These little hats make a great stash-busting project that gives back to the community at the same time.Now available as a free pdf!
Download through Ravelry!
Materials:
Small amounts of sport-weight soft, washable yarn in pastels, or colors of your choice
US3 (3.25mm) double-pointed needles
Tapestry needle
Gauge:
6.5 to 7 sts = 1in (2.54cm), depending on your yarn
A slightly different gauge will give you a slightly smaller or larger hat, but all baby heads are different anyway.
Finished Size:
11-12in (28-30.5cm) in circumference
Click here for Abbreviations
Pattern:
CO 72 sts and distribute to dpns. Join, being careful not to twist.
Work k2, p2 ribbing for 6 rnds.
Eyelet Version Only:
Rnds 1-3: knit.
Rnd 4: *k1, k2tog, yo, k3*; rep between *s around.
Rnds 5-7: knit.
Rnd 8: *k4, k2tog, yo*; rep between *s around.
Rep Rnds 1-8 twice more.
Continue to Crown Shaping below.
Heart Version Only:
Rnds 1-3: knit.
Rnd 4: *k6, p1, k5*; rep between *s around.
Rnd 5: *k5, [p1, k1] twice, k3*; rep between *s around.
Rnd 6: *k4, [p1, k1] three times, k2*; rep between *s around.
Rnds 7, 9, 11: *k3, [p1, k1] four times, k1*; rep between *s around.
Rnds 8, 10: *k2, [p1, k1] five times*; rep between *s around.
Rnd 12: *k4, [p1, k3] twice*; rep between *s around.
Knit 12 more rnds.
Continue to Crown Shaping below.
Diamond Version Only:
Rnds 1-3: knit.
Rnds 4, 12: *k6, p1, k5*; rep between *s around.
Rnds 5, 11: *k5, p1, k1, p1, k4*; rep between *s around.
Rnds 6, 10: *k4, p1, k3, p1, k3*; rep between *s around.
Rnds 7, 9: *k3, p1, k5, p1, k2*; rep between *s around.
Rnd 8: *k2, p1, k7, p1, k1*; rep between *s around.
Knit 12 more rnds.
Continue to Crown Shaping below.
Crown Shaping (Eyelet, Heart and Diamond Versions):
Rnd 1 and all odd rnds: knit.
Rnd 2: *k4, k2tog*; rep between *s around - 60 sts.
Rnd 4: *k3, k2tog*; rep between *s around - 48 sts.
Rnd 6: *k2, k2tog*; rep between *s around - 36 sts.
Rnd 8: *k1, k2tog*; rep between *s around - 24 sts.
Rnd 10: k2tog around - 12 sts.
Knit one more rnd even.
Cut tail and thread through remaining loops. Pull tight and tie off. Weave in ends.
Striped Version Only:
CO 72 sts with color A and distribute to dpns. Join, being careful not to twist.
Work k2, p2 ribbing for 6 rnds.
Switch to color B, without cutting color A. Knit two rnds with color B.
Switch back to color A, without cutting color B, by twisting the two strands behind work. Knit two rnds with color A.
Continue in stst, changing colors every two rnds, for 24 rnds above ribbing.
Follow crown shaping as above, but continue to change color every two rnds.
Ribbed Version Only:
CO 72 sts and distribute to dpns. Join, being careful not to twist.
Work k2, p2 ribbing for 30 rnds.
Crown Shaping (Ribbed Version):
Rnd 1: *k2, p2, k2, p2tog*; rep between *s around - 63 sts.
Rnd 2: *k2, p2, k2, p1*; rep between *s around.
Rnd 3: *k2, p2, k1, p2tog*; rep between *s around - 54 sts.
Rnd 4: *k2, p2, k1, p1*; rep between *s around.
Rnd 5: *k2, p2, p2tog*; rep between *s around - 45 sts.
Rnd 6: *k2, p3*; rep between *s around.
Rnd 7: *k2, p1, p2tog*; rep between *s around - 36 sts.
Rnd 8: *k2, p2*; rep between *s around.
Rnd 9: *k2tog, p2tog*; rep between *s around - 18 sts.
Rnd 10: *k1, p1*; rep between *s around.
Rnd 11: k2tog around - 9 sts.
Cut tail and thread through remaining loops. Pull tight and tie off. Weave in ends.
Feel free to comment here with questions.
This pattern is intended for personal use only. Please do not try to sell it or any product made from it. Thank you.
Cute, Cute, Cute! I love these preemie hat patterns. Thanks so much for sharing them. I've finished my first one and there will be more to come. I love knitting for the preemies and these hats will go to a NICU unit that I donate to.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like them. I'd love to see pictures of your versions if possible.
ReplyDeleteI'll take pictures before I mail the off and let you know when they're up on my blog. :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThese are just wonderful! Thank you for sharing your great work!
ReplyDeleteChe
You're welcome. Let me know if you make any; I'd love to see pictures.
ReplyDeleteI think some of the pattern is missing. I am knitting the eyelet hat and it doesn't seem to be complete. Am I missing something?
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the patterns regardless! Thank you for posting them
The crown shaping for the eyelet, heart and diamond versions is the same, so I just put it at the end of those versions. I've edited the pattern to clarify that.
ReplyDeleteIs that what you were missing?
I think what I was missing was how many more rows to knit after I do the initial 8 rows or the eyelet pattern.
ReplyDeleteOops! Yes, you're right. I had left that bit out. The 8 eyelet-pattern rounds are repeated twice more before starting the crown shaping.
ReplyDeleteI finished my first eyelet hat last night. Thanks for clarifying the eyelet repeat. I looked at the picture and just guessed! It turned out pretty cute! I am now in the process of making matching booties to send to "The Preemie Project" and they donate to a NICU in Iowa!
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to say thanks for writing these out. I am in a bit of a panic in that I have to knit for at least six new babies. I was wondering where to find a pattern - and here they are! Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteThe patterns are great, thank you, but I have just started knitting the diamond pattern and it is the heart pattern. I think they are the wrong way around ;)
ReplyDeleteOops! You're right. Sorry about that.
ReplyDeleteThanks for pointing it out. It has been fixed.
