25 Knitted Hat Patterns
It can be a little bit of a challenge finding great free knitted hat patterns so I’ve put together this great list of hats for you. You’ll find some great knitting patterns below with all the options you need for making hats to keep you and your loved ones warm and cozy this winter.
Among these knitted hat patterns you’ll find hats for babies, toddlers, and adults, including knit hats for men too. Most of the hats on this list are perfect are easy beginner knitting patterns but I’ve also included hats for various skill levels including advanced knitters too. Any one of these easy knit hat patterns would be an excellent choice for one of your first patterns.
These hats use basic knit stitches like garter and stockinette stitch. There are also a number of more challenging and unique knit stitch patterns included for people looking to learn new knit stitches and techniques. Most of these hat patterns are knit on circular needles but there are a couple that are knitted flat and seamed.
Among the list of knitted hat patterns, you’ll find easy knitting patterns, simple cable knit hats, classic ribbed stitch hats, easy baby hats, and more. Many of these hats would also make fantastic knitting for charity projects as well. Whatever your intent, there’s a hat for everyone!
Knit Hat Sizing Guide
Before you start on your knit hat pattern, you’re going to want to make sure you know how to size your hat correctly. Hat sizes can get a little confusing so I’ve provided a chart below with the typical hat sizes. Note, that the finished circumference of your hat should be approximately 2-4″ smaller than the actual hat to accommodate for fit and stretching. Also, please measure the head of the recipient for reference as not everyone’s head size falls within the average size.
- Preemie (1-2 lbs) – Head Circumference = 9″ Hat Height = 3.5″
- Preemie (3-4 lbs) – Head Circumference = 11″ Hat Height = 4″
- Preemie (4-5 lbs) – Head Circumference = 12″ Hat Height = 4.5″
- Preemie (5-6 lbs) – Head Circumference = 13″ Hat Height = 5″
- Newborn (0-3 months) – Head Circumference = 14″ Hat Height = 6″
- Baby (3-6 months) – Head Circumference = 17″ Hat Height = 7″
- Baby (6-12 months) – Head Circumference = 18″ Hat Height = 7.5″
- Toddler/Preschooler (1-3 years) – Head Circumference = 19″ Hat Height = 8″
- Child (3-10 years) – Head Circumference = 20″ Hat Height = 8.5″
- Preteen/Teen – Head Circumference = 21″ Hat Height = 10″
- Adult Woman – Head Circumference = 21.5 – 22.5″ Hat Height = 11″
- Adult Man – Head Circumference = 22.5 – 23″ Hat Height = 11.5″
- Adult Man XL – Head Circumference = 23″ Hat Height = 11.5″
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Simple Knit Hat Pattern
This knit hat pattern is special to me. It was the very first hat pattern I ever knit and I’ve made 3 hats with it since. This hat is also my 13-year-old daughter’s favorite hat. She wears it multiple times a week, whether it’s fall, winter or spring (and yes occasionally in the summer too). She would never let me wear her hat so I ended up knitting one for myself, in a different color as per her instructions, haha.
I can vouch for it being an amazing beginner knit hat pattern so if you’re just learning how to knit, I can personally recommend this pattern. I ended up making minor alterations to the size because my daughter and I have very tiny heads but otherwise left the pattern as is. Here’s a photo of Noelle and me wearing the hats that I made with this simple knit hat pattern link below.
This is hat knitting at its absolute simplest and the awesome thing about it is that it looks great whether it is a bit tighter or a bit slouchier. This pattern uses circular knitting needles. Made with worsted yarn weight you could make this in a variety of fibers. This is especially great for merino wool.
Pattern via The Craft Sessions
Bubble Beanie Hat Pattern for Knitters
This knitted hat pattern is perfect if you enjoy changing yarn colors and are comfortable knitting on circular needles. This is a great yarn buster, knitted in any colors and fiber of worsted or bulky weight yarns.
Easy Beginners Knit Hat Pattern
This hat pattern is perfect for your first knitting hat – it’s an easy project made from the bottom up! You will learn the two basic stitches of knitting, knits and purls and how to knit a hat on circular needles. The easy knit hat only takes a few hours to knit and one skein of Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick chunkcy yarn. This pattern also comes with a complete step-by-step knitting video tutorial for those of you who are visual learners.
Favorite Simple Knit Hat Pattern
This is a fun, quick knit creating a plain knit hat that is cozy and warm for cold weather. To modify the hat and turn it into a slouchy style hat, add additional length prior to decreasing. This pattern includes the written instructions for hat sizes preemie to men’s, and it is easily adaptable for a different sizing of your choice.
