This super easy knit flat hat knitting pattern is perfect for beginners or anyone who doesn’t like knitting in the round and it includes instructions for a nearly invisible seam!
Updated January, 2023
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.
I hope you’re excited friends, I have lots of easy baby hat knitting patterns, but this knit flat hat knitting pattern is one of my most requested patterns, lots of you have asked for instructions to knit my hats flat, without knitting in the round, and I finally have a pattern for you!
The good news is, this knit flat baby hat is really super easy. If you really really don’t want to try knitting in the round, it’s ok. I know, it seems scary, but honestly, once you learn how, it’s so much faster!
I used to feel the same way about sewing zippers, but then once I did it, I wasn’t scared anymore. Are all my zippers perfect? No! But it opened up so many more options for me.
That being said, I also totally get preferring to stick to knitting flat. This simple hat makes a sweet and classic hat and it makes an excellent gift. Or you can use this easy flat hat hat pattern to modify MANY of my knitting patterns to be knit flat! How cool is that?!
You can make the Pretty Kitty Cat Hat flat, for example, or the Funny Frog hat, or even the Baby Bear hat! In fact, scroll on down and I’ll leave a full list of all the patterns on my site that this knit flat baby hat will work with!
In the meantime, you can grab your straight knitting needles and get started on your adorable knit flat baby hat right now!
Knit Flat 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
(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 Knit Flat Hat Knitting Pattern (12 mo. size)
Using long-tail cast on, cast on 72 stitches onto your straight needles.
Rows 1-5: (k1, p1) repeat to the end of the row.
Row 6 (RS): knit all stitches
Row 7(WS): purl all stitches
Repeat rows 6 & 7 (stockinette stitch) until the hat is about 5 inches long. Begin decrease after a purl row.
Decrease:
Row 1: (k6, k2tog) repeat to the end of the row
Row 2: purl all stitches
Row 3: (k5, k2tog) repeat to the end of the row
Row 4: purl all stitches
Row 5: (k4, k2tog) repeat to the end of the row
Row 6: purl all stitches
Row 7: (k3, k2tog) repeat to the end of the row
Row 8: purl all stitches
Row 9: (k2, k2tog) repeat to the end of the row
Row 10: purl all stitches
Row 11: (k1, k2tog) repeat to the end of the row
Row 12: purl all stitches
Row 13: k2tog and repeat to the end of the row
Assembling the hat:
Cut the yarn, leaving a 24” tail to stitch the hat together. Thread the end of the tail on your yarn needle
Then slip the live stitches off the knitting needle and thread your yarn needle through them
pull to close the top of the hat
Then use the remaining tail to close up the seam on the side of the hat with a vertical invisible seam stitch. Hold the seam of your hat in place (it may help to pin it) and insert the needle into the horizontal bar of the first stitch on the left side of the seam
Pull the yarn through and then insert the needle under the horizontal bar of the first stitch on the right side of the seam
Repeat all the way down the seam, pulling to tighten as you go,
until you reach the end of the seam, then cut the yarn and weave in ends. Your seam should disappear as seen here
Here is what the seam will look like on the inside of the easy flat knit baby hat:
And that’s it! Your flat knit baby hat is finished!
The Easy Knit Flat Baby Hat knitting pattern is compatible with the following patterns and more:
To make this modification, substitute the flat knit hat for the hat instructions in the pattern and then follow the rest of the instructions (for ears, eyes, etc. as written).
- Baby Bear Hat
- Happy Puppy Dog Hat
- Pretty Kitty Cat Hat
- Cuddly Koala Hat
- Little Pig Hat
- Sweet Panda Hat
- Funny Frog Hat
- Baseball Hat
- Tiny Reindeer
- Polar Bear Hat
- Little Ladybug Hat
- Over the Rainbow Hat
- Baby Bunny Hat
- Magical Unicorn Hat
- Happy Hippo Hat
- Little Mouse Hat
- Sleepy Owl Hat
- Cuddly Cow Hat
- Bitty Bat Hat
- Mini Moose Hat
- Thanksgiving Turkey Hat
- Little Chicken Hat
- Teddy Bear Hat
- Cozy Penguin Hat
- Silly Monkey Hat
- Tiny Elephant Hat
If you liked this, you may also like some of my other posts…
- Make It Yours: Customize and Personalize Any Craft Project - September 19, 2024
- Slip Knit Twist Hat Knitting Pattern - September 17, 2024
- Learn to Knit – p3tog (Purl 3 Together) - September 12, 2024
Violeta says
Your knit hat turned out so cute! I wanted to drop a quick message to let you know that I featured your tutorial on Crafts on Display, a growing community of crafting enthusiasts. You can check it out here – https://craftsondisplay.com/knitting/easy-knit-flat-baby-hat-pattern-32648/
Tim says
Hello. Does the cast on count as the first K row?
Cassie May says
Not for the ribbing, no but you should include it when you measure the height before the decrease 🙂
Janice says
Made this for my Grand Daughter so easy but a great result. Will be knitting more
for KOGO in Australia 💛
kay says
what is circumference of 12mos hat? thank you.