These are the best little premmie patterns I have found. Thanks for sharing them. Happy knitting
ReplyDeleteKind regards Lynne
Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI was tickled to see your patterns. It is good to have something different. Can't wait to try your patterns..thank u
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome!
ReplyDeletethose are all great patterns. my knit group at work just gave away over 100 preemie items to a hospital in chicago.
ReplyDeletefor our next go round, i'd love to use your patterns. i just sent my group your link. thanks for sharing!!
100? Wow! I'm sure the babies would thank you if they could.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm honored you want to use my patterns. Please do.
I would like to know if there is an easy way to adapt your pattern for knitting preemie socks...it would be nice for the parents to have a matching set. I was thinking of putting the hearts on the top of the sock before knitting down to the heel. Thanks! I will check back to see if you have replied to this post.
ReplyDeleteI would think you could take any little sock pattern, such as these, and just add the heart/diamond/eyelet pattern around the leg part.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for creating these patterns using sport-weight yarn. It's so hard to find preemie patterns that don't use 4-ply yarn which I feel is too bulky for such tiny babies. These are so pretty and delicate-looking, I can't wait to get started.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your patterns. I look forward to knitting them for the premmie babes here in Australia.
ReplyDeleteTHanks for such an adorable pattern! I've just started knitting them to donate for the first time--I hope my turn out as cute as yours. Have linked to this on my blog.:-)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the wonderful patterns! I need full term patterns so I may play with these and see.
ReplyDeleteThank you sooo much for posting these patterns ! I have a 2 week old nephew who was born at 32 weeks weighing 3lbs2oz...still a very sick little boy. He needs little hats even while he is in the NICU...so I have been making desperate searches for tiny patterns. Thanks again for helping me keep him warm, cozy and feeling that his aunt loves him.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for these great patterns!! I have a knitting retreat and everyone brings a knitted preemie cap for charity. In January, I collected 68 hats and bootie/hat sets. They were distributed to Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC and Medical College of Virginia, in Richmond, VA. People are still giving me hats! I'll circulate your patterns in case people are getting tired of the others I circulated. Again, thanks - they're sooo cute!
ReplyDeleteLovely patterns and I´m guessing they are quite fast... My dad´s sister (yes, my aunt, but she´s only older than me for a year and a half)had a baby girl last week and we are going to meet her this weekend, so this would make a great present...
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting to learn how to knit, and after seeing a segment on charity knitting on Knitty Gritty and then finding your pages on the web, I found the ideal way to build knitting skills and help a few babies in the process! So far I've done 24 preemie hats using your patterns. I've learned how to knit both continental and English style, how to make stripes, how to master the magic loop method, and even devised a simple Fair Isle pattern. They always turn out so cute! I am most grateful for your generosity in sharing these lovely patterns. Thanks so much, DD
ReplyDeleteI am having trouble printing these out. I only get parts of the pattern. When it finishes page 1 printing and goes to page 2 it skips some of the instructions. It does that for each page.
ReplyDeleteHuh. I don't have a printer hooked up to this computer, but when I go to print preview, it shows everything. I don't know what could be causing that. I guess the only thing I can suggest is to print it out and then jot down the missing bits in the margins. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great patterns. I have six hats made and would like to donate them to a participating hospital. At the time I found your webpage, I know I saw one that had a list of the hospitals that would accept preemie hats. Somehow I have lost that information. Can you direct me?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I cannot. I'm not familiar with the website you are referring to. Sorry. I would try contacting any hospitals in your area, especially ones with busy NICUs or in underprivileged areas. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteCarissa,
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if you'd ever done any of these hats on circular needles instead of DP's. I'm really awful with DP's and like circulars better. Do you think it's work with a 16" circular?
I was just wondering.
Thanks!
Kristen
Kristen, since these hats are only about 12 inches around (and get smaller at the crown), you wouldn't be able to stretch your stitches onto shorter circular. You may be able to make them on a longer circular needle using the magic loop method. Or you can work them flat, adding a couple seam stitches and then sew them up. Hope that helps.
ReplyDeletethank you so much for sharing these patterns.
ReplyDeletei've just started knitting hats for the NICU unit, and will surely knit these!
Thank you!!
-Linda, The Netherlands
Thanks so much for posting these wonderful patterns. I have just started knitting preemie hats for my local hospital and they just love them. This my first attempt with all those needles, but it has been easy. Now if I could figure out how to do a bunny I would be in heaven. LOL
ReplyDeleteThanks again,
Dyan, Reno NV
Wow - such lovely preemie caps. Our ladies group is getting ready to knit baby and preemie caps this year. May we use your patterns for this charity effort? Such great ideas and creativity.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely!
ReplyDeleteGreat patterns! I will never need another hat pattern. What do you suggest to make these patterns application to a full term baby? I wasn't sure if I should change the needle size or add another inch. Your thoughts? You are most kind and generous to share your gift with the world of knitters. I am so grateful.
ReplyDeleteA full-term newborn's head circumference is about 2 inches larger than this pattern. You could use a thicker yarn and larger needles to make a slightly bigger hat. Or if you added 12 stitches at the original gauge that would increase the circumference about 2 inches, and you could just throw in an extra decrease round (*k5, k2tog* around) at the beginning of the crown shaping. Hope that helps!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting the pattern. My son's in NICU right now. I am so happy there was a little knitted hat there for him, so I want to make some more to add to their stash.
ReplyDeleteThanks for these patterns Carissa :) they are a God sent just as you.....
ReplyDeleteI have been making premie/newborn hats for differnet facilities. I have been looking for different patterns. These look great - just what I was looking for. Any different patterns would be appreciated.
ReplyDeleteSue @ SueFCCOD@AOL.com
Thanks very much for sharing these wonderful patterns! My LYS is providing yarn for people to stay and knit preemie hats for donation to local hospitals and I was able to get two of these out of a skein.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these patterns. I'm using them to knit hats for the Knit One, Save One campaign. I'll post a picture on Ravelry when I'm done.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the pattern. I love these little hats.
