Knit this cute polar bear hat with my free knitting pattern and keep your little one warm this winter! 
You guys, this one turned out so darn cute. I love that my little polar bear looks a little serious. (But hey, if you want a smiley polar bear hat, just turn up his mouth a little bit) Anyway, Baby V looks adorable in her polar bear hat and it’s been a big hit with the moms at school pickup. Although I’m one of the few 1st grade parents who also has a baby, mostly they have older kids, so she gets oogled an awful lot anyway, lots of half, “oh she’s so adorable, I miss babies!” and half “I’m so glad to be done with the baby stage!” looks, ha! I feel ya, moms. Having your kids 5 years apart definitely has its pluses and minuses! But back to the hat, this one is a great hat for beginners. A little more challenging than my Baby Bear Hat but not too difficult that a beginner can’t make one. And have I mentioned that they make excellent gifts? Scroll all the way down for the free pattern and get knitting!
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 you can purchase an upgraded PDF pattern that is ad-free and easy to print in just one or two nicely formatted pages. The PDF printable also contains instructions for additional sizes including 0-3 months, 6 months, 12 months and 2T+! You can purchase the PDF patterns either via Etsy or Ravelry. There is a very small fee for the PDF version and this helps me keep Little Red Window running! Thank you so much for loving my patterns!
-The PDF is an optional upgrade, keep scrolling down for the free version-
Little Polar Bear Hat Knitting Pattern (6 mo. size, see PDF for other sizes)
This pattern is copyright Little Red Window Design 2017 and is intended for personal use. You may not not distribute, reproduce or sell this pattern either physically or digitally.Gauge: 20 st. = 4 inches
Worsted weight yarn in white and charcoal or black
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!)
Using long-tail cast on, cast on 64 stitches onto your circular needles with the white yarn color. Join to knit in the round and k1, p1 in a rib stitch for 5 rounds.
Knit all rows until the hat is about 4 1/2 inches long.
Decrease (distribute your stitches onto 3 double pointed needles and knit with the fourth):
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: Knit all stitches
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.
White Outer Ear (make 2):
Using double pointed needles as straight needles, cast on 8 stitches with white yarn, leave a long cast-on tail to attach the ear to the hat.
Rows 1-6: knit odd rows, purl even rows
Row 7: k2tog, k4, ssk
Row 8: purl all stitches
Row 9: k2tog, k2, ssk
Bind off, weave in this end.
Black Inner Ear (make 2):
Using double pointed needles as straight needles, cast on 5 stitches with black yarn, leave a long cast-on tail to attach the inner ear to the outer ear.
Rows 1-6: knit odd rows, purl even rows
Row 7: k2tog, k1, ssk
Bind off, weave in this end.
Nose:
Using double pointed needles as straight needles, cast on 6 stitches with black yarn, leave a long cast-on tail to attach the nose to the hat.
Row 1: kfb, k4, kfb
Row 2-3: knit all stitches
Row 4: k2tog, k4, ssk
Row 5: k2tog, k2, ssk
Bind off, weave in this end.
To assemble the hat:
To assemble the ears, lay one white outer ear wrong (purl) side up and put one black inner ear, wrong (purl) side down on top, the black part should be slightly smaller. Use the long cast on tail from the black inner ear to carefully whipstitch the inner ear to the outer ear, making sure your stitches don’t show through to the other side. Repeat with the other ear. 
Then use the long cast on tail from the white outer ears to securely stitch the assembled ears to the top of the hat. 
Thread the long cast-on tail from the nose onto a yarn needle and use that to stitch the nose securely to the front center of the hat.
Finally, thread a length of black yarn on a yarn needle and use it to stitch the mouth and eyes as shown. Make sure your stitches aren’t too tight or they will pull when the hat stretches. Knot and weave in ends inside the hat. 
Show hat to adorable helper and see what she thinks (optional). 
And that’s it, enjoy your Polar Bear Hat!
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