Baby Bear Hat in Bernat Alize Blanket-EZ - Downloadable PDF

Baby Bear Hat in Bernat Alize Blanket-EZ – Knit Pattern Summary

This Baby Bear Hat is a charming, cozy knitted hat designed to fit babies aged 1–2 years. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is published by Bernat. It is rated as a beginner-to-intermediate project, making it an approachable make for crafters who are new to working with finger-knitting or loop-yarn techniques but are ready to take on a small amount of shaping. Best of all, this pattern is completely free to download.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a baby bear hat sized to fit an infant or toddler aged 1 to 2 years. The hat is worked in the round from a foundation loop round at the brim, built upward through a series of even rounds, and then shaped at the crown through strategic decreases that draw the top of the hat closed. The result is a snug, plush, rounded hat with a thick, tactile texture that is perfectly suited to keeping small heads warm in colder months.

Materials Used

Yarn

• Bernat® Alize® Blanket-EZ™ in Cream (37013)
• Weight: Super Chunky (also classified as a loop yarn, which eliminates the need for traditional knitting needles)
• Quantity: 1 ball (6.4 oz / 180 g)

Tools and Notions

• A crochet hook (size as specified in the pattern) may be used as a helpful tool when working with the loops, though no traditional knitting needles are required
• Safety pin for marking the end of each round
• Sewing thread and needle for finishing

About Bernat Alize Blanket-EZ Yarn

Bernat® Alize® Blanket-EZ™ is a unique super chunky loop yarn that comes pre-formed with individual loops along its length. These loops act as the stitches themselves, meaning the crafter pulls loops of working yarn through existing loops rather than using conventional knitting needles or a crochet hook in the traditional sense. This innovative construction makes the yarn especially well-suited for beginners, children, and anyone who enjoys a tactile, hands-on crafting experience. The resulting fabric is exceptionally soft, thick, and plush — ideal for baby accessories.

Techniques Used

• Loop yarn finger knitting in the round – The entire hat is worked in the round, with the right side of the work always facing the crafter. This eliminates the need to purl and keeps the technique consistent throughout.
• Foundation round setup – The hat begins by counting out 24 loops from the working yarn to establish the foundation round. A tail is tied between the 24th and 25th loops to close the round into a ring, with all loops placed facing upward.
• Working yarn pulled through stitches – Throughout the pattern, loops from the working yarn are always pulled through stitches from the back to the front of the work, creating a consistent knit-stitch appearance on the right side.
• Knitting in the round with a safety pin marker – A safety pin is moved at the end of each round to track progress and mark the transition between rounds.
• Crown shaping with decreases – Once the body of the hat is complete (after 8 rounds total), the top is shaped using a series of decrease rounds. Decreases are made by placing one loop on top of the next to create a double loop that is then treated as a single stitch. This reduces the stitch count progressively — from 24 stitches down to 18, then further until only 3 stitches remain.
• Closing the crown – Once the final decrease rounds are complete, the yarn is cut and the top of the hat is closed by drawing the remaining loops together, securing the crown neatly.

Stitches and Construction Details

Main Body