ReplyDeleteI'm an experienced knitter who loves to knit while watching TV. But living in a warm California climate has taken the joy out of knitting, because I don't need sweaters here. Last night the thought of preemie caps came to me and I just found your website. It's by far the best of all the "free patterns for preemie caps". I'm going to the yarn shop tomorrow....
ReplyDeleteThanks for the patterns! I found it on Ravelry. It's perfect for the tons of pastel yarn I have laying around from a friend. I'll be sure to post pictures to Ravelry when I'm done. (lesjoujou on Ravelry)
ReplyDeleteCarissa: do you have a favorite brand of yarn for the preemie caps? All your pictures are simply adorable. I learned to knit in Europe and we don't have labels on our yarn, like sport-weight or 4-ply, everything goes by gauge. So what's your favorite sport-weight yarn, if you have any? And what's the difference between that and 4-ply yarn?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what brand of yarn I used for these hats. It was all random balls from my stash that had long since lost their labels.
ReplyDeleteSport-weight is usually somewhere in the 23-26 sts per 4 inches (10 cm) range. 4-ply could still vary depending on how big the plies are, so I don't usually pay attention to the number of plies. Here's a nice site for standardized yarn measurements used in the US. Hope that helps!
Is there any way you can help me convert this pattern for a toddler? My neighbor saw me knitting the preemie hat and wants to make one for her daughter!
ReplyDeleteI knit and crochet preemie hats, leaving them at "The Knitting Nest" in Austin, TX. This generous shop owner collects hats and blankets in a large jar for a hospital here in town. A group of knitting nurses pick up what's in the jar after their weekly knitting sessions at the shop. I've done 40 or so and really enjoy using your patterns, which the shop owner provided for those of us less adapt at making our own patterns. One thing I have done was to create very small hats using just half your patterns for the very smallest of preemies, who usually don't make it. It lets me provide the parents with something for their babies to keep as a remembrance or something nice to bury their infants in. I understand many parents are young and/or don't have a lot of money to afford something nice for their deceased infants. Thanks for making your patterns so available for uses such as these. You have allowed me to partake in a very special ministry by using smaller amounts of yarn, I'd have otherwise thrown away. You are indeed special!!
ReplyDeleteI finished mine! Pictures here:
ReplyDeletehttp://lesjoujou.blogspot.com/2009/02/ribbed-lace-bolero-preemie-hats-for.html
and on Ravelry. :)
Melissa,
ReplyDeleteHere's a handy list of hat sizes for different ages. These preemie hats are meant to be 11-12 inches around, and a typical toddler's head is 18-20 inches. So you'd need to increase 7-8 inches. For these patterns, I used a multiple of 12 sts, so I'd cast on about 120-132 sts, depending on your gauge. I'd also recommend working even for longer, maybe 4-5 inches from cast on, before beginning the crown shaping.
Hope that helps!
I printed out the patterns quite a while ago and knitted the heart pattern and it turned out to be the diamond. Tonight I started the diamond hat and the directions are exactly the same as the heart pattern which is the diamond pattern.
ReplyDeleteYes, originally, I had the heart and diamond patterns switched accidentally. That has been corrected now, but if you printed it out a while back, your copy may be from before I fixed it.
ReplyDeleteThere is a wonderful organization (http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/) that provides professional photographers & their photos free of charge to people who suffer the loss of a newborn. I have just been asked to make caps for these tiny babies by a local photographer. Thanks so much for the patterns.
ReplyDeleteI love these patterns thanks for sharing them :)
ReplyDeleteHi Carissa! I love your work! I have been looking all over trying to find a hat like the eyelet ones that you knit. Although I have no knitting skills at all...I was wondering if you sell them also? I would be more than interested in purchasing atleast 2 of them, maybe more. I am pregnant with our second and have been looking for a hats like yours for a while now! If you would be interested in selling any, my email is tab.mack@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThank you for your time! You're work is beautiful!
Thank you so much Carissa for making your preemie hat patterns available on the internet - for free, no less. I was in desperate need of a pattern for an about-to-be-born-early grandson and found your site. It calmed me greatly to sit and knit, and the finished product was beautiful. Many thanks again to you. Lorna
ReplyDeleteToo cute! My daughter is almost due with twins (boy and girl), I have been knitting baby stuff for 7months. I like these hats so much more than what I have finished. Starting these hats today! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you Carissa! On Ravelry's home page there is a listing for Andrew's Preemie Hat Project. It's a 10 yr old boy collecting preemie hats for charity in NC. I live in CA but have a large stash of baby yarn. I'm going to start using it up and sending the hats to Andrew. This is great!
ReplyDeleteThis info is for the person asking about using a circular needle - you can use two circulars, knitting from one to the other in a circle. You can work down to the smallest of decreases this way. socks are made using this method.
ReplyDeletePlease advise the length from beginning to start of the crown section on these adorable hats.
ReplyDeleteThe hats should measure approximately 3-4in/8-10cm before beginning the crown shaping.
ReplyDeleteHi Carissa! I just finished your eyelet hat and I love it! I'm now making your diamond version and got to the 8th round with half a diamond, the pattern says knit 12 more rounds, how will that finish the diamond? I must be reading it wrong, should I go back up the pattern to finish the diamond or did I screw it up? It's such an adorable hat and I want to finish it!! Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteThe 12 rounds after you finish the diamond are just knit, as in stockinette, until you get to the crown shaping. Hope that helps.
ReplyDeletei finished the first 8 rounds of the diamond pattern and ended up with half of a diamond,
ReplyDelete(Rnd 8: *k2, p1, k7, p1, k1*; rep between *s )around. was the last round I did. I haven't done the 12 knit rounds yet, how will the rest of the diamond show up with the 12 Knit rounds?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteYou still have Rnds 9-12 of the diamond pattern before the 12 even knit rounds. If you look closely at the pattern, Rnd 9 is the same as Rnd 7; Rnd 10 is Rnd 6; Rnd 11 is Rnd 5; and Rnd 12 is Rnd 4.
ReplyDeleteahhhhhh thank you so much! I adore these hats and want to make a bunch! My pregnant brain must be shrinking! Thank you for getting back to me so quickly, I am so excited to work on it tonight! Thanks again!!!
