Shetland Baby Knit Hat

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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.

Easy

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

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Cute pattern but the cast on number for newborns is wrong. K2,p2 ribbing needs to be multiples of 4, so should be either 104 or 108 stitches.

ove this little hat - and it will look wonderful on someone's new baby - must make sure that they know the hats are to go home with the babies -- discovered one nurse keeps them to wash and re-use... the way they wash things in hospitals -- I cringe at the idea

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