Looking for the best Free Hat Knitting Patterns to keep your ears toasty warm this winter? Look no further! Here are 25 FANTASTIC & FREE Hat Knitting Patterns to keep your hands busy and your head cozy:
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This post is all about Free Hat Knitting Patterns. Nothing keeps the fear of cold weather at bay like a small basket by the front door filled with warm, woolen, hand knit hats. Hats provide us with a practical knit and a great opportunity to practise new techniques on a small scale. Fancy trying your hand at a cable or some delicate lace? You’ve come to the right place! Thank you for being here. Happy Hat Knitting!
Cable Hat Knitting Patterns
Afraid of Cables Hat
The Afraid of Cables Hat by Brenda Castiel is a fabulous cable pattern for the cable beginner that begins with a rib stitch brim and then a garter stitch body. Using a 16″ circular needle or Double Pointed Needles (DPNs), knit in the round for 8″ before beginning to decrease (note, if you begin with a circular needle, you will need to switch over to DPNs once you have too few stitches on your needle).
Designer Brenda Castiel offers a very detailed pattern, and provides her email address at the end in case you are in need of additional support. You knit the Afraid of Cables Hat using Bulky Weight Yarn and size 10.5 knitting needles.
Brenda Castiel designed the Afraid of Cables Hat using Knit Picks Biggo in colorway Tansy Heather:
For additional cable and bulky weight hat pattern options, consider these FREE Beanie Knitting Patterns by Knit Picks Designers Joyce Fassbender and Jenny Konopinski:
Tied Knots
The Tied Knots pattern by Justyna Lorkowska recommends a German Twisted cast on or Tubular cast on. It is knit in the round on smaller needles, before you switch to larger needles for the body.
Designer Justyna Lorkowska provides a chart to complete the cablework, as well as one to shape the crown of the hat at the end. Justyna also provides an email address for pattern support, should you need it.
You will knit the Tied Knots using DK Weight Yarn. Justyna features the yarn Martin’s Lab Tibetan DK (60% merino, 20% yak, 20% silk) in colorway “Seashells” but she also recommends The Yarn Collective Bloomsbury DK as an option from LoveCrafts. Want to knit a sweater min the same colorway? Consider The Yarn Collective Bloomsbury DK Value Pack:
Justyna’s exquisite pattern shop also includes the FREE colorwork knitting pattern Mindcraft:
More Cable Hat Knitting Patterns
Beginner’s Cable Hat
by Purl Soho
The Beginner’s Cable Hat by Purl Soho is another beautiful (and FREE) pattern for the beginner cable knitter. Purl Soho begins by explaining that “the big cable secret is really just switching up the stitch order. You slip a stitch or two onto a cable stitch holder, work a stitch or two from the working needle, then knit the original stitches off the holder.”
The Beginner’s Cable Hat is sized from Infants through to Adult Large. It is knit with Purl Soho Super Soft Merino yarn which comes in a multitude of gorgeous colors. Consider Knit Picks Swish Bulky Yarn for additional color options:
For even more stunning Cable Hat Knitting Patterns, check out the Antler Toque and Northward by Tin Can Knits:
In need of cable needles? Consider Knit Picks Radiant Wood Cable Needles and Cable Knitting Needles by Knit Picks Design Team:
Lace Hat Knitting Patterns
Seaforth Hat in Malabrigo Rios
by Malabrigo
Are you as in love with knitted lace as I am? The Seaforth Hat in Malabrigo Rios by Malabrigo is a wonderful knit for someone new to lace knitting, or for the advanced knitter looking for something quick to complete.
The Seaforth Hat uses a lace pattern that runs over just 4 rounds. After a short ribbed brim, you will knit these 4 rounds 10 times before you begin to decrease for the crown. Want a slouchier beanie? Repeat the lace pattern until you reach your desired length.
The Seaforth Hat is designed using Malabrigo Rios (100% Merino) which is a stunning kettle dyed yarn that comes in dozens of gorgeous shades:
For additional FREE Lace Hat Knitting Patterns, consider Alonni Hat by Jem Arrowsmith and Plume by IsolaHandmade:
Slouchy Hat Knitting Patterns
Sockhead Slouch Hat
With over 25,000 projects on Ravelry, the seamless, unisex Sockhead Slouch Hat by Kelly McClure is hands down one of the most popular Slouchy Hat Knitting Patterns available today! The Sockhead Slouch Hat is sized for Babies through to Adult Size Extra Large.
The Sockhead Slouch Hat begins with a wide brim that folds up to create extra warmth over your ears. It’s knit with a small circular needle and switches to DPNs once the crown decreases begin.
