Make your own adorable coordinated winter hats for your little one and his Daddy!
Want to learn to knit in the round?
You know what I should start by saying? These hats could totally be for Moms and Daughters or Dads and Daughters or whatever family configuration you want. They’re totally gender neutral enough for anyone. I just happened to make one for O and HIS dad so that’s what I named them. But make yours for whomever you like in whatever colors you want! And really, I love a good basic hat pattern. I have kind of a ton of them on this site already. But I thought two coordinating yet different ones that go together would be just so cute that I wanted to share with you how I made them.
First up, let’s make Dad’s hat! I’ll share the smaller kid’s version next!
Dad’s Stripey Hat
worsted weight yarn, one skein light gray, one skein dark gray
US size 7 16 inch circular needles
set of US size 7 double pointed needles
Using long-tail cast on, cast on 96 stitches with the dark gray yarn onto your circular needles. Join to knit in the round (without twisting) and knit 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches in a rib stitch for 1 inch.
Switch to the light gray yarn and knit 3 rows, then switch back to the dark gray yarn and knit 3 rows (be careful to pull up the new color behind the yarn color you just finished with so the yarns are crossed, this is to avoid a hole where you start the new color.) Continue the stripe pattern until the hat measures 7.5 inches.
Decrease: (continuing in the stripe pattern)
Round 1: Knit 6, Knit 2 stitches together and repeat to the end of the round.
Round 2: Knit all stitches
Round 3: Knit 5, Knit 2 stitches together and repeat to the end of the round.
Round 4: Knit all stitches
Round 5: Knit directly onto 3 of the double pointed needles:
- Needle 1: Knit 4, Knit 2 stitches together, repeat four times.
- Needle 2: Knit 4, Knit 2 stitches together, repeat four times.
- Needle 3: Knit 4, Knit 2 stitches together, repeat four times.
Round 6: Use the fourth double pointed needle to knit all stitches to the end of the round.
Round 7: Knit 3 stitches, Knit 2 stitches together and repeat to the end of the round.
Round 8: Knit all stitches to the end of the round
Round 9: Knit 2 stitches, Knit 2 stitches together and repeat to the end of the round.
Round 10: Knit all stitches to the end of the round
Round 11: Knit 1 stitch, Knit 2 stitches together and repeat to the end of the round.
Round 12: Knit all stitches to the end of the round
Round 13: Knit 2 stitches together and repeat to the end of the round.
Cut your yarn, thread it onto a needle and thread it through the remaining stitches, pulling tightly to close. Weave in your ends.
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Next up! The little version!
Son’s Stripey Hat (4 year old size)
worsted weight yarn, one skein light gray, one skein dark gray
US size 7 16 inch circular needles
set of US size 7 double pointed needles
Using long-tail cast on, cast on 88 stitches with the dark gray yarn onto your circular needles. Join to knit in the round (without twisting) and knit 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches in a rib stitch for 1 inch.
Switch to the light gray yarn and knit 1 row, then switch back to the dark gray yarn and knit 1 row (be careful to pull up the new color behind the yarn color you just finished with so the yarns are crossed, this is to avoid a hole where you start the new color.) Continue the stripe pattern until the hat measures 5.5 inches.
Decrease: (continuing in the stripe pattern)
Round 1: Knit 6, Knit 2 stitches together and repeat to the end of the round.
Round 2: Knit all stitches
Round 3: Knit 5, Knit 2 stitches together and repeat to the end of the round.
Round 4: Knit all stitches
Round 5: Knit directly onto 3 of the double pointed needles:
- Needle 1: Knit 4, Knit 2 stitches together, repeat four times.
- Needle 2: Knit 4, Knit 2 stitches together, repeat four times.
- Needle 3: Knit 4, Knit 2 stitches together, repeat three times.
Round 6: Use the fourth double pointed needle to knit all stitches to the end of the round.
Round 7: Knit 3 stitches, Knit 2 stitches together and repeat to the end of the round.
Round 8: Knit all stitches to the end of the round
Round 9: Knit 2 stitches, Knit 2 stitches together and repeat to the end of the round.
Round 10: Knit all stitches to the end of the round
Round 11: Knit 1 stitch, Knit 2 stitches together and repeat to the end of the round.
Round 12: Knit all stitches to the end of the round
Round 13: Knit 2 stitches together and repeat to the end of the round.
Cut your yarn, thread it onto a needle and thread it through the remaining stitches, pulling tightly to close. Weave in your ends.
To make the Pom Pom:
Find a piece of stiff cardboard that is about 2 inches wide. Holding both the light and dark gray yarns together at the same time, wind them around and around the cardboard about 40-50 times.
Slide the yarn off the cardboard and tie it around the middle very tightly with a piece of yarn that is about 12 inches long. Tie closer to one end of that 12 inch piece so you have a long tail left to attach the pom pom.
Cut through all the loops with sharp scissors to “release” the pom pom
it will look kind of terrible at first so then trim the ends carefully until it is a sphere.
Use the one long end of that the yarn you used to tie the pom pom to firmly stitch it to the top of the hat. Weave in all your ends.
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Jeff says
I just finished the “dad” hat . It is far too big and too long. I would suggest to reduce the pattern by 27 stitches at the cast on. then follow the rest of the pattern until it measures “7 1/2 inches” should say until it is 6 inches, then start reducing rows. and finishing pattern. The brim is also much wider than the rest of the hat. I would suggest going down at least two needle sizes for the 2 X 2 rib portion. I used 4.5 mm (7 US) and carron simply soft yarn.
Cassie @ Little Red Window says
Hi! Thank you for your comments! The problems you’re describing sound to me like you’re a loose knitter (particularly the issue you had with the brim). There’s nothing wrong with being a loose knitter at all and the suggestions you’ve given are the perfect way to adjust the pattern to fit your gauge. I obviously knit the pattern as written for my husband and it fits him perfectly, but that’s the thing with knitting, we’re all a little different, lol! Thanks again for stopping by and for your comments. Happy knitting!
Trudy Preston says
Or use a smaller size needle
Kathy Lirakis says
Hi Cassie, I am doing this pattern now for the Dad hat. I tend to be a loose knitter and usually need to adjust to 1-2 needle sizes smaller. My question is what the gauge is? I looked through a couple of times and did not see it-might of missed? thanks so much, Kathy
Cassie May says
I’m sorry, this is a super old pattern that I need to update! If you use worsted weight yarn and size US 7 (4.5mm) needles, the gauge should be 20 sts. = 4 inches. If the dad size is coming out too big you can also subtract 8 stitches from the cast on.
Hope that helps!
Christie says
I enjoyed reading this post! These hats are so cute! I wish I could knit, but I only crochet…as of yet! 🙂 Thanks for sharing at Wordless Wednesday. Don’t forget to stop by again this week!
leiabushman says
Those are so cute! I hope to learn to knit, someday. Thanks for sharing at On Display Thursday! Come again this week.
-Leia @ Eat It & Say Yum
sewmuchcrafting says
How super cute!! And matchy-matchy?! Love it!! Thanks for sharing at the Motivational Monday link party – have a great weekend!
Danielle
SewMuchCrafting.com