This adorable Baby Bear Hat knitting pattern is a quick and easy knit and makes a great gift for anyone from newborn to kid to adult!
Updated February, 2024.
This pattern has been updated to include additional child and adult sizes. For more information on the changes, what’s included and many other questions, click here.
As I mentioned previously, it’s new baby season in my neighborhood. I made a couple Super Easy Baby Shower Quilts a couple weeks ago and I also wanted to add some cute knitted items to the gifts for my friends.
I have found that I am completely physically incapable of watching tv anymore unless my hands are busy. Does anyone else feel like that? So a lot of the time, when I want to watch something, I knit (let’s be honest, I’m a secret reality tv junkie…so embarassing…).
Baby things are perfect projects, usually they’re interesting enough to keep me from being bored, but not so tricky that I screw things up. So Baby Bear Hat with ears it is!
Is anyone else into knitting? I have a group of great friends I met through knitting which is something I taught myself to do out of a book in college, I think.
It’s a great stress reliever. One of the most popular things I’ve ever made is a little tiny newborn baby bear hat with ears on it. I’ve had at least three different friends put them on their little one as their going home or very first photo outfit which is pretty much the most flattering thing ever!
I mean, there are a few things that are extra adorable on babies, right? Footie pajamas, anything on the butt of their pants, and hats, hoods with ears and the baby bear hat knitting pattern. Why is that?! But enough talk, I’m sure you want to see some baby bear hat cuteness!
Bear Hat Knitting Pattern
Sizes included: 0-3 months, (6 months, 1-2 years, 3-6 years, Child Large/Adult Small, Adult Large) Read our sizing guidelines post for more information.
Gauge: 19 stitches = 4 inches
- Worsted weight yarn
- US 7 (4.5mm) 16″ circular knitting needles
- US 7 (4.5mm) double pointed needles
- Yarn needle
(If you need help, my favorite knitting reference book for everyone from beginners to advanced knitters is THIS ONE!)
Looking for the pattern? Here’s how it works: This pattern is available for FREE in one size right here on my site (keep scrolling down). Or for just a few dollars, you can choose to purchase an upgraded PDF pattern that is nicely formatted and easy to print. Besides being easy to print, the PDF pattern also contains MORE SIZES with instructions for additional sizing including 0-3 months, 6 months, 1-2 years, 3-6 years, Child Large/Adult Small and Adult Large! Thank you for supporting Little Red Window!
Baby Bear Hat Knitting Pattern Instructions:
Using long-tail cast on, cast on 72 stitches onto your circular needles. Join to knit in the round and knit 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches in a rib stitch for 5 rounds. Then knit all stitches until the hat is about 5 inches from the cast on edge.
Decrease (divide the stitches between 3 double pointed needles and knit with the 4th):
Round 1: (k6, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round
Round 2: Knit all stitches
Round 3: (k5, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round
Round 4: Knit all stitches
Round 5: (k4, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round
Round 6: Knit all stitches to the end of the round.
Round 7: (k3, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round
Round 8: Knit all stitches to the end of the round
Round 9: (k2, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round
Rounds 10: Knit all stitches
Round 11: (k1, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round
Rounds 12: Knit all stitches
Round 13: k2tog repeat to the end of the round
Cut yarn, pull through loops and close. Weave in ends.
Baby Bear Ears
To make the ears you will use two double pointed needles and knit back and forth.
Using long-tail cast on, cast on 8 stitches (If any of this is new to you, I highly recommend the book Knitspeak, it has saved me so many times!)
Row 1: Purl across
Row 2: Knit across
Row 3: Purl across
(note: in the photos with the gray yarn, I cast on 9 stitches to start, instead of 8, don’t let that throw you!)
Row 4: k2tog, k4, ssk (6 stitches remaining)
Row 5: purl across
Row6: k2tog, k2, ssk (4 stitches remaining)
Row 7: p2tog, p2tog
Row 8: Bind off, cut yarn and pull the tail through the last stitch to end.
Now you have one half of one ear. Repeat 3 more times until you have 4 ear halves.
Next, take two of the ear halves and put them right (knit) sides together and use one of the tails to whipstitch them together along the sides and top, leaving the flat bottom cast-on edge open.
Turn the ears right side out, leave one long tail out and stuff the rest of the yarn tails inside the ear to make it a little puffy.
Lay out the ears where you want them to go on top of the hat, you may want to pin them. Then whipstitch them carefully to the hat along the cast on edges of the ear all the way around.
If you used a natural fiber yarn, block your hat. Then put your baby bear hat on a baby and prepare to die of cuteness!
Baby Bear Hat Knitting Pattern
Materials
Instructions
- Knit the 12 month size for free with the free pattern on this page
- OR download the super easy to print pdf printable pattern with instructions for all 4 sizes!
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Monique says
I’m almost done and it’s adorable! Quick question from a newbie…when you’re whipstitching the ears on to the hat, do you whipstitch once across – stitching both sides of the ear to the hat? OR, do you whipstitch across the back of the ear and the front of the ear separately. So so cute!
Cassie May says
I know I replied via email but adding as a comment as well, stitch cross the back and front separately, it helps them stand up better!
