Over the Rainbow Hat Knitting Pattern

Knit up this adorable Over the Rainbow Hat with my newest knitting pattern, it has a cute rainbow on top and cute fluffy cloud earflaps!

If you’ve been here for a while you might be thinking, Cassie, don’t you have enough rainbow hats? Well, the answer is no. I am a child of the 80’s, there are NEVER enough rainbow hats! But in all seriousness I think this one is my favorite. Although it’s a close call, my rainBOW hat is awfully cute and the Rainbow Skies hat is pretty fun too. So you tell me, which is your favorite?

Anyway, it seems appropriate to share now since St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner. And you know, St. Patrick’s Day, leprechauns, rainbows, springtime… But it’s still chilly so the super soft and fluffy cloud earflpas on this hat are not only hilariously adorable, they’re also practical. And today I’m sharing the pattern with you free in one size! Scroll all the way down!

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!

Over the Rainbow Hat Knitting Pattern

(6 mo. size, see PDF upgrade for other sizes)

Gauge: 20 st. = 4 inches

Worsted weight yarn in light blue

Scraps of worsted weight yarn in rainbow colors (pink/red, orange, yellow, green, light blue, dark blue and purple)

Bernat Pipsqueak yarn in white (or other fluffy chenille or eyelash yarn)

US 7 16″ circular knitting needles

US 7 double pointed needles

Yarn needle

(If you need help, my favorite knitting reference book for everyone from beginners to advanced knitters is THIS ONE!)

Over the Rainbow Hat Knitting Pattern Instructions

Using long-tail cast on, cast on 64 stitches onto your circular needles with the light blue 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 (divide your stitches evenly between 3 double pointed needles (24 stitches, 24 stitches, 16 stitches) 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 to the end of the 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.

To make the rainbow (knit flat): The length of your rainbow will depend on your gauge and tension etc. I would suggest to cast on approximately 42 stitches for the 6 month size hat.

Using your circular needles as straight needles, cast on 42 stitches (or whatever number you need to make the rainbow stretch from ear to ear) with pink yarn. Knit one row pink. Switch to orange yarn and knit 2 rows. Repeat with yellow, green, light blue, and dark blue, knitting 2 rows of each. Switch to purple yarn and knit one row. Then bind off in purple. Leave a long cast on tail and a long tail at the end to stitch the rainbow to the hat. Weave in all other ends.

Use the pink cast on and purple cast off tails to stitch the rainbow across the top of the hat from ear to ear.

To make the clouds (make 2):

Using your double pointed needles as straight needles, cast on 3 stitches with the fluffy yarn.

Row 1: kfb, k1, kfb

Row 2: kfb, k4

Row 3: kfb, k4, kfb

Rows 4-5: knit all

Row 6: k2tog, k6

Row 7: k5, k2tog

Row 8: k2tog, k4,

Row 9: k4, kfb

Row 10: kfb, k3, k2tog

Row 11: k2tog, k3, kfb

Row 12: kfb, k4, kfb

Row 13: k7, kfb

Row 14: kfb, k7, kfb

Row 15: k10, kfb

Row 16: knit all

Row 17: k10, k2tog

Row 18: k2tog, k7, k2tog

Row 19: k7, k2tog

Row 20: k2tog, k4, k2tog

Row 21: kfb, k3, k2tog

Row 22: k2tog, k3, kfb

Row 23: k4, k2tog

Row 24: kfb, k4

Row 25: k5, kfb

Row 26: kfb, k6

Rows 27-28: knit all

Row 29: k2tog, k4, k2tog

Row 30: k2og, k4

Row 31: k2tog, k1, k2tog

Bind off. Leave a long tail to stitch the cloud to the hat and weave in the other end. Repeat to make other cloud, then stitch the clouds to the hat at the ends of the rainbow with the cast of tail. The should hang down past the brim of the hat to act as earflaps!

I know this is a photo heavy post, if you’d like a nicely formatted easy to print version with lots more sizes options, come get your copy for just a couple dollars!

If you liked this, you may also like some of my other posts…

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Cassie May

Craft and Knitwear Designer at Little Red Window Design

Welcome to Little Red Window! I’m Cassie, a professional craft and knitwear designer working in the field for more than 10 years. I have a degree in Art History from Northwestern University and a Master's Degree in Architecture and Design from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. I've designed more than 300 separate knitting patterns, hundreds of craft projects, and I love to bring joy to your crafts and knitting with well-designed, easy to understand tutorials and patterns.

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