This adorable tennis ball hat knitting pattern will serve up a lot of smiles for your baby or toddler! It’s LOVE – LOVE!
I have to warn you friends, I played tennis for a long time. So be prepared for me to serve up a lot of tennis puns during this post. I can feel them coming!
I don’t know why it took me so long to share this adorable tennis ball hat knitting pattern. This one really is an Ace! And look at how teeny Baby V was! Actually, I do know why. It’s because tennis ball green is possibly the most difficult color to photograph ever. And I really didn’t want to double fault on this one. (ha, that’s pun #4 already.)
I think I got it to look pretty accurate. But thank goodness for Photoshop! Now it’s a grand slam! I really need to stop.
Let’s talk about this cute sports baby hat knitting pattern. This cute pattern is a quick and easy knit (advantage: me!) and then you embroider the distinctive tennis ball stitching after the hat is complete. By biggest tip for doing this is to make sure your stitches aren’t too tight because the hat does need to stretch, you don’t want to have to call a Let!
If you knit a tennis ball hat, please share it with me! Ready? Let’s volley!
Tennis Ball Hat Knitting Pattern
(includes Sizes 0-3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 2T+)
Gauge: 20 stitches = 4 inches
- Worsted weight yarn in tennis ball green and white
- 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!)
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!
Tennis Ball Hat Knitting Pattern Instructions (6 month size)
Using long-tail cast on, cast on 64 stitches onto your circular needles with green yarn. Join to knit in the round and k1, p1 in a rib stitch for
5 rounds. Continue on knitting all rounds until the hat is about 4.5 inches long.
Decrease (divide your stitches evenly 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) 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
Round 7: (k3, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round
Round 8: knit all stitches
Round 9: (k2, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round
Round 10: knit all stitches
Round 11: (k1, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round
Round 12: k2tog and repeat to the end of the round
Cut yarn, thread through loops and pull to close. Weave in ends.
To add the stitching:
Lay your completed hat out flat. Thread some white yarn on a yarn needle and use it to baste two lines of large stitches to mark where your tennis ball stitching goes. Do this as shown on both the front and back of the hat
Do not knot or weave in the ends, these are temporary stitches. (It may help to look at an actual tennis ball!) You can also use a disappearing ink fabric pen to mark the stitching lines, if you prefer.
Then thread another length of white yarn on your yarn needle and sew along this line with a backstitch (removing the basting stitches as you go) to make the stitching on the tennis ball.
Repeat with the other line of stitching. Make sure your stitches are relatively loose so that the hat can stretch!
Weave in all ends.
That’s it! Game, Set, Match! Tennis puns are finished!
Happy Knitting!
If you liked this, you may also like some of my other posts…
- 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
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