ReplyDeleteCarissa, I love these patterns! I made the striped one and now I am working on the diamond one. They are coming out beautifully. Can you give me a good recommendation for a charity to send them to?
ReplyDeleteJen, I give them to my local yarn shop which collects and donates them to a local hospital. If you wanted to skip the middleman, you could probably call around to your area hospitals and see if they need/want them.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the patterns, I have some extra cotton and want to make some hats to donate to the hospital. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteI would love to make the hats for preemies but they will not print Mary
ReplyDeleteMary, I'm not sure why it won't print for you. All I can suggest is to try highlighting the text of the pattern and copying and pasting it into a blank word document. Then you should be able to print it from there.
ReplyDeleteThese are wonderful -- can't wait to start them. Already have some baby projects going for friends, but have wanted to make some hats and socks to donate -- here's my chance! I'll do my best to post some pics on Ravelry when I finish! Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteWell, the pattern is not only clear and easy to follow, it's also fun. There's a problem, though: now I can't stop making these. They're adorable.
ReplyDeleteAs a side benefit, your instructions gave newbie-knitter me the courage to knit my first eyelet.
Thanks again!
LOVE this! i made a diamond one for a newborn gift, and i'm beginning the heart for my little cousin who was born just 3 pounds. i can't wait to give her parents the little hat!
ReplyDeleteThese are really darling.
ReplyDeleteGreat hats! love em'! Love your work! Thank u much for sharing!
ReplyDeletelove your patterns.
ReplyDeletei'm knitting thme right now for my my best friend.
she is expecting a boy and already knows that it will not be full term. So knitting them in forhand for her. I will defently make more of them.
Thanks for posting these patterns - very helpful. I just knitted my first using the striped version. I want to know why the decreasing rounds are all knit instead of following the stockinette stitch?
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm glad you like them.
ReplyDeleteWhen you work in the round, knitting every round does produce stockinette stitch because you're never working on the wrong side of the fabric. If you're more comfortable with working flat though, by all means do so. I'd add two stitches to your cast on (one for each end) to be sewn into the seam afterward. And then you would be purling every other row to achieve stockinette.
Hope that helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.
like all the rest thank you for the patterns
ReplyDeleteour church group is knitting for our childrens hospital
patterns are clear and easy
and beautiful
thanks from all our group
I've been looking for a good preemie pattern for a while. We had a 32 wk baby almost 4 yrs ago and it meant so much to have handmade items when he was there so i really want to be able to, hopefully, give that feeling to someone else. i look forward to starting this and donating to the hospital where my son was born. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeletethank you so much for sharing these adorable patterns. my friend is due to have quads in the next month and a half. i was super excited to see your pattern. cant wait to cast on!
ReplyDeleteLove these patterns! Going to try the heart one for my first baby hat! Thanks for sharing these patterns!
ReplyDeleteI finished the heart hat and posted it on my blog with a link back to your blog! Thanks for sharing the patterns!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful pattern - thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLovely hats . brillant bright colurs. I'll have to give this a try.
ReplyDeleteThese are so cute! Have to make these for our new niece.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the patterns. You do lovely work.
ReplyDeleteBarb in Arlington
Hi just wanted to say what a wonderful preemie hats you have here :) I am from Iceland and I made a group on facebook for charity hats for our Icelandic Nicu and we just love your pattern :) This will be the first donate of preemie hats on Iceland :)
ReplyDeleteHafdÃs Priscilla
Here in The Netherlands we are knitting for newborns in India, so thank you for these lovely designs.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.breivoorindia.nl/
Do you have 'proper sewing of seams' so as to be flat -- that babies will not feel extra stitches???
ReplyDeleteI thought my seams were flat but was told 'they want seams done differently.'
HELP! I've already knit and donated 8 or 9 hats for preemies!!
The pattern is written to knit the hats in the round, without seams, but if I were to knit them flat, I'd probably use mattress stitch (video here, scroll down a bit under Finishing). I'm not sure what they mean by "proper sewing of seams" though.
ReplyDeleteHi I was wondering if you have a pattern for the eyelet hat but in an adult version. I would like to make these for women at a local homeless shelter. Thanks. You can email me at parisa@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteIn order to make an adult size, I would cast on about 140 stitches and follow the pattern as written. You'll want to continue the eyelet pattern until hat measures about 5-6 inches from beginning. For the crown shaping, I would decrease 6 stitches evenly every other round until about 24 stitches remain. Then k2tog around, knit one round even, k2tog around again. Then cut yarn, thread through loops, pull tight and tie off.
ReplyDeleteHope that helps!
Thank you for your patterns! I wanted to make my first hat and chose the eyelet version. So cute! I cant wait to redo it when I get the right yarn...a green ribbed rim and a bed body - a strawberry! Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteHello Carissa, your page is very nice and your clothes are very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the patterns! My friend just had a baby at 32 weeks and she'll be in the NICU for a little while. I hope these hats help brighten their days.
ReplyDeleteThese are great. I had just one pattern and you changed the needle size to get three sizes. This is much better having different patterns. I made them for one of our Hospitals.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!
Berny
Been looking fo patterns for preemie hats, but I don't knit, only use knifty knitter looms. Wish they were for crochet, I do that!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much .... looked a month or two ago but could not print out so tried to figure out ....mine were okay but will be better with your patterns. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI love these patterns! I am a beginner knitter, but I am hoping to make some preemie hats for our local hospital. I will definitely have to use some of these patterns. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi I wanted to thank you for posting these wonderful patterns. I have made several of these hats for local hospitals.
ReplyDeleteMy happiest use of your hat pattern was showing a friend who is expecting her first baby how to make her own baby a hat to come home from the hospital. She is now on her second hat. Thank you so much for sharing these.
I was soo excited to see your hats! I'm due in september and my baby will need lots of warm stuff to get through the winter! I don't know what I'm having so I'm going to make them in fall colors and if its a girl I'm going to thread a skinny ribbon through the eyelet one! Thank you soo much!!
ReplyDeleteMaking your Preemie Hats for a local hospital. Love the pattern so much, would like to know how many stitches to cast on for size 3-6 mons. and 6-12 mons. and how many rows to add if you have that information available. Your crown shaping is so much better than other patterns I've used and would like to be able to knit some for baby gifts. Thanks so much.
