Charity knitting is a wonderful way to be generous with our communities, while we enjoy the craft we love so much. It also provides an excellent opportunity to make new friends, if we organize or decide to be part of charity knitting group. And it is a great activity to propose to people who live in Senior Centers or Retirement Homes. There are many things we can do, no matter how much developed our skills are. I knit and donate lots of squares to make blankets for babies and homeless people every year.
Surely you can find near you some organization responsible for gathering and assembling the squares, or for receiving knitted hats, scarves, gloves and blankets, and then distribute them to the people who need them.
With all this in mind, today I wanted to share with you my free pattern for charity baby hats for preemies and newborns. They are very quick and easy to make, and suitable for beginner knitters who know how to make decreases. I designed them in three sizes: small premature, premature and newborns.
I hope you like them, and make them 🙂 At the end of this post, you can find a pdf file with the same layout I use for my patterns for sale. You can download it, print it & share it.
Happy Thanksgiving!
❤
Cecilia
PS: block 7 is coming!
PATTERN
GAUGE
18.5 sts x 25 rows in stocking st with US 7 (4.5 mm) needles = 4” x 4” (10 cm x 10 cm)
ABBREVIATIONS
CO: cast on
RS: right side
WS: wrong side
st: stitch
k: knit
k2tog: knit 2 sts together
ssk: slip 1 st as if to knit, knit 1 st, pass the slipped st over
LITTLE PREEMIE (3-5 lbs / 1.3 – 2.3 kg)
To fit head circumference up to 10 – 10.5” (25 – 27 cm)
– CO 46 stitches with US 8 (5 mm) needles.
– With US 7 (4.5 mm) needles, knit 4 rows of 1×1 rib (there’s a Stitch Glossary below if you need it).
– Continue working in garter stitch until you have a total length of 2.5’’ (6.5 cm).
– Now you are ready to start decreasing sts to shape the top of your hat:
Row 1) (RS) k4, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k6, k2tog, k1, ssk* repeat from * to * until 4 sts remain, k4
Row 2) k all sts
Row 3) k3, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k4, k2tog, k1, ssk* repeat from * to * until 3 sts remain, k3
Row 4) k all sts
Row 5) k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k2, k2tog, k1, ssk* repeat from * to * until 2 sts remain, k2
Row 6) k all sts
Row 7) k1, *k2tog, k1, ssk* repeat from * to * until 1 st remain, k1
Row 8) k all sts
Row 9) k2tog, *k1, k2tog* repeat from * to * until the end of row.
– Cut yarn leaving a long tail for sewing. With a tapestry needle, pass the yarn inside the remaining 9 sts, pull tightly to close them, and sew the hat.
– Weave in ends.
PREEMIE (5-7 lbs / 2.3 – 3.2 kg)
To fit head circumference up to 12” (30.5 cm)
– CO 50 stitches with US 8 (5 mm) needles.
– With US 7 (4.5 mm) needles, knit 4 rows of 1×1 rib (there’s a Stitch Glossary below if you need it).
– Continue working in garter stitch until you have a total length of 3’’ (7.5 cm).
– Now you are ready to start decreasing sts to shape the top of your hat:
Row 1) (RS) k4, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k7, k2tog, k1, ssk* repeat from * to * until 5 sts remain, k5
Row 2) k all sts
Row 3) k3, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k5, k2tog, k1, ssk* repeat from * to * until 4 sts remain, k4
Row 4) k all sts
Row 5) k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k3, k2tog, k1, ssk* repeat from * to * until 3 sts remain, k3
Row 6) k all sts
Row 7) k1, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k1, k2tog, k1, ssk* repeat from * to * until 2 sts remain, k2
Row 8) k all sts
Row 9) *k2tog, k1* repeat from * to * until the end of row
Row 10) k all sts
Row 11) *k2tog, k1* repeat from * to * until the end of row.
– Cut yarn leaving a long tail for sewing. With a tapestry needle, pass the yarn inside the remaining 8 sts, pull tightly to close them, and sew the hat.
– Weave in ends.
NEWBORN (7-9 lbs / 3.2 – 4 kg)
To fit head circumference up to 14” (35.5 cm)
– CO 54 stitches with US 8 (5 mm) needles.
– With US 7 (4.5 mm) needles, knit 4 rows of 1×1 rib (there’s a Stitch Glossary below if you need it).
– Continue working in garter stitch until you have a total length of 4.25’’ (11 cm).
– Now you are ready to start decreasing sts to shape the top of your hat:
Row 1) (RS) k5, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k8, k2tog, k1, ssk* repeat from * to * until 5 sts remain, k5
Row 2) k all sts
Row 3) k4, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k6, k2tog, k1, ssk* repeat from * to * until 4 sts remain, k4
Row 4) k all sts
Row 5) k3, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k4, k2tog, k1, ssk* repeat from * to * until 3 sts remain, k3
Row 6) k all sts
Row 7) k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, *k2, k2tog, k1, ssk* repeat from * to * until 2 sts remain, k2
Row 8) k all sts
Row 9) k1, *k2tog, k1, ssk* repeat from * to * until 1 st remain, k1
Row 10) k all sts
Row 11) k2tog, *k1, k2tog* repeat from * to * until the end of row.
– Cut yarn leaving a long tail for sewing. With a tapestry needle, pass the yarn inside the remaining 9 sts, pull tightly to close them, and sew the hat.
– Weave in ends.
STITCH GLOSSARY
Garter Stitch
k all sts, all rows.
1×1 Rib Stitch
Over an even number of sts:
*k1, p1* repeat from * to * until the end of row.
Repeat the row as many times as needed.
Click below to DOWNLOAD the pattern as PDF:
Thank you! these are so cute! oftentimes a plain little hat is sufficient~I love it because then you can get wild with the color or type of yarn [think super-soft or Christmasy colors etc.] – I do a lot of baby knitting for gifting to charities – hats, newborn outfits, blankets, booties etc.- so these are in my pattern arsenal now! Thanks super much! : )Linda