Want a classic gift for a little one in your life? Try this basic baby hat knitting pattern for a gift sure to please.

Design Story and Inspiration for this Easy Pattern

I love baby hats – they work up so fast, make great gifts and look just plain adorable on little ones. I wanted to design a hat that could be the foundation for many future designs, maybe with stranded colorwork, fair isle or another pattern.

So I designed this baby hat pattern knit in Stockinette stitch with a simple ribbed brim. This is something that an advanced beginner knitter could tackle, with double pointed needles or even with the magic loop (which is what I used).

About the Yarn

For this newborn hat, I wanted a yarn that was easy to care for (babies are messy!), came in a wide variety of colors, was great against baby’s delicate skin (can we say no wool for baby hats?) and worked up quickly.

So I chose one of my favorite bulky yarn varieties – Lion Brand Color Made Easy! This is seriously one of the best bulky yarns out there. It comes in many different colors, is 100% acrylic that still has a wonderful feel (so it’s easy to throw it in the washer and dryer when you need to!) and works up so fast.

If you haven’t tried this affordable yarn, you should! But, if you have a stash that needs busting, grab any bulky yarn that gets gauge and get knitting!

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Baby Beanie Details

This easy knitting pattern is worked in the round, so you will need to use double pointed needles (dpns) or one long circular for the magic loop. I tend to have trouble with laddering when I use dpns so I chose the magic loop for my hat.

After a simple k2p2 rib, you will work in Stockinette stitch, which is easy peasy in the round – you just knit every round!

The top of the hat is shaped with knit two together (k2tog) stitches, and there is a handy tutorial for k2tog here if you need help.

Get the ad-free PDF to crochet on the go here!

Basic Baby Hat

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Yarn: Lion Brand Color Made Easy, (Bulky #5), 1 skein

Needles: US Sizes 9 (5.5mm) and 10 (6.0mm) either double pointed or circular. Sample was made using the magic loop method with one circular needle.

Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, pom pom (if desired)

Finished Size: Approximately 12 (14)” circumference to fit preemie (newborn)

Gauge: 15 sts and 20 rows = 4″ (10cm) in St st with larger needles

Stitch Descriptions and Abbreviations
Knit (k)
Purl (p)
Knit two together (k2tog)
Knit through back loop (ktbl) – insert right hand needle into the back of the next stitch and work a knit stitch

Baby Knitted Hat – Free Knitting Pattern

Ribbing

With smaller needles, cast on 44 (52) sts.

Round 1: *Ktbl 2, p2; repeat from * around.

Repeat round 1 until hat measures 1.25 (1.5)” from beginning. (6 rows for me for newborn)

Body

Change to larger needles and Stockinette St.

Work even in St st until hat measures 4.5 (5)” from beginning. (18 rows for me for newborn)

Crown Shaping

Preemie Hat Only

Round 1: (K20, k2tog) two times (42 sts).

Newborn Hat Only

Round 1: *K11, k2tog; repeat from * to end (48 sts).

Both Sizes

Round 2: Knit

Round 3: *K4, k2tog; repeat from * around – 35 (40) sts.

Round 4: Knit.

Round 5: *K3, k2tog; repeat from * around – 28 (32) sts.

Round 6: Knit.

Round 7: *K2, k2tog; repeat from * around – 21 (24) sts.

Round 8: Knit.

Round 9: *K, k2tog; repeat from * around – 14 (16) sts.

Round 10: Knit.

Round 11: *K2tog; repeat from * around – 7 (8) sts.

Finishing

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Draw tail through remaining stitches and pull gently to close.

Weave in ends.

Attach pom pom if desired.

Check out the downloadable PDF of this pattern here!

I found these pom poms on Amazon hat have a snap hat you sew to the top of the hat – so you can remove them for easy washing! I love them!

Check them out on Amazon here!

You Might Like These Other Free Baby Knitting Patterns…

Baby Raccoon Knit Hat

This knitted baby hat requires no shaping and is seamed in the back – you can choose to knit it with or without the raccoon face. Made with worsted weight yarn.

Striped Baby Pants

This knit pattern works each leg separately and is seamed. There is also an adorable dress to match if you want these to be leggings!

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Today we learned how to work the Basic Baby Hat Knitting Pattern – a simple baby hat that can be used to create lots of different color combos or a simple baby gift that works up quickly.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this free pattern!

Happy Knitting!

Amanda