Flat Knit Hat Knitting Pattern
Knitting patterns for hats usually involve circular and double-pointed needles. The patterns generally run the gamut from basic to advanced, but rarely are they so simple any beginner could knit them. This Beginner Flat Knit Hat knitting pattern is here to change all that! The body of the hat is knit flat on single-point needles. The stitches are a combination of knit and purl. Once you’re finished knitting, the side and top seams of the hat are sewn. A simple running stitch is created at the top to gather. This hat knitting pattern is as easy as they come and it’s perfect for beginner knitters who want to move beyond knitting scarves. Enjoy!
Classic Ribbed Knit Hat
This is the most perfect be-warm, go-anywhere, look-good ribbed knit hat you can imagine! It has a cute slouch style to it. Wear it cuffed, or wear it as a slouchy beanie. Wear it bright, wear it neutral. Throw it in your bag just in case or don’t take it off all weekend. Wherever it goes, however it rolls (or doesn’t), the Classic Ribbed Hat is sized for everyone, from babies to adults, and only requires one skein to make it.
Gilmore Girls Ribbed Knit Hat Pattern
Learn to make your Gilmore Girls Ribbed Knit Hat inspired by Lorelai’s adorably cozy beanie! This knit hat pattern is made from the bottom up, in the round on circular needles. You’ll have a blast mastering this ribbed knitted hat made with an easy decrease.
Simple Ribbed Knit Hat
This simple knit hat starts with a ribbed cuff that continues to the top of the hat but with a yarn color change to indicate the brim of the hat. It is super stretching and can be worn cuffed or slouchy. This ribbed knit hat pattern is written for a child’s size but is so stretchy it will likely fit adults too.
Jason’s Cashmere Hat Knitting Pattern
Jason’s Cashmere Hat features a simple cable design for extra warmth, firm ribbing to help keep its shape, and a thick, folded brim that can be adjusted to cover the ears on extra chilly days. Made with two skeins of Cashmere Aran yarn, this hat is pure luxury and can easily be completed over a weekend. While this cable knit hat is a little more advanced, it may be appropriate for intermediate knitters or adventurous beginners.
Rikke Knit Hat Pattern
The classic “Rikke Hat” was designed in 2010 and has since become a worldwide hit. These slouch hats use just one skein of any DK to light worsted weight yarn, this hat looks stunning in both semi-solid hues and variegated colorways as the garter stitch design helps to prevent pooling! It is (for the most part) one-size-fits-all.
Little Hearts Knit Hat Pattern for Kids
We absolutely love this little hearts hat pattern! It is so adorable for babies and toddlers. And the great thing about this pattern is you can make it in any color combination you like, and it will still look cute! This kid’s hat pattern is written for toddler size (1-3yrs). This chunky hat is also a nice small project to practice your fair isle color work. You could easily make this basic beanie with faux fur pom poms in a matter of a couple of hours.
Pattern via The Northern Moose
Beaded Ribbed Knit Beanie Pattern
This free knit hat pattern is a minimal-design hat and is an essential statement piece for your winter outfits. This knit beanie is high on stylish luxury and low on effort. Two-row repeat? Check. Less than one skein of yarn? Check. Fits like a glove, with no bunching or extra fabric at the top? Check. Oh and this piece is worked up on straight knitting needles. Grab your favorite solid color yarn and whip up a new hat.
Garter Ear Flap Hat
Still enamored with the ease of working short rows in garter stitch, this hat is made in one seamless piece. Slightly pointed with a tiny tassel, the knit hat topper finish delivers cheer and whimsy. Your head and ears will stay toasty warm with this fun garter stitch hat.
The Dotty Beanie Knit Pattern
This beanie is knit with a beautiful and simple stitch called “The Dot Stitch” that intersperses purl stitches throughout knit stitches, providing some lovely and dainty texture. The dot stitch is worked over 4 rounds as delicate purl stitches are scattered throughout the knit stitches. This knit stitch pattern makes a beautiful texture that’s not too complicated to achieve.
Beloved Aran
This beautiful knit hat pattern comes in various sizes including child, adult, and large adult. This knit stitch pattern is the double seed stitch and is made on circular needles (but double-pointed knitting needles would also work). Finished off with an adorable pom pom, this knit hat pattern is perfect for the entire family.
Easy Knit Hat Pattern for Beginners
If you’re looking for a super easy knit hat pattern this is it! It works up quickly with a skein of bulky weight yarn and is a great hat pattern for beginners. This easy knit pattern is written for a standard adult size but can be easily modified to fit any size.
Easy Chunky Knit Hat Pattern
Looking for an easy knitting pattern for a hat? With this simple knitting pattern for beginners, you can knit your own hat in no time! A lovely warm winter yarn, that is perfect for quick and easy knitting projects. Ideal for the novice knitters among us! This simple hat pattern uses a rib stitch and a stocking stitch worked on a circular knitting needle. It also includes a video tutorial that shows you exactly how these stitches work and how simple knitting on circular needles can be!