The Sockhead Slouch Hat is knit from fingering weight yarn and Kelly warns us that there is A LOT of stockinette stitch to knit, making for great TV or zen knitting! Kelly knit the hat above using Misti Alpaca Hand Paint Sock Yarn in colorway: Miriam. For additional colorway options, consider Koigu Painters Palette Premium Merino :
For additional Sloucy Beanie Hat Knitting Patterns, consider Super Slouch Knitting Pattern by Athena Knits and Simple Slouchy Hat by Susan Mills:
More Slouchy Hat Knitting Patterns
Alux Slouch Hat
The Alux Slouch Hat by Stana D. Sortor is a beautifully textured slouch beanie that would look fabulous with or without a pom pom. It is designed for a head circumference between 16 and 20 inches.
The Alux Slouch Hat is knit in the round on a small circular needle or DPNs. Stana D. Sortor features the “Bramble” stitch on the body of the hat and charts it carefully in the pattern. For pattern support, Stana D. Sortor also includes an email address where you can direct your questions.
The Alux Slouch Hat was originally designed with Knit Picks Alux which has been discontinued. 2 fabulous substitutes include Hawthorne Fingering Kettle Dye and Gloss Fingering:
For two more fabulous Slouchy Hat Knitting Patterns, consider Waves of Color Hat by Victoria Gurbisz and Beinn Hat by Luise O’Neill:
Mens Hat Knitting Patterns
Men’s Basic Hat and Scarf Set
by Caron
The Men’s Basic Hat and Scarf Set by Caron is the most popular Men’s Hat Knitting Pattern on LoveCrafts. It comes in one size and is designed to fit the average man’s head.
The Men’s Basic Hat is designed to suit the beginner knitter. It’s designed as a flat knit hat but could be knit in the round if you prefer. You begin with 6 inches of ribbing before switching to larger needles to complete the body and crown.
The Men’s Basic Hat uses less than 1 skein of Caron Simply Soft Heathers in colorway Charcoal Heather while the matching scarf uses less than 2. For additional color choices consider Cascade Yarns 220 Merino:
For even more Mens Hat Knitting Patterns check out David’s hat by Linda Moorhouse and Men’s Basic Hat & Scarf in Caron United by Caron:
Easy Beanie Knitting Patterns
Barley Light
The Barley Light by one of my favorite knitwear designers, Tin Can Knits, is another incredibly popular FREE Hat Knitting Pattern on both LoveCrafts and Ravelry. Tin Can Knits describes the Barley Light as a modern, funky first hat.
The Barley Light pattern will walk you carefully through each step and Tin Can Knits even provides a tutorial link to provide you with extra support if needed! The hat is sized for Baby through to Adult Large and will fit a head 16 – 23″ around.
Knit the Barley Light in the round from brim to crown, beginning with a short rib knit section. Tin Can Knits designed Barley Light with BFL Fingering Yarn from The Uncommon Thread. Other great yarns for this pattern include Dream in Color BFL Sock with Nylon and Cascade Heritage Solids:
For more delicious Easy Beanie Knitting Patterns check out Enea Hat Knitting Pattern by Imke von Nathusius and Basic Beginner Hats for the Family by Vanessa Ewing:
EASY PEASY Beanie
The EASY PEASY Beanie by Anna-Larina Riedel is a unisex pattern that begins with a provisional cast on. You then knit 60 rounds from the brim using Bulky Weight Yarn before you begin to decrease for the crown.
The EASY PEASY Beanie is customizable if you want a wider brim or a slouchier option – simply knit more than 60 rounds until you reach your desired length. Anna-Larina Riedel recommends an Alpaca-Nylon blend yarn and I love Knit Picks Wonderfluff. Another great Bulky Weight Yarn option is Knit Picks Biggo:
Another gorgeous Easy Beanie Knitting Pattern is the Timeless Hat & Hand Warmers by Purl Soho:
A Year of FREE Hat Knitting Patterns
On the look out for a Hat Knitting Challenge? Kelbourne Woolens has you (and your ears) covered with their “Hat of the Month” Collection of FREE and breathtaking patterns!
For each month of the year, dive into another delightful pattern and learn new skills and techniques along the way!
Kelbourne Germantown yarn is an icon in the yarn industry. It was established in Philadelphia in the early 1800s. Germantown yarn is made in the US using 100% US grown wool
This post was all about FREE Hat Knitting Patterns. Leave a comment below letting us know whether you’ve completed one of the patterns above and what your experience was.
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