Hat in Schachenmayr Bravo Baby - S8655B - Downloadable PDF

Hat Knitting Pattern in Schachenmayr Bravo Baby – Design S8655B

This free downloadable PDF knitting pattern (Design S8655B) from Schachenmayr provides instructions for a classic knitted baby and toddler hat worked in the round. The design features a charming star motif worked in stranded colorwork, set against a striped background in Hellblau (light blue) and Weiß (white). The pattern is sized to fit three different head circumferences — 32–34 cm, 35–37 cm, and 38–42 cm — making it suitable for a range of infant and toddler ages.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a knitted hat worked entirely in the round using a set of double-pointed needles. The hat begins with a ribbed brim, transitions into a striped body, and incorporates a decorative star motif using a colorwork chart. The crown is shaped with evenly spaced decreases to create a neat, rounded finish. This is a practical and visually appealing accessory, ideal as a handmade gift for babies and young children.

Techniques Used

• Knitting in the round: The entire hat is worked in rounds (Runden) on a set of four double-pointed needles, eliminating any seaming and creating a smooth, seamless tube.
• Stranded colorwork: The star motif is worked by following a knitting chart where each square represents one stitch. When changing colors, yarns are crossed on the wrong side of the work (Fäden auf der Rückseite verkreuzen) to prevent holes and keep floats secure. Separate yarn balls are used for each color section as needed.
• Stripe pattern: After the ribbed cuff, the body of the hat is worked in alternating stripes of 4 rounds each in white and light blue, creating a classic, clean stripe effect.
• Crown shaping and decreases: Decreases are worked at evenly spaced intervals to shape the top of the hat. The method used is a slip-stitch decrease: the marked stitch is slipped knitwise, one stitch is knitted, and the slipped stitch is passed over — a technique that creates a neat, left-leaning decrease. Decreases are worked in a structured sequence: once every 6th, 10th, 11th, or 12th round (depending on size), then every 4th round twice, and finally every 2nd round, reducing the stitch count progressively from the cast-on number down toward the crown.

Stitches Used

• Ribbing (Bünd chenmuster B): The brim is worked in a ribbing stitch pattern for approximately 4.5 cm, providing elasticity and a snug fit around the head. Ribbing typically alternates knit and purl stitches in a regular sequence.
• Stockinette stitch (glatt rechts): The main body of the hat is worked in stockinette stitch in the round — all knit stitches — which produces a smooth, flat fabric ideal for showcasing the stripe and colorwork patterns.
• Colorwork chart stitches: The star motif is introduced via a knitting chart covering 46 rows, worked once in full. Each square on the chart equals one stitch, and the motif is integrated into the stockinette body of the hat.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge (Maschenprobe) of 24 stitches and 34 rows/rounds over 10 cm × 10 cm in stockinette stitch. Achieving the correct gauge is important for ensuring the hat fits the intended head circumference. The three sizes correspond to head circumferences of 32–34 cm, 35–37 cm, and 38–42 cm, with cast-on stitch counts of 80, 88, and 96 stitches respectively. The total height of the hat ranges from approximately 12 to 15 cm before crown shaping begins, depending on the size being worked.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

• Yarn: The pattern is designed for use with Schachenmayr Bravo Baby