Little Critter Baby Hat

Keep your little critters ears warm with this adorable knit baby hat pattern. The Little Critter Baby Hat is a cute, quirky hat you'll love seeing on your baby as much as you'll love knitting it. The soft knit design features a basic construction with a fold-over brim. The pattern includes instructions for a bitty bear or a bitty bunny, and both take just one ball of yarn to complete. Knit one (or both) today for your little one.

Easy

Knitting Needle Size6 or 4 mm, Double-Pointed Knitting Needles (DPNs)

Yarn Weight(3) Light/DK (21-24 stitches to 4 inches)

Materials:

Bernat® Softee Baby (Solids: 140 g / 5 oz):
1 ball each
Bunny Version:
MC: (02000 White)
A: (30421 Warm Rose)
Bear Version:
MC: (30128 Ocean)
A: (02000 White)
Set of four size 4 mm (U.S. 6) double- pointed knitting needles
Pair of size 4 mm (U.S. 6) knitting needles or size needed to obtain gauge.
2 buttons for eyes
Embroidery floss

GAUGE
22 sts and 30 rows = 4 ins [10 cm] in stocking st.

SIZES
To fit baby sizes: 3/6 (12/18) mos.

INSTRUCTIONS
The instructions are written for smaller size. If changes are necessary for larger size the instructions will be written thus ( ).
HAT (both Versions).
Lining: Beg at top of crown, with A, cast on 8 sts leaving a 6 ins [15 cm] end. Divide sts evenly on 3 needles (2, 3, 3 sts). Join in rnd, placing a marker on first st.
1st rnd: Knit, inc 1 st in each st around. 16 sts. 2nd and alt rnds: Knit.
3rd rnd: *K1. Inc 1 st in next st. Rep from * around. 24 sts.
5th rnd: *K2. Inc 1 st in next st. Rep from * around. 32 sts.
7th rnd: *K3. Inc 1 st in next st. Rep from * around. 40 sts.
Cont in this manner, inc 8 sts evenly around following alt rnds until there are 80 (88) sts. Place marker on last rnd. Knit even in rnds until work from beg measures 9 (10) ins [23 (25.5) cm].
Outer Hat: Change to MC and knit in rnds until work from color change (fold line) measures same length as Lining to marker.
Shape top: 1st rnd: *K8 (9). K2tog. Rep from * around. 72 (80) sts.
2nd and alt rnds: Knit.
3rd rnd: *K7 (8). K2tog. Rep from * around. 64 (72) sts.
5th rnd: *K6 (7). K2tog. Rep from * around. 56 (64) sts.
Cont in this manner, dec 8 sts evenly around following alt rnds until there are 16 sts. Break yarn, leaving a long end. Draw end tightly through rem sts and fasten securely. Weave end at crown of lining tightly through cast on sts and fasten securely.
Fold Lining into Outer Hat along fold line. Fold up cuff as shown.

BUNNY EARS (make 2).
With MC, cast on 13 sts, then with A, cast on 10 sts. 23 sts.
Note: When changing colors, twist the 2 colors around each other where they meet on WS to avoid a hole.
1st row: (RS). With A, P10. With MC, K13.
2nd row: With MC, P13. With A, K10. Rep last 2 rows 8 times more (18 rows total).
Shape top: 1st row: (RS). With A, P2tog. P6. P2tog. With MC, K2tog. K9. Sl1. K1. psso.
2nd and alt rows: Work even in pat.
3rd row: With A, P2tog. P4. P2tog. With MC, K2tog. K7. Sl1. K1. psso.
5th row: With A, P2tog. P2. P2tog. With MC, K2tog. K5. Sl1. K1. psso.
7th row: With A, (P2tog) twice. With MC, K2tog. K3. Sl1. K1. psso.
9th row: With A, P2tog. With MC, K2tog. K1. Sl1. K1. psso. Break yarn leaving a long end of MC. Draw MC end tightly through rem 4 sts and sew side seam. Sew Ears in position as shown.

BEAR EARS (make 2 each with MC and A).
Cast on 15 sts. Work 6 rows stocking st.
Shape top: Dec 1 st each end of next 4 rows. Cast off rem 7 sts.
With WS facing each other, sew Ear made with MC to Ear made with A. Sew Ears in position as shown. Sew on buttons.
Using embroidery floss and stem st, embroider mouth as shown.