Soft & Squishy Newborn Hat – perfect for gifting and charity knitting!
Grab some yarn and let’s go…
What you need…
- Yarn – 25g/50yds of a heavy DK or light Worsted weight yarn
- Needles – US 3 (3.25mm) & US 5 (3.75mm) – DPNs or 32” circular for MagicLoop
- Gauge – 6 stitches x 8 rows = 1 inch (2.5cm) using the larger needles
Notes & Tips…
- More on the yarn ~ the sample shown is Malabrigo Rios which is one of my favorites for baby knits. You want a yarn that is squishy and soft on a newborn noggin. It’s also nice to use a yarn that is washable for new parents. There are lots of good options out there, Rios is just one I often have leftovers of in my stash. *If you have lots of sock yarn leftovers, holding them double is perfect for this hat. Double check your gauge, but I use the same needle size for both versions.
- More on the needles ~ I’m a MagicLoop fan, but this teensy hat knits up great with DPNs too. My “pro tip” (aka my favorite way to knit this) is using MagicLoop for the main body of the hat and switching to 2 DPNs for the top knot. Partly because it’s faster for me, and mostly because I have the needles available so why not use both types! 😊
- More on the gauge ~ Don’t stress the gauge too much. This is a stretchy, squishy little hat. And baby heads grow at a wild pace! If you’re getting more than 6 stitches per inch, size up your needles. But if you’re getting fewer than 6 stitches per inch, I wouldn’t worry about it, the lucky little one will grow into it in no time!
Let’s Knit a Teensy Top Knot Baby Hat!
Cast On & Knit a Ribbed Cuff
With the smaller needles – Long tail cast on 72 stitches. Join to work in the round and place a marker for your BOR.
Work in 2×2 rib, {k2, p2} for 8 rounds – the cuff should measure 1” (2.5 cm)
Knit the Body of the Hat
Switch to the larger needles – knit around & around until the hat measures 3 1/2” (9cm) from the cast on edge.
Decreases for the Crown
- {k2tog, k4} repeat to the EOR ~ 60 sts
- knit 3 rounds
- {k2tog, k3} rep to EOR ~ 48 sts
- knit 3 rounds
- {k2tog, k2} rep to EOR ~ 36 sts
- knit 1 round
- {k2tog, k1} rep to EOR ~ 24 sts
- knit 1 round
- {k2tog, k2tog} rep to EOR ~ 12 sts
Top Knot
~This is where I switch from MagicLoop to just 2 DPNs~
- Knit 5 rounds
- {k2tog, k1} rep to EOR ~ 8 sts
- knit 24 rounds, or until knot measures 4” (10 cm) from the top of the hat
- Pull the yarn through the 8 sts (in the order you would work them) and cinch the end
- Thread the tail through to the inside (no need to weave this one in)
Finish & Admire 🥰
Weave in the original tail from the cast on. Tie that long ‘halo holder’ at the top into a knot and try to resist smiling at how darn cute it is!
What about precious preemies…
This size fits most newborns for a couple months. If you’re knitting for preemies, this pattern works with casting on just 66 stitches. The decreases will be the same but your stitch count will be less than what’s noted. In the last couple decreases, you’ll have an extra stitch at the end to knit.
I’m knitting charity new born hats for our local maternity hospital. The soft teeny baby hat!
Suzanne, what a kind thing to do, and a wonderful reason to make teensy hats on repeat 🙂 Thanks for sharing!