When I found out I was pregnant, I took out all my pattern books & searched for a nice, simple, yet adaptable newborn hat. Unfortunately, my books only held patterns for infants about the age of three months & older.. so I did what I do best- improvised myself a new baby hat pattern in a “true” newborn size.

This is an easy pattern, suitable for beginners.

You’ll need:
4 double-pointed needles (DPNs), size 5
4 double-pointed needles (DPNs), size 7
worsted weight yarn, about 100 yards (this is an estimate)
darning needle for finishing

To knit the hat:
I made this pattern with the intention of knitting different styled ribbing. You could also make this a rolled-brim hat by simply knitting in stockinette stitch for an inch, then purling a row before beginning the rest of the hat.

That hat I have pictured here features a brim in the “rib/seed stitch” as follows:
Cast on 54 stitches on your size 5 double pointed needle, distributing the stitches over three size 5 DPNs.
Round 1: K 2, P2 around
Round 2: P2, K2 around
Round 3: K 2, P2 around
Round 4: P2, K2 around
Round 5: K 2, P2 around
Round 6: P2, K2 around
Change to your size 7 double pointeds, then knit until hat measures four inches from the cast on edge. For a preemie sized hat, knit only until hat measures three & a half inches & for larger micro-preemie size; three inches from the cast on edge.

Decrease your stitches as follows:
Decrease round 1: K 7, K2tog around
Decrease round 2: Knit
Decrease round 3: K 6, K2tog around
Decrease round 4: Knit
Decrease round 5: K 5, K2tog around
Decrease round 6: Knit
Decrease round 7: K 4, K2tog around
Decrease round 8: Knit
Decrease round 9: K 3, K2tog around
Decrease round 10: Knit
Decrease round 11: K 2, K2tog around
Decrease round 12: K2tog around
Finish off by using your darning needle & draw through the remaining stitches AT LEAST twice, then bring your yarn end through to the wrong side of the hat & weave in.
That’s it! Hope you enjoy. (7/31/2008– Edited a small mistake I made, I copied my notes wrong so the decrease rounds didn’t add up.)

(You may not make these for profit without a license, only for non-profit charities or personal use/gifting.)

Posted in knitting, knitting patterns & written by Niki —