Basic Hat for Child and Adult
Knit Flat
Supplies needed:
Size 7 straight knitting needles
1 skein worsted weight yarn
Gauge: 20 stitches and 24 rows = 4”
Skills used: Cast on, knit, purl, decrease by knitting two together, binding off, seaming and weaving in ends.
Key:
K = Knit
P = Purl
K2tog = Knit two together
Cast on 66 (82) stitches for child’s (adult’s) hat.
Row 1: (K2, P2) ribbing across the entire row
Row 2: (P2, K2) ribbing across the entire row
Repeat rows 1 and 2 three more times for a total of eight rows
Work in stockinette stitch (K 1 row, P 1 row) until the piece measures 5” (7”) from final row of ribbing, ending with a purl row.
Crown decreases:
Row 1) (K6, k2tog), repeat to last two stitches, K2 = 58 (72) stitches
Row 2) Purl
Row 3) (K5, k2tog), repeat to last two stitches, K2 = 50 (62) stitches
Row 4) Purl
Row 5) (K4, k2tog), repeat to last two stitches, K2 = 42 (52) stitches
Row 6) Purl
Row 7) (K3, k2tog), repeat to last two stitches, K2 = 34 (42) stitches
Row 8) Purl
Row 9) (K2, k2tog), repeat to last two stitches = 26 (32) stitches
Row 10) Purl
Row 11) (K1, k2tog), repeat to last two stitches, K2 = 18 (22) stitches
Row 12) Purl
Row 13) (K2tog) across = 9 (11) stitches
Cut an 18 ‘tail and carefully thread through each stitch on the needle, pull through tightly and mattress stitch to seam closed. Weave in ends.
Copyright 2019, Gaylaknits. All rights reserved.
40 comments on “Free Pattern Friday – Basic knit Hat for Child or Adult”
Ivy muller
April 18, 2019 at 7:00 amI Can’t figure out how to download the pattern
Gaylaknits
April 19, 2019 at 11:12 amHi Ivy,
The site is new and still under construction so there isn’t a download button yet. You should be able to print the page, though. If you go to the page, in the upper, right hand corner, just under the X that closes the page you’ll see a stack of three dots. Click on that and it opens a menu. In that menu, you’ll see an option to print. If that doesn’t work, let me know and I will be happy to email a copy to you. Thanks for visiting!
Gayla
Jade
May 7, 2020 at 2:33 pmCan you Copy and Paste?
Gaylaknits
May 8, 2020 at 10:53 amHi Jade,
Copy and paste should also work. I am happy to email a copy if needed, too.
Gayla
Bonnie in Va
September 20, 2019 at 11:14 pmJust curious — is the child’s hat pattern more for a baby, toddler, elementary student? It looks like this would be a very easy pattern that would knit up quickly. Thanks…
Gaylaknits
September 22, 2019 at 7:47 pmHi Bonnie,
The child’s hat would fit toddler through young child of about five or six. Thank you for your interest. Let me know if you need anything else!
Gayla
Gail T
October 17, 2020 at 5:04 amHow many stitches for a 6 month old
Gaylaknits
October 20, 2020 at 2:34 pmHi Gail,
You could start with 58 stitches and begin the decreases at the point in the pattern where you have that many stitches. I think it would be small enough that way.
Gayla
Mary King
September 27, 2020 at 1:50 pmWould love copies if free!
Kathy
December 21, 2019 at 3:10 pmThe hat did not cover my 3 yr. Old granddaughter’s ears so I changed my pattern from 5″ stockinette stitch to 6.5 – 7″.
Gaylaknits
December 26, 2019 at 12:46 pmHi Kathy,
Thank you so much for bringing this to my attention. The pattern should read 5″ from ribbing, not from the cast on edge. I will update the pattern. thanks again!
Gayla
Dee
December 30, 2019 at 6:35 pmCan I make these hats in the round instead of with flat needles?
Thank you for the nice, easy pattern.
Gaylaknits
December 30, 2019 at 9:58 pmHi Dee,
Absolutely! I prefer knitting hats in the round, too. My free pattern hats are knit flat because they were the culminating project in a four-week “Learn to Knit” course I created for my teaching certification.
To work them in the round, just cast on and join without twisting, as you normally would. The ribbing would still be the same but the body of the hat would be worked using all knit rows instead of knit a row/purl a row for the Stockinette stitch when knitting flat. The decreases will be the same, just remember to knit all of your rows and it should work out just fine.
If you get stuck or have any questions, let me know. I’m happy to help!
Gayla
Dee
December 31, 2019 at 1:28 amThank so much for the quick response Gayla. I am doing some knitting for an Indian reservation. Trying to make as many hats and and scarves as I can and knitting the hats in the round simplifies things.
Gaylaknits
December 31, 2019 at 12:27 pmHow very kind of you. I am a huge advocate of charity knitting. I may have a few hats I can donate to you; how many are needed and what sizes?
Mary Anne Favis
October 18, 2020 at 3:16 pmHi! I am also going to make this on circular needles. Do I use the same size needles as you had listed for flat? Size 7?
Gaylaknits
October 20, 2020 at 2:30 pmHi Mary Anne, Yes, same needle size whether it’s knit flat or in the round.
