Knit this sweet ladybug hat for your baby ladybug with this free knitting pattern! Oh my gosh, you guys, Baby V turned ONE a while back! Not to be a walking cliche, but that was seriously the fastest year of my life. I can’t even believe it! We were on vacation with some family during her actual birthday so we threw her a low key party (let’s be honest, she had no idea what was going on). I did snag some super cute (and really affordable) ladybug themed party supplies though (find them here, here, here, here, here and here) and did the whole party for about $10. You can’t beat that, right?! Anyway, since it was summer, she didn’t wear this adorable ladybug hat for the party, but I can promise it’ll be a staple all winter! Scroll down for my free ladybug hat knitting pattern!
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, 12 months and 2T+! Thank you for supporting Little Red Window!
Ladybug Hat Knitting Pattern
(12 month size, see PDF for other sizes)
Worsted weight yarn in red and black (need my advice on choosing yarn?)
US 7 16″ circular knitting needles
(If you need help, my favorite knitting reference book for everyone from beginners to advanced knitters is THIS ONE!)
Ladybug Hat Knitting Pattern Instructions
Using long-tail cast on, cast on 72 stitches onto your circular needles with the red yarn color. Join to knit in the round and knit 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches in a rib stitch for 5 rounds.
Knit all rows until the hat is about 5 inches long.
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.
The spots (make about 10):
Cast on 2 stitches
Row 1: Kfb, kfb
Row 2: Pfb, p2, pfb
Row 3: Knit all stitches
Row 4: P2tog, p2, p2tog
Row 5: K2tog, k2tog
Slip first stitch over second and off the needle, cut yarn and pull thru loop, leave a long tail to stitch the spot to the hat. Weave in the cast on edge on the back (purl) side. Finally, stitch each spot randomly to the hat using the long cast off tail.
The antennae (make 2):
Cast on 4 stitches onto a double pointed needle
Knit an icord for 5 rows
Split the 4 stitches onto double pointed needles to make the bobble on top
Round 1: Kfb all stitches (8 st)
Rounds 2-4: Knit all stitches
Round 5: K2tog 4 times (4 st)
Cut yarn, pull through loops to close, then thread that yarn onto a yarn needle and pull the yarn down though the center top of the bobble and out the bottom of the icord to make the bobble puff out. Cut and weave in that end. Use the long cast on tail to stitch each antenna to top of hat.
And that’s it! Your little ladybug hat is all finished! How cute does your little one look in it? If you make one, please share it with me, I love seeing your finished projects!!
The PDF printable also contains instructions for sizes 0-3, 12 months and 2T+! If you liked this, you may also like some of my other posts…
- Solid Rainbow Swirl Hat Knitting Pattern - March 17, 2025
- Learn to Knit – s2kp or s2kp2 (slip 2, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over) a centered double decrease - March 17, 2025
- Free Printable Knit & Crochet Yarn Labels - March 13, 2025
Audrey says
I’ve finally completed a knitting project! (at 50!).. an apple hat, and I’d like to move onto this ladybug hat. I’m thinking of doing a duplicate stitch for the dots. I love, LOVE the antennae with the bobbles… but I really can’t visualize one part… after the I-cord, “split the 4 stitches onto double pointed needles”… I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be doing.
Cassie May says
For the antennae, you’re going to change from knitting an icord which is basically flat knitting, to knitting in the round to make the bobble-y part on top. To knit in the round for those few rows you’ll need to use double pointed needles. You have 4 stitches from your icord on one needle so you need to transfer them from the 1 single needle to 3 or 4 needles. You can do 1, 1, 2 on 3 needles, or one on each of 4 needles. Then you will knit in the round with the DPN’s like you would any circular knitting. Does that make sense? Knitting anything small like this is bound to be a little fiddly, I know, but it’s worth it in the end, I think!
Hope that helps!