Little Gnome Knit Baby Hat Pattern
For a touch of elegance and whimsy, knit the little one something special with this free baby hat pattern.
There's no better time in the world than the first year of life to wear silly, cute, and precious hats like this Little Gnome Knit Baby Hat Pattern. Not only is this simple enough for new knitters to make, it's bound to stand out from the rest of the gifts at the baby shower due to its unique construction. We really love this knit hat pattern for babies born in the wintertime, but gift it to a summer baby bearing in mind how old they'll be when the cold weather hits and you'll be the favorite relative in no time.
Knitting Needle Size5 or 3.75 mm, 6 or 4 mm
Yarn Weight(3) Light/DK (21-24 stitches to 4 inches)
Gauge21 sts and 40 rows = 4” [10 cm] with larger needles in garter stitch.
Finished SizeTo fit head circumference - 6/12 mos: 17” [43 cm], 18/24 mos: 18” [45.5 cm], 4 yrs: 19” [48 cm]
Materials List
- Bernat® Softee Baby™ (5 oz/140 g; 362 yds/331 m) - Soft Red (30424) - 1 ball
- Sizes U.S. 5 (3.75 mm) and U.S. 6 (4 mm) knitting needles or size needed to obtain gauge.
- 2 stitch holders.
Instructions
Notes:
The instructions are written for smallest size. If changes are necessary for larger sizes the instructions will be written thus ( ). For ease in working, circle all numbers pertaining to your size.
Baby Hat
Beg at face opening, with smaller needles, cast on 82 (86-90) sts.
1st row: (RS). K1. *K2. P2. Rep from * to last st. K1.
2nd row: P1. *K2. P2. Rep from * to last st. P1.
Rep last 2 rows (K2. P2) ribbing 3 times more.
Next row: (RS). K3. P2. K2.
Place these 7 sts on st holder.
Rib to last 7 sts.
Place rem 7 sts on st holder. 68 (72-76) sts.
Change to larger needles.
Next row: *K4. M1. Rep from * to last 4 sts. K4. 84 (89-94) sts.
Sizes 6/12 mos and 4 yrs only:
Next row: Knit, inc 1 st in center of row. 85 (95) sts.
All sizes:
Cont even in garter st (knit every row) until work from beg measures 6½ (7-7½)” [16.5 (18-19) cm], ending on a WS row.
Dec as follows:
Next 6 rows: Cast off 5 sts. Knit to end of row. 55 (59-65) sts at end of 6th row.
Next 10 (12-12) rows: Cast off 3 sts. Knit to end of row. 25 (29-29) sts at end of last row.
Cast off all sts. Sew center back seam.
Neckband
With RS facing and smaller needle, rib across 7 sts from st holder.
Pick up and knit 56 (60-64) sts along neck edge.
Rib 7 sts from st holder. 70 (74-78) sts.
Next row: (WS). P1. *K2. P2. Rep from * to last st. P1.
Next row: K1. *K2. P2. Rep from * to last st. K1.
Rep last 2 rows (K2. P2) ribbing until Neckband measures 2 (2¼-2½) ” [5 (5.5-6) cm], ending on a RS row. Cast off in rib.
Finishing
Sew front Neckband seam.
Abbreviations
- Beg
- Begin(ning)
- Cont
- Continue(ity)
- Dec
- Decrease(ing)
- Inc
- Increase(ing)
- K
- Knit
- M1
- Make 1 stitch by picking up horizontal loop lying before next stitch and knitting into back of loop.
- P
- Purl
- Rem
- Remain(ing)
- Rep
- Repeat
- RS / WS
- Right Side / Wrong Side