Have you got a last-minute baby gift to buy? Why not knit this simple and adorable baby hat? It can be made in just an evening, and as it’s almost all garter stitch, it’s perfect for beginners.
Hi guys! Time for another YouTube video. This one is a little late coming out because my husband and I decided to take an impromptu trip up to the north of Tasmania for a couple of days with our little girl, to see a good friend of ours and her family. Her son is our godson, and a jumper I made for him features in my article about how I taught my friend to knit. Click that link only if you’re feeling like a sappy story.
The trip was wonderful, but it made me a little slow in knitting, filming, and getting this video out! I’m really excited to share this insanely simple garter stitch hat pattern and video tutorial.
When I finished the hat, I showed it to my daughter. She put it on her favourite dolly and giggled and said “Mau! Mau!” Evidently it looks like a cat’s ears to a 19 month old. Therefore, I’m naming this hat the Mau. Below are instructions for the hat in newborn, 6 month and 12 months sizes, but it is very stretchy so these sizes are just a guide.
It uses very basic knitting skills and would be ideal for a new knitter or as a first attempt at following a written pattern.
Skills you’ll need
This pattern assumes you have a few simple knitting skills:
- Knit
- Purl
- Casting on (using long-tail cast-on)
- Casting off
- Simple seaming
If you’re unfamiliar with these skills, I have linked some helpful tutorials in the description to the YouTube video.
A note on yarn
I knitted this hat in an 8ply acrylic yarn made by The Reject Shop in Australia. The yarn is called Knit & Purl Acrylic 8ply. I think the colour of the yarn is beautiful which is why I chose it, however if you are making this hat for a real baby and not planning to line it with fabric, I would suggest using a specifically baby yarn in 8ply. And please, for the sake of the mother of the baby, choose a yarn that is machine washable! Below are a few suggestions for yarns which would be good substitutes.
If you watched and enjoyed the video, please like the video. Subscribe to my channel if you’d like to see more simple knitting tutorials and tips. I’d really like the channel to be a place to encourage and inspire new knitters and those teaching them.
And now, here is the Mau hat pattern. If you make it, I would love love love it if you added it to your Ravelry projects so I can see a picture of it! Here is a link to the pattern on Ravelry.
The Mau Baby Hat
Download the PDF version of the pattern here: The Mau
Yarn: 1x 85g ball of Knit & Purl Acrylic 8ply yarn
Needles: 3.75mm straight needles
Notions: darning needle, scissors, row counter, pom pom maker or fork (see video for how to make pom poms using a fork).
Tension: 20sts x 44 rows = 10cm2 in garter st.
Sizes: Newborn (6mo, 12mo)
CO 72(82, 92) sts, leaving a long tail for seaming.
Work in 2×2 rib for 6 (8, 10) rows.
Work 56 (62, 68) rows in garter stitch. Cast off and weave in end.
Using the tail from the cast on, sew row edges together using a flat seam.
Keeping the seam at the centre back of the hat, work top seam using a shoulder seam.
Make two pom poms about 3.5cm in diameter. Attach to top corners of hat.
Peace,
Kat
Please note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means I will receive a commission if you click on the affiliate link and purchase the item.
