Materials you will need:
- Size 8 knitting needles
- Soft and lightweight yarn (about 200 yards)
- A pair of scissors
- A yarn needle
Step 1: Casting on
To start, hold the knitting needle in your dominant hand and make a slipknot about 6 inches from the end of the yarn. Slide the slipknot onto the needle and tighten it gently. This will be your first stitch.
Now, wrap the yarn around your little finger and hold it between your thumb and index finger. Insert the needle into the slipknot from front to back, then loop the yarn over the needle and pull it through the slipknot. You have successfully cast on your first stitch!
Repeat this process to cast on the desired number of stitches for the hat. A typical newborn-sized hat would require about 60 stitches.
Step 2: Knitting the brim
For the brim of the hat, we will use a rib stitch to create a stretchy and snug fit. Knit the first row by inserting the right needle into the first stitch from left to right. Wrap the yarn around the right needle and pull it through, slipping the stitch off the left needle. Continue this process until you reach the end of the row.
For the second row, purl all the stitches by inserting the right needle into the first stitch from right to left. Wrap the yarn around the right needle and pull it through, slipping the stitch off the left needle. Repeat this process until the end of the row.
Alternate between knitting and purling rows until the brim measures about 2 inches in length.
Step 3: Knitting the body of the hat
After completing the brim, we will switch to stockinette stitch for the main part of the hat. Knit every row until the hat reaches the desired length. For a newborn-sized hat, aim for a length of about 5 inches.
Step 4: Shaping the crown
Next, we will shape the crown of the hat using decrease stitches. Decrease stitches help create a tapered shape and close off the top of the hat.
Start the first decrease row by knitting the first two stitches together. To do this, insert the right needle through both stitches from left to right, wrap the yarn around the right needle, and pull it through both stitches at once. Continue knitting the rest of the row as usual.
For the next row, knit every stitch without any decreases. Repeat these two rows alternatively until only a few stitches remain.
Finally, cut the yarn, leaving a long tail, and thread it through the remaining stitches. Pull tight to close the opening and secure the yarn by weaving it through the hat using a yarn needle.
Step 5: Finishing touches
Once you have completed knitting the hat, trim any excess yarn and weave in any loose ends to ensure a neat finish. Give the hat a gentle stretch and block it into shape if desired.
Voila! You have successfully knitted a cozy newborn baby hat. Admire your wonderful creation or gift it to a loved one for a little bundle of joy.
We hope you enjoyed this step-by-step guide on how to knit a newborn baby hat. Happy knitting!