Knit up this quick and simple hat (that you can customize lots of different ways) and donate it to your favorite charity!
What is The Do-Gooder Hat, you ask? Well, I’ve heard from a ton of you that you like to use my baby hat knitting patterns to knit hats that you donate to charities and hospitals for babies. I just love this so so much.
And while I’m delighted to imagine a sweet little baby in the hospital wearing a kitty cat hat, a couple months ago I began to wonder if maybe what you guys really need is a simple free knitting pattern for donations that you could easily customize but that is also easy and FAST. Because the faster and easier the baby hat knitting pattern, the more hats you can knit and the more hats you can donate and the more good we can do!
So the Do-Gooder Hat free knitting pattern for donations was born. It’s a simple easy pattern, and it uses bulky weight yarn and bigger needles than many of my other patterns, so it knits up FAST.
And you guys, knitting hats for charity is such a great way to contribute. It’s relatively cheap to do (free if you’ve got a stash like I do, ahem…) and it made a big difference! I always think that handmade items contain all the love we put into them and their recipients can feel that.
I’ve got a free printable PDF of the pattern for you and some fun ideas of how you can change up this basic free baby hat knitting pattern so they don’t all look exactly the same! It may be basic, but the Do-Gooder hat is not boring!
But first, I have to share with you what is probably one of the most adorable photos I have ever taken. Are you ready? Are you really sure?
Here’s one more super baby for good measure…
HPIC (Canada)
You can also contact your local hospital and see if they accept donations for babies!
Be sure to check each charity’s requirements as some only accept certain types of yarn, certain sizes or allow certain embellishments.
Do-Gooder Baby Hat Knitting Pattern Supply List
Gauge: 16 stitches = 4 inches
US 10 16″ or 12″ circular knitting needles
If you need help (or just want a great book), my favorite knitting bible is this one!
Do-Gooder Baby Hat Knitting Pattern Instructions (6 month size)
Using a long-tail cast on, cast on 48 stitches on your circular needles. Join to knit in the round and k1, p1 in a rib stitch for 5 rounds.
Then knit all rounds until the hat is 4 1/2 inches long.
Decrease (distribute stitches among 3 double pointed needles and knit with the 4th):
Round 1: (k6, k2tog) and repeat to the end of the round.
Round 2: Knit all stitches
Round 3: (k5, k2tog) and repeat to the end of the round.
Round 4: Knit all stitches
Round 5: (k4, k2tog) and repeat to the end of the round.
Round 6: Use the fourth double pointed needle to knit all stitches for one round.
Round 7: (k3, k2tog) and repeat to the end of the round.
Round 8: Knit all stitches to the end of the round
Round 9: (k2, k2tog) and repeat to the end of the round.
Round 10: Knit all stitches to the end of the round
Round 11: (k1, k2tog) and repeat to the end of the round.
Round 12: Knit all stitches to the end of the round
Round 13: k2tog and repeat to the end of the round.
Cut yarn, pull through loops and close. Weave in ends.
Options to customize your baby hat:
- Stripes: knit as written but alternate between two or more colors of yarn in a stripe pattern.
- Color blocking: Knit as written but switch colors only 1 or 2 times as you knit to create color blocking.
- Brim: Knit the rib stitch brim (the first 5 rounds) in a different color from the rest of the hat.
- Rolled Brim: Instead of a ribbed brim, join to knit in the round and knit all stitches instead of the rib stitch (k1, p1). Add an extra 1 inch to the length of the hat before starting the decrease to accommodate the rolling.
- Pom Pom: Add a pom pom to the top of your hat. Make sure you attach it very securely! To see a video of me making a pom pom, watch below or !
I made this same hat three different ways and this pattern is so quick I did them all in one day! If you use this free hat pattern I’d love it if you’d share where you sent yours!
If you liked this, you may also like some of my other posts…
- Easy DIY Knit Halloween Costumes (Just Add Pajamas) - October 10, 2024
- Witchy Black Cat Hat Knitting Pattern - October 7, 2024
- Big Squishy Pumpkin Knitting Pattern - October 2, 2024
Rose says
How many cast on stitches for a preemie hat?
k Anstey says
Where can I mail these knitted items?
Cassie May says
Read this post! https://littleredwindow.com/where-to-donate-baby-hats-to-charity/
Brenda Thibeault says
Hello, this is a very cute pattern but when I look at the closeup pictures it has been done in stocking knit stitch and the directions say to knit all rows. hmmm. I still love it.
Cassie May says
In case anyone else has this question (because I already emailed Brenda back about it…): This hat is knit in the round so yes, you DO knit all rounds. That creates stockinette or stocking stitch. And personally, I think it’s the best part of knitting in the round, no purling! 🙂
Carter Foster says
Great short article, I loved the radio city music hall christmas
show groupon bit
Kris says
If I wanted to make for older babies 12 mths to 2 yrs how many would I cast on?
June Bonfield says
Hi all, I am in Kitchener Ontario Canada. I have been doing charity knitting for many years now. Some of it I would accumulate and then take it to the local hospital…there the nurses distribute it –some to emergency –some to the new babies–some to the children with cancer and so on. Now I go to the Owl’s Nest in Waterloo and everybody knits for charity there. We just take our “goods” and sit and knit for a couple of hours and the ladies take care of everything!! Every few months they do the distributing. The yarn is available for charity knitting–it is all donated to the group for that reason.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and has an easy way to pass on their charity knitting….
June
Jo Featherston says
Can you please tell me what ply that yarn is? I don’t think we have it here in Aus so am just wondering if DK/8 ply would be ok, or would it be more like 5 ply?
CourtneyLynne says
Omg can we say super cute?!?! Just loving the hats and the cause!!! How awesome to donate!!!!
Suzanne Spiegoski says
These knitted hats look so cute and cozy on the little one! I bet any parent would love to get one or two for their babes around this time of year. Perfect gift too!
Michelle says
Thank you for generously sharing this pattern! My daughter received a sweet, similar hat during her time in the NICU!
Julie says
First of all, what an adorable hat! And what a great idea to make them to donate…I have two aunts that do this regularly 🙂
Robin Rue says
This hat is so adorable. I love getting knitted gifts around the holiday season. So much love in every stitch.
Debra says
What a darling hat and I really love your model! These are perfect for little ones who need something to keep their bald heads warm.
Wendy Polisi says
I’m in love with these adorable set! It’s also gift guide this coming Holidays.
Dana Vento says
Wow! Love that adorable hat! That would be perfect for my niece.
Ashley ~ 3 Little Greenwoods says
Adorable! Love that precious baby and the video! Awesome job, Cassie!
Jessica says
Oh how cute! Knitted hats are my weakness, I buy them all the time for my little one!
Allison says
This is adorable! I have always wanted to try knitting, so I am saving this for later!
Logan says
This is such a cute pattern! i love the hats with little moms on the top!
Reesa Lewandowski says
I LOVE the hat/cape set. I will have to send this to my friends who knit. What a great cause!
Lisa says
That’s so wonderful you donate the hats you make! They are so adorable and much needed!
Marcy Kobb says
I donate hats to Memorial Hospital in Hollywood, Florida for cancer patients of all ages.
Rebecca Bryant says
Those hats are too cute. I bet my mom would love to make these for her new grandbabies.