Aran Messy Bun Knit Hat Pattern
The Aran knitting style has traveled the world, it has proven capable of adapting to modern fashion, and the Aran Messy Bun Hat is no exception. Designed to let your messy bun or ponytail flow out of the top, this beanie-style hat is knit in the round, on two sizes of circular needles, and features crisscrossing cables that rise seamlessly from the brim to the crown. The cabling pattern is not overly complicated, but there is some adjusting of the stitch marker to ensure that the cabling pattern stays seamless throughout.
Barley Knit Hat Pattern
If you’ve ever visited the Ravelry website you’ll likely have come across the Barley Knit Hat Pattern that seems to always dawn the front page of most popular patterns – for a very long time. This perennial favorite knitting pattern, this slouchy knit hat is sized for babies all the way up to adult large size. This seamless hat pattern is knit using circular needles and made with basic knit stitches including rib stitch, garter stitch, and stockinette stitch.
Simple Ribbed Knit Toque Pattern
This simple toque is about as basic as it gets, and a quick knitter can finish this toque in a day. Made in standard worsted-weight yarn using a pattern stitch that’s 1/1 rib stitch, it’s very elastic and one size really should fit all. If the recipient has a particularly large head, add four or eight stitches.
Stash Busting Helix Hat Pattern
Pull out all your worsted-weight scraps and knit them together in helix stripes. These stash-busting hats are a fun, easy way to use up even the smallest bits of stash – don’t you love all the different color options. Choose at least three colors and get ready to practice your color changes. If you run out of one along the way just tie on another and keep knitting! Self-striping yarns are a great addition too.
Basic Knitted Baby Hat Pattern
Knitted baby beanies are a go-to gift since babies always need hats to keep their heads warm no matter what season and this hat pattern looks so stylish with plenty of stretch. With one skein of yarn, you can actually make two baby hats! If the baby’s gender is a surprise, I love using a neutral grey or cream color! The simplicity of the pattern really lets the yarn shine through as it looks great with a variegated yarn, striped yarn, or single-color yarn!
Two and a Half Hours Knit Hat Pattern
Here’s a simple slouchy knit toque for when you want an instant gratification pattern. Perfect for that super last-minute gift! Made with super bulky yarn and knit in the round, this pattern will become your go-to knitting pattern when you need to whip up a quick hat.
Rafa’s Hat – Free Pattern
A very easy manly hat worked in worsted weight yarn. We all have that man in our lives that we want to knit for, but we never seem to nail it when it comes to making something simple enough for them to love. This easy knitting pattern comes in adult sizes small through to large and is knit on circular needles.
Pussyhat Pattern
This knit hat pattern list would not be complete if we did not have the very popular pussy hat pattern that’s become a symbol of modern women’s rights. A pussy hat is a great first knitting project. The basic idea: make a rectangle, fold in half, stitch from the crease, and put it on your head! Your round head will make the cat ears appear.
Easy Men’s Beanie Knitting Pattern
Sometimes the most simple things are the most gratifying. A knit hat for men doesn’t need a complicated pattern. All you need is great wool in a great color and a bit of patience. This pattern is knit on smaller circular knitting needles on purpose, so the ribs look better when stretched.
Hudson Bay Inspired Striped Hat Free Knitting Pattern
Introducing the Hudson Bay-inspired striped worsted weight hat knitting pattern. This free knitting pattern comes in sizes baby, toddler, children, women and men. You’ll be making hats for everyone you know!
Pattern via Fox and Pine Stitches
How to Knit a Hat With Straight Needles – Knitting Pattern
This is a great project for anyone who is learning how to knit. This is a basic beginner-level pattern for those of you who are new to knitting. The techniques you will need to know are knit, purl, and casting on. Using mainly knit and purl stitches will also introduce you to decreasing and shaping. Not too bulky and not too light, this hat is comfortable to wear on any occasion and it is unisex too!
I hope you’ve found a hat to make in this list of knitted hat patterns above. Once you’ve found a pattern you love, you’ll be making more for your entire family. These stylish and easy knit hats will keep your head warm and cozy and you won’t have to worry about having chilly ears anymore.
If you prefer step-by-step video tutorials to learn how to knit a hat, here are a few free hat knitting patterns I’d recommend:
- How to Knit a Hat For Complete Beginners
- How to Knit a Hat for Beginners – Step-by-step Knitting Tutorial
- Step-by-step Ribbed Beanie Knit Flat Knitting Tutorial
- How to Knit a Hat for Beginners on Circular Needles (5 easy steps)
- Double Moss Stitch Knit Hat – Easy to Follow
For the knitters who can’t get enough, here are a couple more knitting posts from my blog:
Just a quick note for those of you who are learning to knit. If knitting is still a new skill for you and you’d like to take things to the next level so that you can be a confident knitter, check out the professionally filmed Learn to Knit class. It really helped me to get the foundational skills and techniques down pat and I think you’ll enjoy this class too.
