Looking for a fun, textured beanie pattern? This toddler hat looks super complicated, but the stitch is made with a simple slip stitch pattern for a “wow” project!
Design Story and Inspiration for This Textured Toddler Beanie
It’s that time of year again where I design for my annual Holiday Maker’s Challenge!! This is the 7th year that I have done the challenge, and I’m excited to be doing it again!
I have an adult version of the Slip Stitch Hat, but the shaping of the top of the hat never quite worked for a smaller version, so I kept putting it off. I finally decided it was time to create an updated version of this hat for the challenge and so this pattern was born!
I designed this pattern as part of the 2025 Holiday Maker’s Challenge, where we encourage each other to work to our holiday deadline. There are a few criteria for our patterns in the challenge, which are:
1. Uses stash yarn
2. Is easy to intermediate
3. Is small so it doesn’t take a long time to make (we have a lot of gifts to make, okay?)
4. Is well received by gift recipients
This fits the bill by using less than one skein of yarn, is an intermediate pattern, is small and would make an amazing gift to a toddler or small child in your life! (It’s a toddler size but it stretches to fit a kiddo a bit older).
Don’t be intimidated by the zig zag pattern of this hat. It’s created by slipping a stitch for a couple of rounds and then dropping that stitch off the needle for a few stitches (if that scares you, feel free to hold that stitch onto a cable needle or stitch holder!).
Yarn Options for This Toddler Hat
For this pattern, I used Knit Picks Heatherly Worsted, which is a category #4 worsted weight yarn. Since worsted yarn is the most commonly used, I would bet you have some in your stash!
This pattern calls for just a single skein (and I had plenty of mine left over for another project), so grab some worsted weight yarn that gets gauge and get stitching!
Pattern Details for the Slip Stitch Hat
This pattern is worked from the bottom up starting with the ribbing. It features a broken rib stitch for the brim and then is worked in the slip stitch pattern to the crown shaping.
The original beanie used a raglan decrease for the top shaping, but this beanie uses simple decreases worked in even spacing around.
Slip Stitch Hat
What You’ll Need
Yarn: Knit Picks Heatherly, Worsted (Category #4) – 1 skein
Knitting Needles: 4 dpn in US sizes 3 (3.25mm) and 6 (4.00mm) or circular needles for magic loop
Notions: Tapestry needle/yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker (if using circular needles), faux fur pom pom (if desired)
Gauge: 24 sts and 32 rows = 4 inches in slip stitch pattern
Finished Size: Approximately 17″ in circumference to fit Toddler
Stitch Abbreviations
Knit Stitch (k)
Purl Stitch (p)
Knit two together (k2tog)
Pass slipped stitch over (PSSO) – slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over
Special Stitches:
Sl Left: Drop sl st from LH needle to front of work, k2, pick up dropped st and knit it, k1
Sl Right: Sl next 2 sts, drop sl st from LH needle to front, place 2 sl st back on LH needle, pick up dropped st and knit it, k3
Note: Slip all stitches purl wise.
Toddler Slip Stitch Hat Pattern
Using smaller needles, cast on 104 sts evenly on four dpn’s or circular method of your choice; join, being careful not to twist.
Ribbing
Round 1: *K2, p2; repeat from * to end.
Round 2: Knit.
Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until piece measures 1″, ending with round 1.
Switch to larger needles.
Body of Hat
Round 1: Knit.
Rounds 2-3: *Sl 1, k3; rep from * to end.
Round 4: *Sl left; rep from * to end.
Round 5: Knit.
Rounds 6-7: *K2, sl 1, k1; rep from * to end.
Round 8: *Sl right; rep from * to end.
Repeat rounds 1-8 four more times (40 rows).
Shape Crown
Round 1: *K5, k2tog, k1; repeat from * to end – 91 sts.
Round 2: *Slip 1, k3, slip 1, k2; repeat from * to end.
Round 3: *Slip 1, k2tog, k1, slip 1, k2; repeat from * to end – 78 sts.
Round 4: *Drop sl st from LH needle to front of work, k2, pick up dropped st and knit it; repeat from * to end.
Round 5: *k3, k2tog, k1; repeat from * to end – 65 sts.
Round 6: *K2, slip 1, k1, slip 1; repeat from * to end.
Round 7: *K2tog, slip 1, k1, slip 1; repeat from * to end – 52 sts.
Round 8: *Slip 1, drop sl st from LH needle to front, place slipped st back on LH needle, pick up dropped st and knit it, ; repeat from * to end.
Round 9: *K2, k2tog; repeat from * to end – 39 sts.
Round 10: *Slip 1, k2; repeat from * to end.
Round 11: *PSSO, k1; repeat from * to end – 26 sts.
Round 12: Knit.
Round 13: *K2tog; repeat from * to end – 13 sts.
Finishing
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Draw yarn through remaining sts and pull tight.
Weave in ends.
Stitch on pom pom if desired.
Final Thoughts on the Diamond Stitch Toddler Beanie
I hope you enjoy this pattern as much as I enjoyed designing it!! You can even make a matching set with the Adult Slip Stitch Hat!
Join me for our seventh annual holiday challenge – but only until December 25!
Happy Crocheting!
Amanda