ReplyDeleteHere's a handy list of hat sizes for different ages. These preemie hats are meant to be 11-12 inches around. So you'd need to increase 6-7 stitches for each inch difference. Keep in mind the heart and diamond patterns use a multiple of 12 sts, and the eyelets are a multiple of 6. I'd also recommend working even for longer, maybe 4-5 inches from cast on, before beginning the crown shaping.
ReplyDeleteHope that helps!
Carissa, Thanks so much for providing these cute patterns. I need a pattern for an early baby in a friend's family. Your designs look great!
ReplyDeleteThank you so very much for the darling hats--I have two friends who knit for preemies and still borns and I'm giving them these patterns (my own donation hats go to my daughter's homeless folks at the shelter where she is a nurse practitioner and at my Church's "giving tree" at Christmas but I may expand a couple of these for the kids' giving tree)
ReplyDeleteI love your preemie hat, it's so cute.can I use your hat in norwegian on my webside?
ReplyDeleteMarianne, you may absolutely translate my pattern and post it on your website, as long as my name is still listed as the designer.
ReplyDeleteIt is obvious that i use your name on the designe.It is a nice designe and esy to understand. Nice work on the desigen. thank you for use on my blogg
ReplyDeleteIt is obvious that i use your name on the designe.It is a nice designe and esy to understand. Nice work on the desigen. thank you for use on my blogg
ReplyDeleteHi Carissa
ReplyDeleteI have tried to print your preemie hat pattern but it is only printing page one finishess half way thru eylet version??Not sure what to do as I would like to use this for a charity for babys in China
cynthia in Australia
Cynthia, I'm not sure what's causing that. My easiest solution would be to cut and paste the whole thing into a text document and print from there. Hope that works for you!
ReplyDeleteMore than anything I want to make all those caps newborn size! I would like to make them using I think Bernat yarn. I just checked their site and find:
ReplyDelete22 sts & 30 rows = 4"
Needle size: 6
Please help me to get started with how many stitches to cast on and needle size.
My goal is to make them all for the hospital.
Many, many thanks for the help.
The math on this actually works out very nicely. A newborn size is about 13 inches around. So with your yarn at its recommended needle size and gauge, that means casting on 72 stitches (13" x 22sts/4"), same as the original pattern! So with a slightly thicker yarn than I used, you should end up with a newborn sized hat by following the pattern as is. Hope that helps!
ReplyDeleteYesterday I purchased one skein each of pink, blue,yellow & green.
ReplyDeleteThe yarn is Bernat Softee Baby.
Question: except for the rib version, I am thinking about a 1x1 rib rather than 2x2. Would this affect the overall size?
I am going to try to make full term size as well as premmie. I knit a bit loose, so have to work on the needle size.
When you measure the caps folded:
Preemie: what is the length of the ribbing?
what is the total height of the cap?
Newborn: What would the length of the ribbing be?
What would the total height of the cap be?
Lord knows, I have plenty of yarn..LOL
Many thanks for the help. Obviously I love your patterns!
The ribbing on the three patterned hats is just a matter of personal preference. Changing it to 1x1 shouldn't affect the overall size when it's just a ribbed edge.
ReplyDeleteFor the preemie size, I worked about 3/4 to 1 inch of ribbing, and the total hat height is about 5-5.5 inches.
A newborn size should be about 5.5-6 inches tall, with about an inch of ribbing.
Good luck!
When the caps are folded:
ReplyDeleteWhat is the length (left to right)
of the ribbing:
Premmie
Newborn
I made a cap for a newborn for a friend and am concerned it may be too small.
The ribbing was approx 5 1/4, so that would be a total of 10 1/2 plus or minus in diameter.
The height was about 5".
Do you think I should make a larger one?
The preemie size is about 11-12 inches in circumference, so folded flat, it should be 5.5-6 inches wide.
ReplyDeleteA newborn hat is 12-13 inches around, so 6-6.5 inches wide.
So the hat for your friend might be a touch small.
Many, Many Thanks! I am so glad to
ReplyDeleteknow now. I have plenty of time to knit another and get it in the mail. Hopefully in a couple of days the new one will be on the way.
Moving right along on the diamond pattern. Did use the k2,p2 ribbing, and like it much better than k1,p1 with this yarn.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: I have done the diamond pattern and the additional 12 rows. Not having knit the cap before, I am wondering, the height of the cap at this point is 4".
Based on that when I complete the crown will I be near a total of 6" total height?
If I need to add rows, this is the time LOL
Many thanks for the help. I am copy and pasting the information you share.
OOPS, forgot to tell you I am making a newborn.
ReplyDeleteSo you've got 6 rnds of ribbing, 12 rnds of the diamond pattern, plus 12 rnds of stockinette, for a total of 30 rnds so far. If that measures 4 inches, then you're getting 7.5 rnds/inch, and therefore will need another 15 rnds to measure 6 inches total for a newborn size. The crown shaping consists of 11 rnds, so I'd probably work another 4 rnds or so in stockinette before starting the crown shaping.
ReplyDeleteFinished a whole skein of blue yarn moving on to yellow..LOL
ReplyDeleteQuestion regarding the yellow cap .
The one on the group picture of caps looks different than the one on the individual photo.
Are they the same cap?
Yes, they are the same cap. If you're referring to the color looking different, it's probably just due to my sub-awesome camera. If you mean the yellow ribbed cap looks smaller in the group shot, that's because it's stretched out on a ball of yarn in the individual photo.
ReplyDeleteThe individual cap looks shorter. I thought it was knitted without a rollup ribbing, and I liked the look.
ReplyDeleteI thank you for the explanation.
The needles are flying! LOL
Thanks for all your help.
Well, stretching it horizontally will also shrink it vertically, so I can see how it would look shorter. If you want to be able to fold up the brim, you could easily just knit another inch or two in length before starting the crown shaping.
ReplyDeleteI have not tried the ribbed cap, assuming it needed to be turned up.
ReplyDeleteBut I will give it a try. I think without a fold it won't look so heavy.
