This classic easy folded brim hat knitting pattern is a quick and easy knit and will keep anyone from newborn to adult, nice and toasty warm!
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.
How cute is this classic folded brim hat knitting pattern for baby?! Welcome to week 4 of my Back to Basics easy baby hat knitting pattern series. This hat is about as classic and versatile as it comes, a nice neat stockinette stitch beanie with a simple rib knit folded brim.
As you can imagine, Baby V has kind of a lot of hats. But she’s been wearing her easy folded brim hat on repeat all winter because it’s really warm and cozy and looks great with everything. I mean, this gorgeous purpley-red hand-dyed yarn doesn’t hurt anything either, but really, it’s just a great basic baby hat.
It takes a little bit longer to knit up than my original Easy Baby Hat, but the folded brim hat pattern looks adorable and it adds an extra layer of warmth over your little one’s ears. And where we live, in windy Chicago, that’s worth it!
I also like a folded brim because it gives you a little wiggle room as far as how long the hat will fit. As your little one grows, you can just fold up the brim a little less! It’s perfect!
Easy Folded Brim 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 st. = 4 inches
- Worsted weight yarn
- US 7 (4.5 mm) 16″ circular knitting needles
- US 7 double pointed needleUS 7 (4.5 mm) double pointed knitting 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!
Easy Folded Brim 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 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch in a rib stitch for 1 1/2 inches. Then knit all rounds until the hat is about 5 inches long (measure with the brim folded up).
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
Round 12: k2tog repeat to the end of the round
Cut yarn, thread on yarn needle, pull through loops and close. Weave in ends.
If you liked this, you may also like some of my other posts…
- Free Printable Crochet Hook/Knitting Needle Inventory - May 15, 2025
- Tiny Basketweave Hat Knitting Pattern - May 13, 2025
- Big Squishy Strawberry Knitting Pattern - May 6, 2025
Kim Janson says
Hi Cassie,
Just wondering if the 1 1/2 inch ribbed brim is a typo??
I find that the 1 1/2 inches isn’t really enough to fold properly.
I extended it by about 2 ” and that helps a lot. Also I think maybe this hat would be more for a preemie size baby or smaller newborn. Circumference (head) for a newborn is about 14″.
Anyway, really just wondering if the 1 1/2 ” brim is correct.
Cassie May says
Hi Kim,
1 1/2 inches is what worked for me and what I knit for the sample, but if you want to make the ribbed section longer, go for it! I have found different people prefer different proportions for brims and that’s totally a personal preference thing and is completely fine to change. 🙂
Also, the sizing is correct, this pattern is based on my standard hat pattern which has been knit by my readers probably a thousand times and I get no complaints about sizing. You are correct that based on gauge the finished hat is a little under 14.5″ but it has significant negative ease (aka it’s very stretchy)!
Hope that helps!
Cassie