Free Easy Hat Knitting Pattern in 6 Sizes

Easy hat knitting pattern

You’ll love this super squishy basic ribbed hat for preemies, babies, toddlers, children, teens, and adults! It’s a free, easy hat knitting pattern that uses a skein or two of super bulky yarn. I made three of these for our family to use during football season, as our hometown team colors are royal blue and golden yellow.

With a hat that is long enough to fold double over your ears, and a thick fabric, this hat will be perfect for winter!

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What supplies will I need to knit this hat?

For this easy knit hat pattern you will need between 35 and 105 yds of super bulky (size 6) yarn. I used Loops & Threads Lush Alpaca in Royal Blue. You may want to consider team or school colors, or maybe the recipient’s favorite colors. You could also use colors associated with a particular holiday like red or green for Christmas, or pink for Valentine’s Day.

In addition to the yarn you will need knitting needles. You have some options here. I like working with double pointed needles (DPNs). I like Sunstruck DPNs from KnitPicks. I suggest using 8 inch DPNs or longer for larger sizes of hats. If you are making baby hats, you might be able to go with 6 inch DPNs.

You could also use circular knitting needles. You can start with a circular set that has a length close to the circumference of your finished hat (see finished measurements in the pattern below). However, these won’t work once you get to the crown decreases. At that point you will either have to use longer circulars and the magic loop method, or switch to DPNs.

Another option is to start with long circulars to begin with and knit the whole hat using the magic loop method. I like KnitPicks Prism Aluminum Options Interchangeable Set for circulars.

You will also need a tapestry needle for binding off and weaving in ends.

If you want to add a pom pom, then you may need supplies to make one, or you might just purchase one already made like I did. If your pom comes with two strings or ribbons, you attach it by pulling the strings through separate holes and tying them in a bow inside the hat.

If it has an elastic loop, you’ll need sewing needle and thread to sew a half inch button just inside the top center of your hat. Pull the elastic loop through the top center hole with a crochet hook and secure it around the button.

Where can I get this easy hat knitting pattern?

This basic ribbed hat pattern is free here in this post, just scroll down for the free version.

If you decide to use the free version, please bookmark this page and come back to it when you work on your project rather than trying to print or screenshot the page. Your time on this page helps me get paid for my work, so thank you!

If you prefer an ad-free PDF you can get that in my Ravelry and Etsy shops.

Burlington Bulky Hat, an easy hat knitting pattern

By April Garwood of Banana Moon Studio

(C)2024 April Garwood. As with all my patterns, please do not make paper or digital copies for others. Instead, please direct them to my website to get their own. Thank you!

Available Sizes: Preemie [Baby, Toddler, Child, Tween, Adult]

Finished Measurements: Circumference of hat 9 ¼ [13 ¼, 14 ¾, 16, 18 ¾, 20] inches; Height of hat 8 ½ [10 ¼, 10 ¾, 12, 12 ¼, 13 ¼] inches.

Yarn: Loops & Threads Lush Alpaca (80% Acrylic, 20% Alpaca; 86 yds; 4 oz; yarn weight category: 6/super bulky): 1 [1, 1, 1, 2, 2] skeins #LA-02 Royal Blue, or about 35 [60, 65, 80, 95, 105] yds.

Loops & Threads Lush Alpaca is available exclusively at Michael’s craft stores. If you don’t have one close by, another option would be Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick. This yarn has 106 yds per skein, so you should be able to make any size of this hat with just one skein.

Knitting Needles: US Size 11 (8 mm) circulars or DPNs, or size needed to obtain gauge. To use circulars, they must be close in length to the circumference of the hat.

Notions: Tapestry needle, optional items include pom pom, 1/2 inch button, matching sewing thread and sewing needle for pom pom attachment.

Gauge:12 sts x 14 rnds = 4 inches in 1 x 1 ribbing worked in the round.

Abbreviations used

CO, cast on
dec, decrease
DPN(s), double pointed needle(s)
k, knit
k2tog, knit two stitches together
m, stitch marker
p, purl
rnd(s), round(s)
sl, slip
ssk, slip slip knit
st(s), stitch(es)

Hat

CO 28 [40, 44, 48, 56, 60] sts. If using circulars, place half the stitches on each needle. If using DPNs place one quarter of the stitches on each needle.

Rnd 1: *K1, p1, repeat from * around.

Repeat Rnd 1 for a total of 27 [32, 33, 37, 38, 39] rnds from CO edge.

If using circulars, place st markers to evenly divide the stitches into 4 equal sections. If using DPNs, this is already accomplished by placing an equal number of stitches on each needle. If not using stitch markers, ignore instructions to sl m.

Crown

For help with the crown decreases, this post teaches the ssk and k2tog decreases.

Rnd 1: *Ssk, work in established ribbing pattern to 2 sts before m or end of DPN, k2tog, sl m, repeat from * around – 8 sts dec, total of 20 [32, 36, 40, 48, 52] sts.

Repeat Rnd 1 until 12 or 8 sts remain.

If 12 sts remain, work one additional rnd as follows:

Last dec rnd: *Ssk, k1, sl m, repeat from * around – 4 sts dec, total of 8 sts.

For all sizes, cut yarn leaving a long tail and thread onto tapestry needle. Using tapestry needle, pull yarn through sts on first needle and remove them from the needle, then through those on second needle, and remove them from needle, and so on until all stitches have been removed from needles. Pull tail to tighten center and run tail in a circle through all stitches once or twice more to secure.

Finishing

Pull tail to inside of hat and weave in all ends.

To attach a pom pom with two strings or ribbons, pull both to the inside of the hat through two different holes that are close together. Tie the ends in a bow inside the hat.

To attach a pom pom with an elastic loop, sew a 1/2 inch button just inside the top center hole of the hat. Pull elastic loops through the top center hole with a crochet hook and secure around button.

Always remove pom poms before washing.

Finished. Enjoy!

That finishes this easy hat knitting pattern. What color did you make yours? Who is it for? I’d love to see photos of your finished hats! If you share on Instagram, please tag me! Also, I’d love to have you join my Facebook group and share your photo there!

Happy knitting!

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