Santa Hats in Deramores Studio Aran Acrylic - Downloadable PDF

Santa Hats Knitting Pattern by Wendy Kippax – Pattern Summary

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Deramores, designed by Wendy Kippax, provides instructions for knitting classic Santa Hats in two sizes: one sized for children and one for adults. The pattern is rated beginner difficulty, making it an ideal seasonal project for those who are new to knitting or looking for a straightforward, satisfying make. Whether you are crafting for a little one or an adult, these festive hats are a quick and cheerful knit that captures the spirit of the holiday season.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces traditional Santa Hats – the iconic pointed, red-and-white caps associated with Father Christmas. Two sizes are included:

• Child size: 43cm circumference, stretching to 51cm
• Adult size: 46cm circumference, stretching to 60cm

The generous stretch in both sizes means they will fit a wide range of head circumferences comfortably, making them versatile gifts or festive accessories for the whole family.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is written specifically for Deramores Studio Aran Acrylic yarn, worked in two colours:

• Yarn A: 1 x 100g ball in Poppy (red)
• Yarn B: 1 x 100g ball in Gardenia (white)

Deramores Studio Aran Acrylic is a practical and budget-friendly yarn choice, well suited to beginner knitters. Acrylic fibres are easy to care for, machine washable, and hold their shape well – ideal qualities for a hat that may be worn repeatedly throughout the festive season or by children who need durable accessories. The bold Poppy red and crisp Gardenia white together create the classic Santa Hat colour palette.

Knitting Needles and Tension

The pattern calls for 4.5mm circular needles or double-pointed needles (DPNs). Both needle types are suitable for knitting in the round, which is the construction method used for this hat. Circular needles are often preferred by beginners for their ease of handling larger stitch counts, while DPNs are traditionally used as the hat tapers toward the pointed tip and stitch counts decrease. Knitters may use whichever they find most comfortable.

The recommended tension is 18 stitches x 24 rows over 10cm, measured in stocking stitch. Achieving the correct tension is important to ensure the hat comes out at the right size, so it is always advisable to knit a tension swatch before beginning, especially for beginner knitters developing their gauge.

Additional notions required include stitch markers, which are used to mark rounds and assist with shaping.

Techniques and Stitches Used

As a beginner-level pattern, the Santa Hats use a focused set of accessible techniques that are well within reach of newer knitters while still producing a polished, professional-looking result. The stitches and techniques referenced in the pattern include:

• K2tog (Knit two together): A simple right-leaning decrease worked by inserting the needle through two stitches simultaneously and knitting them as one. This technique is used to shape the crown and create the hat's characteristic pointed tip.
• M1 (Make 1): An increase stitch worked by picking up the horizontal bar of yarn that sits between two stitches from front to back, then knitting through the back loop to create a new stitch without leaving a hole. This adds stitches where needed during construction.
• Pm (Place marker): Stitch markers are placed on the needle to indicate key points in the round, helping the knitter keep track of shaping sections.
• Sm (Slip marker): The marker is slipped from the left needle to the right needle as work progresses, keeping it in position without being knitted.
• Rp (Repeat): Sections of the pattern are repeated as instructed to build the fabric evenly around the hat.

The hat is knitted in the round, meaning there are no seams to sew up at the end