Adorable Baby Hat Knitting Pattern
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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.

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 Substitute Options:
- Lion Brand Hometown Yarn (acrylic option)
- Cascade Yarns Pacific Chunky
- Hobbii Umami
- Rico Designs Creative Twist
- Rowan Big Wool (100% wool)
- Yarn Bee Dream Supreme
- Paint Box Yarns Wool Blend Super Chunky
Check out Yarnsub’s for more yarn substitutions.
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)

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