Shetland Baby Knit Hat
Fair isle knitting doesn’t have to be intimidating. In fact, it can be quite fun when it’s as easy as in this Shetland Baby Knit Hat! This is an easy baby hat knitting pattern, as it keeps floats to five stitches or less so there’s no awkward float-trapping, and features an easy-to-memorize six-stitch repeat chart for mindless knitting. For a more feminine version of this baby beanie pattern, try knitting the main color in a pale white and the contrast color in a dusty pink or bold purple. Don’t forget to attach a pom pom to the top for a hint of whimsical playfulness!
NotesBe sure to keep floats on colorwork relatively loose, or the hat will pucker and run small. Practice on a swatch before beginning baby hat.
Knitting Needle Size2 or 2.75 mm, Double-Pointed Knitting Needles (DPNs)
Yarn Weight(1) Super Fine (27-32 stitches to 4 inches)
GaugeAbout 26 sts per 4” (10 cm) in stockinette stitch
Finished SizePreemie (Newborn - 3 months)
Materials List
- Knit Picks Palette yarn - MC: Gosling (26052) - 1 ball
- Knit Picks Palette yarn - CC: Spruce (25535) - 1 ball
- 1 tapestry needle
- 1 stitch marker
BRIM
With MC, co 89 (107) sts longtail, join in round by knitting first and last stitch together. 88 (106) sts.
k2, p2 around for 1 inch (2.5 cm).
Set up round: k43 (52), kfb, k43 (52), kfb. 90 (108) sts.
BODY
Round 1: k around in MC
Rounds 2-19: work chart right to left entirely in k st. Repeat red-bordered 6-stitch repeat around each round.
Round 20: k around in MC
k around until hat measures approx. 3.5” (4”) [8.9 cm (10.2cm)] from CO edge.
Begin decreases.
PREEMIE ONLY - DECREASE ROUNDS
Decrease round 1: *k7, k2tog; rep 10 times. (80 sts)
Decrease round 2 (and all even rounds): k around
Decrease round 3: *k6, k2tog; rep 10 times. (70 sts)
Decrease round 5: *k5, k2tog; rep 10 times. (60 sts)
Decrease round 7: *k4, k2tog; rep 10 times. (50 sts)
Decrease round 9: *k3, k2tog; rep 10 times. (40 sts)
Decrease round 11: *k2, k2tog; rep 10 times. (30 sts)
Decrease round 13: *k, k2tog; rep 10 times. (20 sts)
Decrease round 15: k2tog around. (10 sts)
NEWBORN - 3 MONTHS ONLY - DECREASE ROUNDS
Decrease round 1: *k10, k2tog; rep 9 times. (99 sts)
Decrease round 2 (and all even rounds): k around
Decrease round 3: *k9, k2tog; rep 9 times. (90 sts)
Decrease round 5: *k8, k2tog; rep 9 times. (81 sts)
Decrease round 7: *k7, k2tog; rep 9 times. (72 sts)
Decrease round 9: *k6, k2tog; rep 9 times. (63 sts)
Decrease round 11: *k5, k2tog; rep 9 times. (54 sts)
Decrease round 13: *k4, k2tog; rep 9 times. (45 sts)
Decrease round 15: *k3, k2tog; rep 9 times. (36 sts)
Decrease round 17: *k2, k2tog; rep 9 times. (27 sts)
Decrease round 19: *k1, k2tog; rep 9 times. (18 sts)
FINISHING
Break yarn and thread through rem sts. Attach pom pom to top of hat. Weave in ends. Block.
Abbreviations
- k
- knit
- p
- purl
- co
- cast on
- st(s)
- stitch(es)
- kfb
- knit into the front and back loop of stitch, slip off needle. 1 st increased.
- MC
- main color
- CC
- contrast color