Carole says
This is such an adorable hat. I had never made a hat before, and it was a great introduction. I am on my second, and plan to make more. Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful pattern.
Cassie May says
Aw, thank you so much! happy knitting!
Stephanie says
I am a little confused by the pattern. It starts off with 56 stictches. after row 1 of decreasing you’re at 49 stitches. After row 2 it brings you down to 42. When you start knitting onto the 3 DPNs you’re putting 18 on the first, and 18 on the second. (Total of 36) that leaves 6 stitches for the 3rd needle. But the pattern says to knit 4 and 2 together (there’s the 6) but repeat that 3 times?? There’s no stictches left to repeat that 3 times. I’ve made 2 of the bow hats and they turned out so cute. I’ve had no issues with this hat until now when I’m at this point.
Stephanie says
I think I see the problem. Instead of “knit 4, knit 2 together” repeat twice, are you really just supposed to repeat it once? Making it a total of doing those 6 stitches two times on one needle instead of 3 times on one needle. And same with on the third DPN. Repeat it 2x instead of 3x?
Cassie May says
Hi!
You’re right, I have one extra repeat in there, this pattern used to be written in a different size and I must have missed that. Divide the stitches every between the 3 DPNs and repeat (k4, k2tog) for the entire round (7 times). For every decrease round at this size there will be a total of 7 repeats.
Thanks!
Elena says
The post says free?
Cassie May says
It is free! If you scroll all the way down, the entire pattern is written out there for free! The PDF is an optional upgrade that people asked for to print a little more easily. But the entire pattern is right here on this page free! Happy knitting!!
Karen says
I just knit up a pair of hats for a friend of a friend who is having twins. I used Lion’s Brand Angora Merino. It’s a fine yarn so I knit with two strands. The hats turned out great! Thanks for the pattern!
Cassie May says
oh good, I’m so glad you liked it! Thanks for stopping by!
Karen says
I’m curious what type of yarn you used?
Cassie May says
oh gosh, it’s been so long I’m not totally sure, I would guess Bernat Softee or something similar. I like acrylic yarn for baby stuff so it can be washed… 🙂
Andrea says
Thank you for this adorable hat pattern! I had made a hat a year ago, but it needed a little something – ears! The ears knit up quick & are adorable!! Thanks so much!
Cassie May says
Oh good! I’m so glad you liked them, Andrea! Thanks for stopping by!
Elaine says
I increased the size by 16 stitches because I had baby yarn 4 ply. Do I follow the decreasing as in the orginal pattern?
Cassandra May says
Yes, that should still work, I think. you will just have a couple more stitches left on the needles at the end when you pull it closed. I think it will be fine. 🙂
Maureen Young says
Please could you tell me if I can knit the little bear hat on two needles instead as I am finding it hard to use the circular ones ?
Is worsted considered to be 4 or 8 ply yarn ?
Thank you so much
Maureen.
Cassandra May says
You can’t knit it on two needles because it’s knit in the round, but you could use the 4 double pointed needles the entire time, that would be fine. Also, this site tells me worsted weight is the same as 8 ply (http://www.theknittingsite.com/knitting-conversion-tables/) hey! I learned something new! Thanks for stopping by!
Maureen Young says
Thank you for your assistance with this pattern – shall try the 4 needles,
I too have learnt something new . Maureen.
Linda Fullerton says
Made one to donate with oh my Plymouth turned out beautiful thank you so much!!
Cassandra May says
Awesome Linda! 🙂
rhonda says
oh soo cute.. definitely interested in making. do you have a gauge by chance???
Cassandra May says
I’m so sorry, Rhonda! I gave that particular hat away as a gift, I do know it was a light worsted weight yarn if that helps.
Cassandra May says
If I’m casting on to dpns, I usually cast all the stitches onto one needle and then divide the stithes evenly onto all of them. It’s a little easier. 🙂 good luck!!
ljskvarla says
How would the pattern be changed for a 3 to 4 month baby. I am having trouble figuring out the pattern, especially with the decreases. I love the baby bear hat!
Cassandra May says
You could cast on 64 stitches instead of 56 and then follow the rest of the pattern exactly as written! That should make the hat a little bigger.
ljskvarla says
Thank you very much! Happy New Year!
akb (@akb8) says
I’ll keep playing around with it. I tried dpns and couldn’t handle the stress of keeping track of everything 🙂 I’m using acrylic, which says it’s category 4 = worsted?
Cassandra May says
If it’s still too small after that, you can also cast on 8 more stitches to go up a size!
akb (@akb8) says
How do you fit this on circular needles? I got 16″ as stated and they’re way too long!
Cassandra May says
Hm, we’ll it could be a couple things. But it is definitely a small hat. You might be casting on too tightly? That’s what i would try first. Or maybe you’re using a thinner yarn? If you used baby yarn instead of worsted, for example, it would come out smaller. If you’re still finding it too tight, you could cast on directly onto double pointed needles. Just divide the stitches between them evenly and then follow the same directions from there. Is that helpful? 🙂
Delynnis D says
A tip I read said if your circular needle is to long use two circular needles in place of the double pointed needles. I love this method.
Cassie May says
Oh, that’s a GREAT idea! I also recently tried the Magic Loop Method and I loved it! Thank you!