Gayla
Denise Tucker
December 31, 2019 at 10:41 pmGayla, They take donations for all ages and grades 1 through 8. I am trying to get hold of the woman who accepts the donations, because, according to their site spreadsheet, they are OK for now. When I talk with her and find out when she needs more, I will let you know. I would appreciate any sizes and whatever extra hats you have to donate. That is very kind of you. Please keep me email address and I will stay in touch. In the meantime I am continuing to knit the hats, scarves, earwarmers, mittens,etc. These kids live in such poverty that anything they receive is a blessing. Thanks so much, Denise Tucker (Dee)
Lynda Panneton
February 29, 2020 at 6:33 pmThank you for the free pattern. I want to start knitting again, and I think I can actually make this hat. I will be visiting your site again to see what it’s all about. Thanks again.
Gaylaknits
March 22, 2020 at 5:44 pmHi Lynda,
I’m glad I could help; if you have any questions, let me know. This week I’ll be updating my site with a free knitted Peeps pattern and a collection of my favorite Easter toy knits. I apologize for the delayed response – life had gotten quite hectic. This forced slowdown will help me get my site updated. Thanks for your patience and understanding. Stay well.
Anis Akhtar
March 30, 2020 at 4:59 pmHi Madam
I am also having problem printing the pattern.
The pattern is quite simple to follow but would be grateful if you could kindly email it. Look forward to more patterns from you.
Many thanks.
Gaylaknits
March 30, 2020 at 5:17 pmI emailed it to you.
Gayla
Sharon
March 31, 2020 at 3:16 pmI am making the mans hat and starting to decrease. Directions for first row decrease K6 K2 tog. I have two stitches left over. I started the decrease row with 82 sets. I wonder what I am doing wrong. Knitting on straight needles.
Gaylaknits
March 31, 2020 at 10:21 pmHi Sharon,
If you are certain you had the 82 stitches when you started the decreases, than the only thing I can think of is that you accidentally didn’t do the K2 twice somewhere along the row? I’ll cast on 82 stitches this evening and see what happens when I decrease across. It’s been a while since I’ve worked it up but it should be accurate. I’ll double check tonight and get back to you.
Gayla
Gaylaknits
April 1, 2020 at 7:52 pmHi,
If you look closely at the pattern, you’ll see that there is a K2 at the end of each decrease row. Please let me know if you have other questions!
Gayla
Gaylaknits
April 1, 2020 at 7:53 pmHi,
If you look closely at the pattern, you’ll see that there is a K2 at the end of each decrease row. Please let me know if you have other questions!
Gayla
sally krueger
April 29, 2020 at 5:08 pmhave you got an easy crochet or knit pattern for a easy face mask?????
Gaylaknits
April 29, 2020 at 10:30 pmHi Sally,
Yes, I have both! I’ll be doing a post about them soon but I’ll give you a direct link now. Red Heart yarns (now Yarnspirations) has a really nice fabric lined mask pattern to keep within CDC guidelines. This link goes to the knit pattern and within that post there’s a link to a crochet version, too.
You can find it here –
Gayla
Jan Smith
May 19, 2020 at 10:17 amWill this beanie fit a man? Made the child’s one great pattern and easy. I knit for a charity KOGO in Australia.
Gaylaknits
May 19, 2020 at 11:26 amHi Jan,
It should depending on the size of the man’s head and how tightly you knit. If the circumference is good and you just need more height, knit beyond the 7″ before starting your decreases. If it seems too snug, you can cast on an additional 8 stitches at the beginning and when you start the decreases, start with a K7, K2tog row and continue to decrease. I hope that helps.
Gayla
Jan
May 21, 2020 at 4:34 amThank you so much for that????
Marilyn
June 9, 2020 at 1:09 amQuestion about stitch counts
Great pattern-thank you. I am having a problem with the stitch count though- the starting numbers for both the child and adult are not divisible by 4- so how does that work for the k2p2 rib? Making it flat, I either wind up with a fat knit rib if I join with a mattress stitch, or I can use a whip stitch to make the rib a normal size, but am making the hat narrower. I saw that you answered someone about knitting in the round and said it would work without changes (except stockinette is K every row) but then I get one double-wide rib down the middle of the hat. Am I misunderstanding the instructions? Thank you
Gaylaknits
June 11, 2020 at 12:56 pmHi Marilyn,
I apologize for the delay in responding; it’s been a hectic week. I’m not sure I understand your question. Row 1 of the ribbing is (K2,P2) and row 2 is (P2,K2), alternating those two rows for the ribbed section should achieve the look in the photo. Or are you referring specifically to the area where the hat is seemed in the back? Can you send me a photo so I can see it? That might be the best was for me to assist you. You can post it here or send it directly to my email account (Gaylaknits@gmail.com). I’ll take a look and see how I can help.
CAROL
June 14, 2020 at 1:38 pmHAD NO PROBLEM PRINTING OUT PATTERN… THANK YOU FOR SHARING
Gaylaknits
July 19, 2020 at 3:17 pmThanks, Carol!
Susan
August 10, 2020 at 1:33 pmHello I am having a hard time printing out the pattern for the toques?? I do not know how to do it. When I press print the bears come up so would you be able to help me with this?
Thank you,
Susan
Gaylaknits
August 11, 2020 at 2:53 pmHi Susan,
Maybe it will be easier to copy and paste the text? I’ll send a copy of the pattern to your email address, just in case. Thanks for your interest in the pattern.
Gayla
Jan
October 2, 2020 at 12:04 pmWould 7inches from end of ribbing make beanie too long?
Gaylaknits
October 3, 2020 at 7:10 pmHi Jan,
No, not for the adult size. It’s worked well for me.
Gayla
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