Many thanks.
I thank you so very much, for not only the patterns but your help as well.
ReplyDeleteI really am having a great time making the caps. Since I am using a #5 needle the eyelet is the only one I cannot make. I believe the holes will be too large.
Again, many thanks.
Hi these are just beautiful.... Just wondering if you can knit these on straight needles? I cant use circular needles yet :)
ReplyDeleteYes, these can be made with straight needles. You would just cast on an extra stitch on each end, which will be seamed together later. Work your ribbing as usual. Then on every wrong side row, you'll do the opposite of the pattern and backwards. For example,
ReplyDeleteRnd 1: k1, p2, k3, p4.
translates to
Row 1: k4, p3, k2, p1.
Hope that helps!
I read one comment from a few years ago about a list of hospitals that need hats.Go to care wear volunteers.There you can type in the state and it gives you alist of hospitals and their needs.Hope this helps any one who isn'tsure what to do with their hats.Thank you for the great patterns.Mimi
ReplyDeleteYour hats are supercute! I'm knitting preemie hats for a Norwegian project, called Amandaprosjektet. I love your hats, and hope to be able to translate some of the patterns of yours to Norwegian :-) Guess I'll have to Google some, and return :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! I hope it's ok with you that I link to your blog when I write my next post :-)
Laila
Sure, I don't mind if you link to me. I can't help with the Norwegian, but do let me know if you have any questions about the pattern.
ReplyDeleteI am about to really move along here for the clickforbabies project. Going to make as many purple caps as possible.
ReplyDeleteDiamond Pattern: Is it possible to make it a solid pattern, similar to the heart?
Sure, you could make a solid diamond instead of just the outline. Rnds 6-10 would change to:
ReplyDeleteRnds 6, 10: *k4, [p1, k1] 3 times, k2*; rep between *s around.
Rnds 7, 9: *k3, [p1, k1] 4 times, k1*; rep between *s around.
Rnd 8: *k2, ]p1, k1] 5 times*; rep between *s around.
The rest of the pattern would stay the same.
Carissa:
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for the instructions for making the diamond solid rather than the outline.
I love these patterns!
Unfortunately my good intentions far exceed my knitting ability.
Would you help me with instuctions for making the caps for 2-4 year olds?
I have 4 ply yarn ( Caron Soft). I tried making a baby cap and it simply is too heavy. So I am thinking of moving up in size. I also have a skein of pink that has sparkle in it. I think a little girl would love this cap in hearts.
In addition to knitting for newborns I also make caps for needy families.
Many, many thanks for all your help.
Assuming you are getting the gauge on the label with Caron Simply Soft (18sts=4in) you should cast on 84 sts. Work k2,p2 ribbing for about 6-8 rounds, then work the pattern of your choice as written until it measures 4.5-5 inches from cast on edge. Then you'll start the crown shaping with [k5, k2tog] around, which will decrease down to 72 sts. Then follow the crown shaping as written.
ReplyDeleteHope that helps!
Carissa:
ReplyDeleteWhen I make the newborn caps with Bernat Baby Soft I knit until the piece measures 4 1/2 inches then proceed with the crown shaping.
Using Caron Soft, if I understand correctly, you say I will knit 6-8 rows of ribbing, then stockinette stitch for 41/2" to 5". Decrease k5 k 2tog, which brings me to 72 sts. Then follow crown shaping as written.
Following these instructions the cap will fit a child 3 years old?
I just want to be sure we are on the same page.
I do thank you very much for your patience. You are appreciated more than you will ever know.
No, I meant 4.5-5 inches TOTAL (from the cast on edge, not from the ribbing) before starting the crown shaping. You can make it a bit longer if you like, though, and just cuff it up if it's too long. This should fit a head about 19-inches in circumference, which is about the size of a preschooler's head.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I have to complete two other caps and I will give it a try.
ReplyDeleteI noticed the Red heart Shimmer is 20st and 26 rows = 4".
It is a bit finer than the Caron Simply Soft. Do you think I am okay using your instuctions for Caron yarn?
The color is Hot Pink, perfect for a little girl!
Again, I do thank you sooo much for all your help.
For a child size hat at 20sts/4in, you'd want to cast on 96 sts instead. Then the crown shaping would start with k6, k2tog.
ReplyDeleteHi Carissa,
ReplyDeleteFirst I would like to thank you for the lovely patterns. I was trying the eyelet version and I think i'm not doing it right. I'm using straight needles . When you said Knit 1-3 rnds,do I need to knit 1 row and then purl the 2nd row? Coz if i just knit it doesn't look like yours. Please help me.
Nashid
If you are working back and forth on straight needles, instead of in the round, all your odd-numbered rows will be the opposite of the pattern. So you'll knit when it says purl and purl when it says knit. You'll also want to add an extra stitch to each end of the rows for seaming up later.
ReplyDeleteI am trying to rework the pattern smaller for micro preemies, but when I take away sts from the eyelet pattern, it doesn't give the nice eyelet design as in the original pattern. Could you give me a little help with this? I CO 60 sts to give me a nice smaller hat. Any help you could suggest from there would be great.
ReplyDeleteThe eyelet pattern has a 6-stitch repeat, so as long as you still have a multiple of 6 stitches, it should work out fine. I'm not sure why it isn't. Are you working back and forth or in the round?
ReplyDeleteI`ve looked everywhere for these tiny patterns. Thanx so much, I`m knitting these for a prem baby unit in Hertfordshire. I`ll let you know how they turn out.
ReplyDeleteCarissa:
ReplyDeleteThis is a Special Thank You for taking the time to change the pattern for a Solid Diamond Pattern. I really do like it! The needles are flying LOL
I truly am more grateful to you than you know. With your help I have been able to make many caps for the little ones at the hospital.
I love the patterns! Very excited to try all of them. I'm making the Diamond pattern and am not sure what I'm doing wrong. Do you end the round with 6 knit stitches? Will I have a big space between diamonds?
ReplyDeleteNo, the diamonds should be equally-spaced around the hat. Which round are you asking about? The first round of the diamond pattern ends with five knit stitches, but none of the pattern rounds ends with k6. Are you sure you have 72 stitches?
