Strawberry Bloom Baby Hat Free Knitting Pattern
Abbreviations
- k = knit
- p = purl
- k2tog = knit two together (decrease)
- yo = yarn over
- pm = place marker
- sm = slip marker
Getting Started: The Brim
Using your cream yarn and circular needles, cast on 60 (65) [70] stitches. Carefully join in the round, ensuring your stitches are not twisted. Place a marker at the beginning of the round to track your progress.
Rounds 1-4: *K1, p1; repeat from * to end of round. This creates a classic ribbed brim that will stretch comfortably over baby's head.
Round 5 (Picot Edge): *K2tog, yo; repeat from * to end. This clever round creates a series of eyelets that will form a delicate, decorative picot edge when folded.
Rounds 6-9: *K1, p1; repeat from * to end. You've now completed the brim section. The picot edge will be folded up later to create the ruffled effect.
Knitting the Body
Switch to your red yarn. From this point forward, you'll be working in stockinette stitch, which means simply knitting every round.
Knit every round until the piece measures 3.5 (4) [4.5] inches from the picot edge. This measurement is taken from the eyelet row, not the cast-on edge.
The Strawberry Motif
Now for the fun part—the strawberry! You have two options: intarsia (knitting the motif directly into the fabric) or duplicate stitch (embroidering the motif after the hat is complete). For beginners, duplicate stitch is often easier, but intarsia creates a more integrated look. Choose whichever method you prefer.
If using intarsia: Work the chart below over the center 20 stitches of the front of the hat. The chart is worked over 20 stitches and 24 rows. Keep the remaining stitches in red.
If using duplicate stitch: Simply knit the entire body in red, then embroider the strawberry motif using the chart as a guide after finishing the hat.
Strawberry Chart (20 stitches wide, 24 rows tall)
- Rows 1-4: All red.
- Row 5: K2 red, k16 cream, k2 red.
- Row 6: K2 red, k16 cream, k2 red.
- Row 7: K3 red, k14 cream, k3 red.
- Row 8: K3 red, k14 cream, k3 red.
- Row 9: K4 red, k12 cream, k4 red.
- Row 10: K4 red, k12 cream, k4 red.
- Row 11: K5 red, k10 cream, k5 red.
- Row 12: K5 red, k10 cream, k5 red.
- Row 13: K6 red, k8 cream, k6 red.
- Row 14: K6 red, k8 cream, k6 red.
- Row 15: K7 red, k6 cream, k7 red.
- Row 16: K7 red, k6 cream, k7 red.
- Row 17: K8 red, k4 cream, k8 red.
- Row 18: K8 red, k4 cream, k8 red.
- Row 19: K9 red, k2 cream, k9 red.
- Row 20: K9 red, k2 cream, k9 red.
- Rows 21-24: All red.
After completing the motif, continue knitting in red until the piece measures 5 (5.5) [6] inches from the picot edge. This is the total length of the hat body before crown shaping.
Crown Shaping
Now it's time to shape the top of the hat. Switch to your double-pointed needles when the stitches become too few to comfortably fit on the circular needle.
Round 1: *K8 (9) [10], k2tog; repeat from * to end. (54 (59) [64] stitches remain)
Round 2 and all even rounds: Knit all stitches.
Round 3: *K7 (8) [9], k2tog; repeat from * to end. (48 (53) [58] stitches)
Round 5: *K6 (7) [8], k2tog; repeat from * to end. (42 (47) [52] stitches)
Round 7: *K5 (6) [7], k2tog; repeat from * to end. (36 (41) [46] stitches)
Round 9: *K4 (5) [6], k2tog; repeat from * to end. (30 (36) [41] stitches)
Round 11: *K3 (4) [5], k2tog; repeat from * to end. (24 (30) [36] stitches)
Round 13: *K2 (3) [4], k2tog; repeat from * to end. (18 (24) [30] stitches)
Round 15: *K1 (2) [3], k2tog; repeat from * to end. (12 (18) [24] stitches)
Round 17: *K0 (1) [2], k2tog; repeat from * to end. (12 (12) [18] stitches)
Round 19: *K0 (0) [1], k2tog; repeat from * to end. (6 (6) [12] stitches)
Round 21: *K2tog; repeat from * to end. (3 (3) [6]
