Knit your little one a sweet rainBOW baby hat including rainbow band and bow with this adorable knitting pattern!
Updated 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.
Well, I don’t know if you saw them, but it turns out my Bow Baby Hats are becoming really popular! So that’s kind of exciting!
I love seeing other people’s versions on Ravelry. And that totally got me started on a hat making kick. I mean, the adorable model I happen to have on hand at the moment doesn’t hurt.
Got to make hay while the sun shines…or while the baby is still a baby! Am I right? Anyway, after the Bow Hat and the Bow Headband, I knit up a sweet and fun Rainbow baby hat that I just love.
It makes me laugh and smile every time I see her wearing it. But I still had kind of a lot of the rainbow yarn left.
So I thought, why not combine the two patterns and make a RainBOW baby hat? Wouldn’t that be adorable? (Spoiler alert: it is!)
So here you go, here’s Baby V in her RainBOW baby hat. Enjoy and don’t forget to share your versions!
RainBOW Baby 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
- Worsted weight yarn in gray
- Worsted weight yarn in 7 rainbow colors
- US 7 (4.5 mm) 16″ circular knitting needles
- US 7 (4.5 mm) double pointed needles
- Yarn needle
(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!
RainBOW Baby Hat Knitting Pattern Instructions
Sizes: 12 months (see PDF for additional sizes)
Using long-tail cast on, cast on 72 stitches onto your circular needles with the gray yarn color. Join to knit in the round and knit 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches in a rib stitch for 5 rounds.
Stay with main gray color and knit 2 rounds.
Switch to pink/red yarn and knit for one round.
Repeat for one round each with the remaining six rainbow colors: orange, yellow, green, light blue, dark blue, purple.
Switch back to the gray yarn and knit until the hat is about 5 inches long.
Decrease: (divide stitches between 3 double pointed needles or use magic loop)
Round 1: (k6, k2tog) 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: K2tog and repeat to the end of the round.
Cut yarn, pull through loops and close. Weave in ends.
To make the bow:
Cast on 14 stitches with pink/red yarn.
Row 1: Knit all stitches with pink/red yarn
Rows 2-11: knit two rows each with orange, yellow, green, light blue, and dark blue yarns in order.
Row 12: Knit one row with purple yarn.
Row 13: Bind off with purple yarn.
Weave in all the ends.
Starting a bit left of center, wind a bit of pink yarn around the bow several times and knot in the back and trim the ends. Repeat with orange and yellow next to it. When you get to green, tie in the back but leave a long tail of yarn to attach the bow to the hat. Then repeat wind, knot & trim ends with the light blue, dark blue and purple yarns. Use the green yarn tail to securely stitch the bow to the hat. Make sure to attach it very well as this is an item for babies.
RainBOW Baby Hat Knitting Pattern
This fun and colorful RainBOW baby hat knitting pattern with rainbow band and bow is quick and easy to knit and includes instructions in four sizes!
Instructions
- Knit the 12 month size with the free pattern above
- OR download the easy to print pdf pattern with instructions for 4 sizes: CLICK HERE
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Lion Brand Yarn 860-405G Vanna's Choice Yarn, Silver Heather -
Lion Brand BonBons Yarn Pack Brights, Brights
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ChiaoGoo Circular 16-inch (41cm) Bamboo Dark Patina Knitting Needle; Size US 7 (4.5mm) 2016-7
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ChiaoGoo 6-Inch Double Point Knitting Needles, 7/4.5mm, Set of 5
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Lion Brand Yarn 400-5-5002 Large-Eye Blunt Needles, Set of 6
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Penta Angel 4.1inch Sewing Scissors Yarn Thread Cutter Mini Small Snips Trimming Nipper - Great for Stitch,DIY Supplies (3PCS, Multicolor)
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ellisen says
Delightful baby hat. Thanks so much for sharing.
Cam says
I’m doing a variation on this for my grange’s exhibit at a local fair! The theme is ‘birds and bees,’ so I’m replacing the bow with a flower and changing the colors a bit. It’s adorable so far. Thank you so much!
Gina says
This is too cute… I needed something cute and foolproof today (that I also had the right size yarn/needles for. My trials and errors have been more errors lately. Thank you!
Diana says
Hi Cassie,
Adorable little hat. I have a question, could the instructions apply for regular needles – non circular. I have never used circular needles.
Thanks,
diana
Cassie May says
Hopefully you got my email reply, but for anyone else wondering, no, you cannot use straight needles for this pattern, it is designed to be knit in the round which requires circular needles. You could use double pointed needles for the entire thing if you are familiar with those though!
Carla Kepler says
Your instructions are so well done! And the hat is beautiful. Thank you for sharing your pattern. I’ll be using it to add hats to the sleep sacks I make for the Pine Ridge Reservation Indian Health Service Hospital in South Dakota.
Linda says
Absolutely love this for our hospital baby hat project, thanks for generously sharing! And your model is adorable.
Cassie May says
wonderful! I’d love to see a picture of them all together!