Adorable Baby Hat Knitting Pattern

This baby hat knitting pattern can be knit up quickly using some leftover yarn. A go-to cable hat pattern in 5 sizes from baby to adult large. A classic unisex style that can be worn by everyone.

Get the free knitting pattern below or purchase the ad-free, downloadable & printable PDF on Etsy, Ravelry or Brome Fields.

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baby cable knit hat with adult and teen hats displayed on faux fur blanketPin

About the Pattern

Available Sizes: Five
Style: One, Slouchy
Pattern Format: Written Pattern, No Chart
Skill Level: Advanced Beginner
PDF Format: Printer Friendly
Bonus: Video
Pattern Name: Adorable

Techniques

Here are some of the knitting skills you need to know before getting started:

Knit in the Round, Magic Loop Method
Knit & Purl Stitches
Decrease Stitch
Cable Stitch

Yarn & Substitutions

Yarn Weight: Super Bulky
Suggested Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick
Alternative Yarn Options: Cascade Lana Grande, Hometown USA, Rico Essentials Super
Super Chunky, Rowan Big Wool Yarn, MillaMia Naturally Soft Super Chunky, Lang Yarns Virginia

Needles & Notions

Magic Loop Method Needle Size: US 13 (9mm) Knitting Needles with a 24″+ (60cm) Cable, or DPNs
Knit in the Round Needle Size: US 13 (9mm) Knitting Needles with a 16″ (40cm) Cable
Extras: Stitch Marker, Cable Needle

Gauge

8 STS & 6 rows per 4” (10cm) square (cable pattern below)

close-up of a knitted swatch with a wood gauge

Get the free knitting pattern below or purchase the ad-free, downloadable & printable PDF on Etsy, Ravelry or Brome Fields.

Sizes

Baby, Child, Teen, Adult Medium, Adult Large
Fits Head Circumferences: 14”, 16”, 19”, 21”, 23” (36cm, 41cm, 48cm, 53cm, 58cm)

Notes

Knit bottom up, brim to crown.
If you need a slightly snugger brim you can CO & knit the first few rounds using a size US 11 needle and then switch to a size US 13 needle for the rest of the hat.
If you’d like a longer, more gradual, decrease you can knit a round in between the decrease rounds, knitting the knits and purling the purls.

Knitting Abbreviations

*– * – repeat between * to end of round
BO – bind-off in pattern
C4F – cable 4 front – Transfer 2 stitches to a cable needle and hold it in the front of your work, knit the next 2 stitches and then knit 2 stitches off the cable needle
CO – cast-on using the long-tail cast-on method
INC1 – make 1 stitch, I use a backwards loop
K2TOG – knit 2 stitches together
K – knit stitches (K1 means to knit 1 stitch)
P – purl stitches (P2 means to purl 2 stitches)
PM – place marker
SM – slip stitch marker
STS – stitches

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baby cable knit hat with adult and teen hats displayed on faux fur blanketPin

Size Baby, 14” (36cm) Head Circumference:

Yardage: 37 – 42 yards (34 – 38 meters)

Measurements: 6″ x 6″ (16cm x 16cm)

Weight: 1.9oz (55g)

Pattern, Knit in the Round, Magic Loop Method:

CO 24 STS, split 12 STS on each needle, PM, join in the round.

Round 1: *K2, P1*

Round 2: *K2, INC1, P1* (increase 8 STS = 32)

Round 3: *K3, INC1, P1* (increase 8 STS = 40)

Rounds 4-16: *K4, P1* (except rounds 9 & 14)

Rounds 9 & 14: *C4F, P1*

Decrease for the crown:

Round 17: *K2, K2TOG, P1, PM* (decrease 8 STS = 32)

Round 18: *K1, K2TOG, P1, SM* (decrease 8 STS = 24)

Round 19: *K2TOG, P1, SM* (decrease 8 STS = 16)

Round 20: *K2TOG, remove stitch marker* (decrease 8 STS = 8)

End:

Without binding-off, cut the yarn leaving a 10” (25cm) tail, pull it through the remaining STS, push through the top hole to the inside and then weave in the ends.

Block, if desired.

Size Child, 16” (41cm) Head Circumference:

Yardage: 53 – 58 yards (48 – 53 meters)

Measurements: 7″ x 7 1/4″ (18cm x 18cm)

Weight: 2.6oz (75g)

Pattern, Knit in the Round, Magic Loop Method:

(You can knit this in the round with a 16” cable if you have short tips, 3 1/2” (9cm))

CO 32 STS, split 16 STS on each needle, PM, join in the round.

