Knit this fun and magical hat for your favorite magical unicorn enthusiast with this cute unicorn hat knitting pattern!
Update February, 2024
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.
So who else is totally excited about the resurgence of Lisa Frank popularity? I love that it’s back and I also looove that she’s still true to her original style. That’s a strong brand!
I recently saw a video about her on facebook and apparently she’s pretty reclusive. They wouldn’t even show her face. For all I know, she’s my next door neighbor! (Ok, I no longer live in Tucson, so I guess she’s not…but maybe she was?!)
Anyway, you might be thinking, Cassie, why are you talking about an 80’s/90’s kids’ product style icon in a post about a unicorn hat knitting pattern? Well, for one thing, I have begun to suspect that most of you don’t actually read this part of my posts and just scroll down for the good stuff (it’s ok, I don’t mind…) so it’s partly a test, is anyone listening?
Who else is or was a Lisa Frank fan? But also, Lisa Frank is becoming popular again, and so are unicorns. So I had to make a cute little unicorn hat with rainbow mane and golden horn.
My rainbow mane is a pastel version, but you could use whatever colors you want! Scroll all the way down to find the pattern!
Magical Unicorn 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
Magical Unicorn Hat Knitting Pattern Supply List:
- Worsted weight yarn in white, pink, yellow, green, blue and purple (or 5 rainbow colors of your choice)
- US 7 (4.5 mm) 16″ circular knitting needles
- US 7 (4.5 mm) double pointed needles
- US 7 Straight needles (10″ or longer)
- Yarn needle
- Polyfill (optional)
(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!
Magical Unicorn Hat Knitting Pattern Instructions: (12 month size)
Using long-tail cast on, cast on 72 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 rounds until the hat is about 5 inches long.
Decrease (divide the stitches between 3 double pointed needles and knit with the 4th or use magic loop):
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.
To knit the mane you will need to know how to knit a loop stitch (knit loop), here’s how I do it:
Knit one stitch into the first stitch on the left needle but leave that stitch on the needle. Bring the yarn from the back to the front between the needles, wrap it around your left thumb and bring it back to the back of your work between the needles again. Then, keeping the loop on your thumb, knit a second stitch into that original stitch that’s still on your left needle. Drop that stitch off the left needle. Then slip the first stitch over the second and off the right needle (you can either do this using the left needle or your fingers).
Here’s a video tutorial of me doing the loop stitch:
//scripts.mediavine.com/videos/exqctooml913xdcugslt.js
To knit the mane, cast on 40 stitches with pink yarn on straight needles
Row 1: k1, knit 38 loops, k1
Row 2: purl all stitches
Switch to yellow yarn, repeat rows 1 & 2, then switch and repeat with green, blue and purple. After row 1 in purple, bind off instead of purling row 2.
Outer Ears (make 2):
Using double pointed needles as straight needles, cast on 10 stitches with the white yarn.
Rows 1-6: knit odd rows, purl even rows
Row 7: k2tog, k6, ssk
Rows 8-9: knit odd rows, purl even rows
Row 10: p2tog, p4, p2tog
Rows 11-12: knit odd rows, purl even rows
Row 13: k2tog, k2, ssk
Row 14: purl all stitches
Row 15: k2tog, k2tog
Row 16: p2tog
Cut yarn pull through loop to close. Weave in this end
Inner Ears (make 2):
Using double pointed needles as straight needles, cast on 6 stitches with the pink yarn.
Rows 1-6: knit odd rows, purl even rows
Row 7: k2tog, k2, ssk
Row 8: purl all stitches
Row 9: k2tog, ssk
Row 10: purl all stitches
Row 11: k2tog
Cut yarn pull through loop to close. Weave in this end
To knit the mane:
To knit the horn:
Cast on 12 stitches with the yellow yarn and either distribute them among double pointed needles or use magic loop method. Join to knit in the round.
Rounds 1-3: knit all stitches
Round 4: k10, k2tog (11 stitches remaining)
Rounds 5-6: knit all stitches
Round 7: k4, k2tog, k5 (10 st.)
Round 8: knit all stitches
Round 9: k8, k2tog (9 st.)
Round 10: knit all stitches
Round 11: k3, k2tog, k4 (8 st.)
Round 12: knit all stitches
Round 13: k6, k2tog (7 st.)
Round 14: K2, k2tog, k3 (6 st.)