ReplyDeleteI keep ending up with 6 stitches at the end... I'll try it again after I finish the striped version. I'm new to knitting in the round with DPN and am trying to work out the bugs. :) I figured it was just user error!!
ReplyDeleteIt could also be that you're only repeating part of the pattern. For example, on the first pattern round, Rnd 4, you should be repeating the entire *k6, p1, k5*, so your round would look like:
ReplyDelete[k6, p1, k5], [k6, p1, k5], [k6, p1, k5]...
You may have accidentally only been repeating the second part:
k6, [p1, k5], [p1, k5], [p1, k5]...
If this is the case, you would end up with an extra 6 stitches at the end of the round.
That could very well be what I did! Thanks so much for the help. They're adorable hats. My daughters and I are making hats for the "Period of Purply Crying" campaign and these are perfect!
ReplyDeleteYou are an amazing knitter. I will knit your preemie hats for a program in my town known as The Godparent's Home. Knitted newborn hats are donated, but very few for preemies. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteOh, I need help again!
ReplyDeleteI need to knit a cap for a 6 month old. Thinking about diamond pattern.
I would appreciate if you can get me started with directions.
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft. Normally I get 5 sts to an inch with #7 needles.
Carissa, is there a way I can figure out how to make different sizes without bothering you? I am a pretty good knitter, but don't have a clue as to how to make the sizes different than as specified on a pattern. These caps would be so nice on 6mo and year old children!
Many, many thanks.
I use this site to get an estimate for the circumference of each hat. So for a 6-month-old, the hat should be about 16 inches around. Then multiply that by your gauge, so 16in x 5sts/in = 80sts. For my patterns, you want to have a multiple of 12 stitches, so you'll probably want to round up to 84sts (which works out well since I used the minimum measurement for a 6-month-old). Make sense?
ReplyDeleteThank you Carissa your thoughtfulness in giving me a worthwhile project of beneefit to others! Truly thankful. They are also so very cute!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the cute pattern. We lost our baby a couple wks to still birth at 34wks. I want to help other parents that go through this by donating little pants I make with your matching hats to the hospital for those babies still born or late miscarried.
ReplyDeleteWill the hat as is fit a newborn that is first born? Most of the newborn hats I have found are so big on newborns. Do these have a little stretch to them that the premie size would work for the premie lost babies as well as a average size newborn? I am hoping to just make one size hat.
I'm sorry for your loss, but hopefully your knitting cause soothe the pain of others.
ReplyDeleteThe pattern as written should produce a hat with a circumference of 11-12 inches, which should fit a 2-5 pound baby. As with most knitting though, they are fairly stretchy, so they might fit smaller full-term newborns as well.
Supercugte hats! I'll try to make one of these soon :o)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing!
How can you say k2, P2 for ribbing on patterns without explanation to beginners? This doesn't create a rib. Rib is created by knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches, hence row 1 K2, P2 and row 2 P2, K2.
ReplyDeleteAs this pattern is written to be knit in the round, not back and forth in rows, 'k2, p2' does create ribbing. Since you're always working on the right side of the fabric, every round will still be k2, p2.
ReplyDeleteThese are so cute. SO great!!! Thanks so much for sharing the pattern!!!
ReplyDeleteCarissa, thank you for the beautiful preemie hats and the patience with all of the questions that you have answered. You sure are a gifted person in more ways than one. I am knitting your preemie hats along with my guild members. A friend of mine had a still born baby and wants to donate them to her local hospital NICU where she delivered. in memory of her daughter.God Bless you and all your talent and efforts to help someone feal this comfort.
ReplyDeleteHi! Thank you so much for wonderful instructions for knitting preemie hats. I discovered your cute hats during the spring of 2011. In the begining, I copied your designs. After learning the number of stithes by heart, I started making my own designs. Now I find inspiration for new colour combinations and patterns wherever I look: Magazines, childrens's books, newspaper ads and liquid soap bottle designs, to mention a few. Soon, I will be delivering more than 40 different preemie hats to our local hospital. It feels great to think about giving such a gift during the coldest part of the year!
ReplyDeleteThank you. Just the patterns I am after to knit premie hats for where my sister works as a midwife. Tiny hat patterns aren't easy to find.
ReplyDeleteHi, love the pattern.
ReplyDeleteSo much I created it into a PDF for you to have to make it easier for others to download. I hope that is ok. If it is, how do I get it to you?
Cool! You can send it to CarissaLB@yahoo.com.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the beautiful hats for preemies I knit all year when my collection is plentiful I donate them to hospitals for their babies. Sweaters, hats, blankets, booties...Just offer and you'll be surprised how grateful the hospitals are when they receive them
ReplyDeleteDropped off the 40 completed preemie hats mentioned above. The facial expressions of the nurses will stay with me for life...(teary eyes). Thanks for the inspiring knitting instructions and pictures of hats in yummy yarn colors. All the comments on this page are also very inspiring. I took some pictures of my charity hats prior to donation, so maybe one day I could get around to sharing them somewhere, somehow.
ReplyDeleteThank you for generously providing these patterns for free!! I am just learning to knit and after many attempts finished the diamond hat for a friend that because of medical reasons will give birth to a premie. What a blessing to have someone like you to provide these sweet little patterns. I hope to get better at knitting and make many more of these for other babies.... Thanks again and God bless.....
ReplyDeleteThank you SO much! I'm the president of my communities knitting guild and these hats are absolutely perfect for quick and satisfying knits that can be shared with people (especially babies) in need in our area. Bless your heart!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the patterns. I was in need of a good pattern and I really like the variations you provide.
ReplyDeleteI have started on the Eyelet version. There is no Rnd 6. What do I do on Rnd?
ReplyDeleteI have made the Heart Version and the Diamond version and both were really nice.
Round 6 is included in
ReplyDelete"Rnds 5-7: knit."
Thanks for these cute patterns. I made quite a few of the eyelet and kept thinking that it looked strawberry like so I made one in red and switched to green for the crown shaping. I continued the knit 2 tog until I had just 3 stitches left and then made an I cord for the stem...so cute!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these adorable patterns. I'm doing a charity KAL on Ravelry right now and this is perfect!