Rounds 1-2: *K3, P1*

Round 3: *K3, INC1, P1* (increase 8 STS = 40)

Rounds 4-21: *K4, P1* (except rounds 9, 14 & 19)

Rounds 9, 14 & 19: *C4F, P1*

Decrease for the crown:

If you’re knitting in the round switch to a longer cable, to knit in the magic loop method

Round 22: *K2, K2TOG, P1, PM* (decrease 8 STS = 32)

Round 23: *K1, K2TOG, P1, SM* (decrease 8 STS = 24)

Round 24: *K2TOG, P1, SM* (decrease 8 STS = 16)

Round 25: *K2TOG, remove stitch marker* (decrease 8 STS = 8)

End:

Without binding-off, cut the yarn leaving a 10” (25cm) tail, pull it through the remaining STS, push through the top hole to the inside and then weave in the ends.

Block, if desired.

Size Teen, 19” (48cm) Head Circumference:

Yardage: 68 – 73 yards (62 – 67 meters)

Pattern, Knit in the Round:

CO 40 STS, PM, join in the round.

Rounds 1-27: *K4, P1* (except rounds 10, 15, 20, 25)

Rounds 10, 15, 20 & 25: *C4F, P1*

Decrease for the crown:

Switch to a longer cable, to knit in the magic loop method

Round 28: *K2, K2TOG, P1, PM* (decrease 8 STS = 32)

Round 29: *K1, K2TOG, P1, SM* (decrease 8 STS = 24)

Round 30: *K2TOG, P1, SM* (decrease 8 STS = 16)

Round 31: *K2TOG, remove stitch marker* (decrease 8 STS = 8)

End:

Without binding-off, cut the yarn leaving a 10” (25cm) tail, pull it through the remaining STS, push through the top hole to the inside and then weave in the ends.

Block, if desired.

Size Adult Medium, 21” (53cm) Head Circumference:

Yardage: 76 – 81 yards (70 – 74 meters)

Measurements: 8″ x 9 1/4″ (20cm x 24cm)

Weight: 3.7oz (105g)

Pattern, Knit in the Round:

CO 45 STS, PM, join in the round.

Rounds 1-27: *K4, P1* (except rounds 10, 15, 20, 25)

Rounds 10, 15, 20 & 25: *C4F, P1*

Note:

If you’d like a slouchy hat repeat rounds 21 – 25, 1 or 2 more times, depending on how much slouch you’d like.

Decrease for the crown:

Switch to a longer cable, to knit in the magic loop method

Round 28: *K2, K2TOG, P1, PM* (decrease 9 STS = 36)

Round 29: *K1, K2TOG, P1, SM* (decrease 9 STS = 27)

Round 30: *K2TOG, P1, SM* (decrease 9 STS = 18)

Round 31: *K2TOG, remove stitch marker* (decrease 9 STS = 9)

End:

Without binding-off, cut the yarn leaving a 10” (25cm) tail, pull it through the remaining STS, push through the top hole to the inside and then weave in the ends.

Block, if desired.

Size Adult Large, 23” (58cm) Head Circumference:

Yardage: 83 – 88 yards (76 – 80 meters)

Pattern, Knit in the Round:

CO 50 STS, PM, join in the round.

Rounds 1-27: *K4, P1* (except rounds 10, 15, 20, 25)

Rounds 10, 15, 20 & 25: *C4F, P1*

Note:

If you’d like a slouchy hat repeat rounds 21 – 25, 1 or 2 more times, depending on how much slouch you’d like.

Decrease for the crown:

Switch to a longer cable, to knit in the magic loop method

Round 28: *K2, K2TOG, P1, PM* (decrease 10 STS = 40)

Round 29: *K1, K2TOG, P1, SM* (decrease 10 STS = 30)

Round 30: *K2TOG, P1, SM* (decrease 10 STS = 20)

Round 31: *K2TOG, remove stitch marker* (decrease 10 STS = 10)

End:

Without binding-off, cut the yarn leaving a 10” (25cm) tail, pull it through the remaining STS, push through the top hole to the inside and then weave in the ends.

Block, if desired.

I know many of you enjoy working from a paper copy of your knitting pattern that’s why I offer a printer-friendly PDF completely ad-free on Etsy, Ravelry or Brome Fields.

That way you can have lifetime access to it and download it to any device and view it from anywhere, without ads (and the pattern might not be around forever).

The ads on this website make it possible for me to offer the patterns for free, that way you can try it before you buy it. :)

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