall be sure to give you a shout out on each one 🙂
Hi Judith! I haven’t tried making that pattern in a larger size. If you manage to modify it, let us know and we’ll publish your version on the pattern page. Of course we will give you credit! 🙂
I love this pattern, thanks for posting! Any thoughts on how many to cast-on for preemie size, or do you think it would work for them to since it’s so stretchy?
It’ll totally work for larger preemies 4-6 lbs Chandra!
Is gauge not important or did I just miss it? I generally have gauge issues so would like to make sure before knitting the whole hat that I’m on track. Looking forward to trying this to match socks I just finished.
Hi Nell! I didn’t indicate a gauge on this pattern, but my finished hats were between 10-11 inches around un-stretched for the 76 stitches cast on. So I’d say about 7 – 8 stitches per inch. Hope that helps you get it right for you!
Hi ,
I’m knitting this with Koigu Painters Palette and 3.25mm needles.
Can I do a regular loose cast on (I don;t know how to do the German Twist).
Hat is measuring around 11 inches around unstretched so far. Will this fit a 2 month old.
I,m not very experienced knitter.
Thank you
Hi Marion, You could cast on over 2 needles held together to get a looser cast on. Although baby size is variable, I suspect your hat will fit a 2 month old. Happy Knitting!
Thank you for your help. The hat is beautiful. Is there a way to make it larger. Grandson now 3 months old and head circumference is almost 17 inches.
Can I knit on a larger needle and just make it longer as there is so much stretch.
Thanks !
Marion
I’ll bet you could Marion. What about doing it with sport weight yarn and US 5 needles? Let me know how it works out!
Thank for the pattern it is easy and looks great. Just wondering if you could do the eye cord for the little top knot?
Sure Harriet!
Thank you for such a great pattern – it was very easy to follow and I used some leftover pastel striped sock yarn to make a sweet little newborn hat!
I’m thrilled to hear it Shelly! Thanks for your kind feedback!