Round 15: knit all stitches
Cut yarn, thread on needle and pull through loops to close. Weave in that end. Y
ou can stuff your unicorn horn with a little bit of polyfill or, because polyfill is white and occasionally shows through knitting, for something small like this, I’ll sometimes stuff it with some scraps of yarn of the same color!
To assemble the hat, use a long length of yarn to stitch the mane to the top center of the hat and down the back.
To make the ears, lay one pink inner ear, purl side DOWN on top of one white outer ear (which has purl side UP), use the long pink cast on tail of the inner ear to stitch them together. Be sure your stitches only catch purl loops on the white outer ear and do not show through to the back of the ear.
Then pinch the ear at the base and use the white cast on tail to put one stitch through the bottom to help it hold its shape.
Using that same cast on tail, stitch each ear securely to the hat on either side of the mane.
Finally, use the long cast-on tail from the horn to stitch it to the front of the hat just in front of the mane.
And that’s it, your unicorn hat is complete!
Knit this fun Magical Unicorn Hat with rainbow mane and golden horn using this easy and detailed knitting pattern! As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.Magical Unicorn Hat Knitting Pattern
Materials
Tools
Instructions
Recommended Products
If you liked this, you may also like some of my other posts…
Save
Save
Save
- 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
Beth says
Any chance you have a pattern for a diaper cover to match the unicorn hat?
Carolyn Dennis says
I made my 7year old grand daughter unicorn mittens for this winter. I have a lot of knitting to do so I have to start early. I know she would go crazy for this hat. I must say I do not want to make the mittens again. It took a whole evening to do the outside and then the inside of the ears, the horn was already knitted but had to be sewn on and sew on the ears. The main was done in rainbow with just straight yarn doubled and put through by a crochet hook. Then embroider the eyes. (I never use buttons on children’s items) This way one does not get lost and the 2 year old does not put them in her mouth. I have subscribed to get weekly news from you. This is my first time on your site. So far I love what I see but I also have a 12 year old grandson that I need patterns for, preferably 2 straight needles and always a knit pattern. Thank you for a lovely evening of reading.
Carolyn Dennis
Bethany says
Yesss! Lisa Frank! I remember driving (maybe to the airport) and seeing one of the walls of the Lisa Frank building that was all decked out. Love this pattern! Can’t wait to try it out!
Victoria says
How big is the 6 mth size? My baby’s head circumference is 16-1/2″ (but she is a tiny 10 mth old). What size should I get – the 6 mth size? or the 12 mth size? Thanks!
Cassie May says
I’d go for the 12 month size!
Carla says
HOW do you knit in the round with only 64 stitches on 16″ circular needles?!? My stitches are pulled so tight I can’t work. I switched to double pointed needles but I get a gap between each needle. Help.
Cassie May says
Hi Carla,
It sounds like you might be a tight knitter. I would suggest going down to 12″ circular needles. I don’t have a problem doing 64 stitches on 16″ needles, so you might also want to check your gauge to make sure your hat isn’t going to come out too small. Hope that helps! 🙂
Monica says
I was a HUGE Lisa Frank fan back in the early 90s. I would love to go to WalMart and see what new stuff they had in. I loved it so much that I still had a couple of stationary sets that I had only used a couple of pieces from because I didn’t want to waste it! Now I follow the company on facebook and cannot believe it still rocks.
I think I would make this a bit more Lisa Frank-esque by using some VIBRANT, bold colors. Maybe even a multi-tone yarn for the hat. Gah I love this!!!
Katina Prescott says
Adorable! Any suggestions for sizing it up? My 9 & 8 year old kids would love these (and maybe even their dad who ears an 81/2 hat 😉 )
by the by – I loved Lisa Frank in the 90s – I didn’t realize it was one person, always assumed it was a big company with lots of artists.
Cassie May says
You’ve got to google and find this interview with her, it’s fascinating! She’s so mysterious! To size up, I would recommend adding 8 more stitches to the 2T size for your kids. And then making the hat a little taller. That size will fit my 7 year old and he has a huge head. You would probably also want to add a few extra stitches to the mane to make it a little longer! Happy knitting!
Courtney Doyle says
Hi there — I’m a relatively new knitter — if I go up 8 stitches how do I handle the decreases?
I want to make this for a 3 year old.
Cassie May says
You do the decreases the same as they are written, you’ll just repeat the part in parenthesis one extra time per row!