ReplyDeleteI have a question. I have Bernat Softee Baby and Bernat Baby Jacquards which are DK weight. How can I adapt the patterns for the thicker yarn? I'm new to knitting and I'm scratching my head, LOL!
With a gauge of 22-23 sts/4in, I would cast on 60 sts instead of 72 (that way it's still a multiple of 12 for the stitch patterns). Work your pattern of choice as it's written. You may want to leave out a few of the even stst rnds before starting the crown shaping so the hat isn't too tall. This means on the eyelets version, you'll repeat rnds 1-8 once instead of twice, then repeat only rnds 1-4 a second time, before going to the crown shaping. On the other versions, just skip the last 4 even rnds of the individual patterns and go straight to the crown shaping. And when you do the crown shaping, since you'll only have 60 sts, you'll begin with rnd 4 of the crown shaping.
ReplyDeletePlease let me know if any of this does not make sense, or if you have any other questions.
I can't figure out the diamond pattern. Have knitted 8 rows and now it says to knit 12 more rows but what row do I start with?
ReplyDeleteKnit 12 more rnds means just knit stockinette stitch for 12 more rnds - no patterning, just knit.
ReplyDeleteLet me know if you have any more questions.
Carissa:
ReplyDeleteI am making preemie burial gowns, with a skirt in feather & fan pattern.
I am wondering if you have a preemie feather & fan pattern.
I have done a lot of searching and have not found one yet.
If not, I will maybe use your pattern with the little hearts.
Thanks so much for listening.
Your patterns are wonderful! I have made lots of them.
I am ever grateful to you.
Many, many thanks.
I have a pattern for an adult feather-and-fan hat here. If worked in a sock yarn at a gauge of 32 sts = 4in, this would give you about a 12-inch cap, which could work for a preemie.
ReplyDeleteHope that helps!
I made the burial gowns in Bernat Softee Baby and was hoping to use the same yarn.
ReplyDeleteI am so disappointed, but guess I have to move on. Some things just don't work out I guess.
I may make a couple more gowns and call it quits. I was going to make booties, but lost the drive to continue.
I do thank you for listening, and especially for trying to help.
Without having tried it myself, I think the following will work:
ReplyDeleteUsing the gauge from these preemie hats (6.5-7 sts/in), you can work the adult feather-and-fan pattern I linked to, but only cast-on 72 sts instead of 90, and only work 4 repeats of the feather-and-fan pattern, instead of 5 repeats.
Good luck!
I thank you sooo much for the help!
ReplyDeleteI am in the process of making a pink gown. Once completed I will try your pattern
Many, many thanks again.
Your patterns are fantastic! My absolute favorite is the eyelet.
ReplyDeleteI just finished the burial gowns and am thinking now of using that pattern for the cap. Do you think the heart would be too large a design? Do you think maybe just a plain cap may be better for a second choice?
These little gowns are I think anywhere from 1-3". I am using Bernat Baby Softee yarn. Based on that what changes in the pattern would you suggest to fit these little ones?
The gowns turned out really nice and I have no doubt that with your help the little caps will also.
Many, many thanks.
A friend game me approximately:
ReplyDelete1 1/2= skeins of Jamie Yarn
AND
Nearly 2 skiens Red Heart Baby 7 Fingering Weight Yarn
Do you think these yarn would work for preemie caps?
Years ago I knited with yarn similar to Jamie, but have never knitted with fingering yarn.
Thanks very much for the help.
I think the heart might be too large a design for a hat that tiny. You could try making one with just one heart centered on the front maybe, and see how it looks. After all, with hats that small, I doubt they'd take you that long to complete.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how big the hat would need to be to go with a 1-3" gown. With a gauge of 22-23 sts/4in, you'd have about 5.5 sts/in. So take however big around the hat should be, and multiply by 5.5 to get the number to cast on. For example, for a hat with a 6-in circumference, you'd cast on 6*5.5=33 sts. If you wanted to do 2x2 ribbing on the edge, you'd need to round that down to 32 sts. Then you'd work even for about 2in in this example, about a third of the circumference of the hat. Then start decreasing 6 sts every other round. Hope that helps.
I'm not sure what Jamie Yarn is (Ravelry has several listings of varying weights), but if it's a dk/sport weight yarn, it should be fine. With the fingering weight yarn, you may end up with a slightly smaller hat, but that's okay - preemies come in all sizes. Or you could knit the fingering weight yarn with a slightly larger needle to match the gauge of the pattern, and you'd end up with a little lacier fabric. Whichever way, I'm sure they'll turn out great!
ReplyDeleteCarissa:
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry the caps are for babies 1-2# approx. (not inches).
Ok, then Google tells me the head would be about 9-10in around. So I'd cast on about 52 sts, work 2x2 ribbing, then work even (with a stitch pattern if you like) for around 3.5in before starting the crown shaping.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
Okay this is what I understand:
ReplyDeleteGauge for both: 22-23 sts = 4"
9-10" head size
Cast On 52 sts
2x2 ribbing ( for 3/4"???)
Knit Pattern for 3 1/2"
Begin Shaping ( dec every other row
total of 10 rounds).
6" head size
Cast On 32 st
2x2 ribbing ( 3/4"???)
Pattern for approx 2"
Decrease: Dec 6 sts every other row
Carissa:
I cannot tell you how grateful I am to you. Many, many thanks.
God Bless.
Carissa:
ReplyDeleteI sent some of your caps to the hospital and the nurses loved them. Especially the heart pattern.
I am so pleased- and greatful to you. I am going to try one using your suggestion using 52 sts. When you do the shaping do you follow the same directions as for the larger size caps? Do you think the heart will be too large for this size cap?
They are asking for 12" blankets for babies. Do you think the heart pattern would work? I thought maybe at the top and bottom. Or maybe just one heart in the corner.
I love the eyelet pattern! Not sure that would be appropriate.
These are for preemies that have passed on.
Your patterns are fantastic. I want to use them for everything!
I so want them to look nice.
Many thanks for listening, and any thoughts you share.