This super simple spring-inspired baby hat is a great way to eat up leftover sock yarn. I was inspired to make this, of course, during the Knit Along as I played around with some test patterns and love its little sprouty top. This hat is super perfect for newborns coming home from the hospital!
I hope my onion model makes you smile, by the way! You’ll have to excuse it subbing in for a real baby, since I don’t have one of those lying around to exploit for photos, lol. I think onion baby is so cute, and the only crying I have to worry about is if I cook with it. ;)
Shh! Onion baby rolled over to get some sleep!
Supplies
size 2 knitting needles
Shibui’s Sock or Staccato yarn
scissors
yarn needle
The Pattern
CO – cast on
sts – stitches
k – knit
rnd – round
pm – place marker
k2tog – knit 2 together
ssk – slip (one as if to knit) slip (one as if to purl) knit the 2 together
k to m – knit to marker
sm – slip marker
rep – repeat
CO 64 sts.
k around for 1.5-2 inches.
the cap decrease
rnd 1. pm, k 13. pm, k2tog, k2, ssk, pm, k 26, pm, k2tog, k2, ssk, pm, k 13. (60 sts)
rnd 2. k all sts.
rnd 3. k to m, sm, k2tog, k2, ssk, sm, k to m, k2tog, k2, ssk, sm, k to m.Rep rnds 2 and 3 until 32 sts remain. Continue working just rnd 3 until 4 sts remain.
the sprout
k around the 4 remaining sts until it’s as long as you’d like the sprout to be. Break yarn, draw tail through and weave in ends to finish.
In case you’re looking for something to pin, this pic’s got a label saying it’s a pattern and not just a random picture of a sleeping onion.
oh my gosh I love onion baby and his hat!
Are you supposed to use circular needles?
I used double pointed needles for this pattern – great question! :) -Heidi
After the first decrease, there are only 60 stitches left. For the subsequent rounds of decrease, should I adjust round 1 accordingly? For example – first repeat of decrease round 1 will be k12, k2tog, k2, ssk, k24,k2tog, k2, ssk, k12. Second repeat will be k11…k22…k11?
Thanks for clarifying!
Hi Jiaran, Yep, you’ve got it! Silly me, I didn’t think to put down that those stitches would be decreasing with every other round. Thanks for the question. :) -Heidi
Good on you Jiaran!! this has been doing my head in!! I am not an experienced knitter and I often need to write out every line and I just could not get this to work I have had to frog it 3 times but now I think I will get it!! But super cute pattern and I want to make a bunch for friends with buns in the oven so fourth time is a charm….. right?
Hello heidi, i want to make this for newborn but i am having difficulty at understanding this. Please help me. If i use straight needles than what would be the pattern? Can you explain it thoroughly?
Hi Luna,
Are you knitting on double pointed knitting needles? If so, the pattern is as written. If you’re hoping to knit this on straight, single-pointed needles it would be a completely different pattern, worked flat and then seamed. I can recommend these alternative baby hats if you’d like to knit a newborn hat on straight, single-point needles:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dozen-baby-hats-knit-flat
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/knit-flat-baby-hat
Best,
Heidi
Hi Heidi, I want to size this hat up for an older baby, how many stitches should I cast on? I was trying to figure out the math, but I’m a bit stumped. Thanks for writing this awesome simple pattern! Usually I can’t get from parent because I don’t understand them.
You’re in luck, June! This one is pretty easy to size up since the decreases are placed at the sides. All you need to do is find your gauge (here’s a tutorial on how to do that), and cast on a multiple of 4 more stitches. Then you’ll need to alter round 1 in the pattern: rnd 1. k 13, k2tog, k2, ssk, k 26, k2tog, k2, ssk, k 13. You’ll need to add the extra stitches you cast on to the k13, k13 and k26 from the round. If you cast on 68 sts instead of 64, for example, round 1 will be: k 14, k2tog, k2, ssk, k 8, k2tog, k2, ssk, k 14. One extra stitch was added to each of the k 13s, and two were added to the k26. This was done to evenly distribute the extra stitches. Let me know if you have any questions.
Heidi, what are double point needles I’m an Aussie and a very simple knitter, but really love your pattern. I have circular needles.
Thanks Yashmin
Here’s a tutorial that will walk you through everything you need to know! :) https://www.purlsoho.com/create/double-pointed-needles/
Very cute picture. However the decreases do not result in the numbers making the cute ‘seam’ not to line up. Any advice would be appreciated.
They line up. Round 1 reads:
The two k13’s at the beginning and end of the round are equal in number to the k26 in the middle of the round. And the two “k2tog, k2, ssk” sets are worked over 6 stitches apiece, so 13+13+26+6+6=64 sts, the number of sts cast on initially. What might be throwing you off is that every round is decreased by 4 stitches. This is an old pattern, so I’ve just updated it in a way that will clarify! Thanks for pointing out the confusion. :)
Can I do this with circular needles
Is there a video show how to get the sprout
You can use circular needles, but do to the small circumference of the hat, you’ll need to employ the magic loop technique. I haven’t done a video on the sprout.
I’m trying to do a better job of following patterns exactly and I think I understand the decrease from the comment above. The first one I made was a hot mess because I got confused and did my own thing. Place markers are a big pain in the butt for me – explain why I should give them a try! I love!the tail and the onion photo is genius :) thanks in advance, Kate
Stitch markers are a great tool to help you keep track of where you are in the pattern! They can help you have to count less and take fewer notes as well. :)
Okay I’ll give it a try!