Knitting Christmas Hats for the Kids

Knitting Christmas Hats

For the Kids

knitting xmas hats

When fall rolls around, I dig out my red, white and green yarn and start knitting Christmas hats for my grandchildren. I like to have them done by Thanksgiving so they can wear them the entire Christmas season.

The hats that I am knitting this year each feature a double knit brim and fair isle knitting. I love a double brim because it keeps their ears nice and warm.

Read on for the free pattern!

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Skill Level → Intermediate with knowledge of fair isle knitting

Skills to know ↓

Need help? Check out this great book

Yarn

When knitting Christmas hats for the kids, I like to use Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn in red, white and green.

From me to you → a coupon from Hobby Lobby that does not expire

Plymouth Encore Yarn

I also like Plymouth Encore Yarn in red, white and green. It’s a great wool and acrylic blend that adds warmth and oomph to your hats.

Needles

Knitpicks Caspian Options Short Interchangeable Circular Set

Size 7 and 8 needles with a 16″ cord and a gauge of 18 stitches per 4 inches for the Malabrigo yarn. Check your gauge!

Note: I am a very loose knitter and so I used size 4 and 5 needles to get this gauge. Gauge is very important!

Product Image

Knitpicks: What Needles are right for you?

A Note About Fair Isle Knitting

I have learned everything I know about fair isle knitting from this book – 200 Fair Isle Motifs by Mary Jane Mucklestone. Nearly every fair isle project I knit incorporates charts from this book. Every fair isle technique I have learned has come from this book. If you are going to attempt fair isle knitting for the first time, or if you are experienced in this knitting technique, either way this book is essential in my opinion.

Knitpicks says it best: 200 Fair Isle Motifs is a knitter’s directory. Each motif is designed to inspire, the style of the charts is easy to ready. The layout of the book means that, whether are looking for a combination of motifs or just one to use as a focal point of a garment, you will find numerous possibilities. The directory is organized by row and stitch count. It includes stunning, actual-size photography, a back and white chart, a color chart, a color variation chart , and a suggested all-over repeat chart for each of the 200 motifs. A must have book for any knitter with a love for fair isle knitting.

Pattern

Assuming Aran weight yarn, 4″ = 18 stitches: Gauge is important! Swatch first or it may not fit.

For sizes child/teen/adult:

For a hat with a fair isle brim, choose the chart you want to use and cast on the closest number of stitches (64/80/88) that will accommodate the chart.

With size 7 needle cast-on 64/80/88 stitches (or the number needed to knit a chart). Place marker and join.

Double Brim

First you will knit the inside lining of the double brim.

Knitting in the round, work approximately 2/2.5/2.75”

Purl 1 row.

Change to US 8 circular needle and work in stockinette until the same depth as lining.

If you like, knit any chart: (here is an example). The hat was for a 1 year old and the diresctions say to cast on 64 stitches. I incorporated this chart into the brim so I needed a number divisible by 6, so instead I cast on 66 stitches. I knit 4 rows, knit the chart, then knit 4 more rows to match the length of the lining.

earflap chart

Join the Lining of the Brim

Stop! At this point, before joining the cast on edge to the live stitches, you have to weave in the ends. Once the double brim is finished you will never see the inside of that brim again.

Now continue:

Pick up 64/80/88 stitches from the original cast on with the smaller needle. Join to main body of the hat by knitting one stitch off of each of the left needles.

: Lining is finished and so is brim

: turn hat over so cast on edge is on top and pick up stitches

: all stitches are picked up from cast on edge. Live stitches at top

: fold the lining of the brim to the inside

: knit one stitch from the brim and one stitch from the lining together and continue until all stitches are knit and lining needles are done

: Begin the body of the hat

Now begin the body of the hat.

Knit 2 rows

Increase by 4-6 stitches to get to the number of stitches you need to knit a chart. If you don’t want a chart at this point, then increase by 4 stitches.

If knitting a chart: change to needles one size up from the one you are using and knit 1 more row.

Knit any chart… or not, your choice! Knitting is very creative and you can customize your work by incorporating fair isle charts into your knitting if you like.

Continue knitting until the hat measures 6/7/7.5” from folded edge.

Shape Crown

Note: Change to double pointed needles when there are no longer enough stitches to work on circular needle.
Decrease Round: K8/9, K2tog
Straight round: K

Continue decreasing every other round until 8 stitches remain. Pull tail through remaining stitches to secure and weave in all ends.

Pompom – Optional but fun

If you like a faux fur pompom try here: Etsy: faux fur pompoms

It is also fun to make your own yarn pompoms. I like to use the Knitpicks Clover Pompom Maker. For help use this guide.

I hope you enjoy knitting this fun hat!

: Cast on 64 stitches. Used a white lining and switched to red for outside. Used YO’s to see through to white brim

: Double Brim Fair Isle Hat

: Cast on 70 stitches. Used 5 stitch chart from 200 Fair Isle Motifs

: Cast on 64 stitches and used 4 stitch chart.

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