Hooded Knit Bear Cowl in Bernat Baby Blanket Tiny - Downloadable PDF

Hooded Knit Bear Cowl in Bernat Baby Blanket Tiny – Free Downloadable PDF Pattern Summary

This adorable Hooded Knit Bear Cowl is a beginner-friendly knitting pattern designed to create a cozy, hooded cowl for babies. The finished piece combines the warmth of a traditional cowl with a playful bear-themed hood, making it a charming accessory for little ones. The pattern is available as a free downloadable PDF and is sized to fit babies aged 6/12 months and 18/24 months, offering two size options within a single pattern.

What Is Being Made

The project is a baby cowl with an integrated hood, styled to resemble a bear. It wraps around the baby's neck and shoulders for warmth while the hood adds a whimsical, animal-inspired design element. This type of garment is sometimes called a hooded neck warmer or a hooded infinity cowl, and it is a popular handmade gift for newborns and toddlers alike.

Sizing and Fit

• Size 1: To fit baby 6/12 months
• Size 2: To fit baby 18/24 months

The pattern is written primarily for the smaller size, with changes for the larger size noted in parentheses throughout the instructions — a standard convention in knitting patterns that makes it easy to follow along for either size.

Techniques Used

This pattern is rated Easy / Beginner in skill level, making it an excellent choice for newer knitters who are comfortable with basic knitting and purling. The construction uses straightforward flat knitting techniques, meaning the fabric is worked back and forth in rows rather than in the round. Key techniques include:

• Garter stitch – formed by knitting every row, used to create neat, non-curling borders along the edges of the cowl
• Stockinette stitch – alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side, used for the main body of the cowl to create a smooth, classic fabric
• Combined stitch panels – the pattern incorporates garter stitch borders alongside a stockinette center panel, giving the piece structure and a tidy finish
• Decreases – the pattern references K2tog (knit two together) and Ssk (slip, slip, knit) decreases, which are standard shaping techniques used to reduce stitch counts neatly

Stitches Used

• K – Knit
• P – Purl
• K2tog – Knit next 2 stitches together (a right-leaning decrease)
• Ssk – Slip next 2 stitches one at a time, pass them back onto the left-hand needle, then knit through the back loops together (a left-leaning decrease)
• Garter stitch – knit every row
• Stockinette stitch – knit on right side rows, purl on wrong side rows

Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches [10 cm] in stockinette stitch. Achieving the correct gauge is important for ensuring the cowl fits the intended size, so knitting a swatch before beginning is always recommended, especially when making garments for babies where fit matters.

Construction Details

The cowl begins with a garter stitch section of 8 rows, with the first row designated as the right side. After the initial border, the pattern transitions into a combination of garter stitch side panels and a central stockinette stitch section. The side panels are maintained throughout — for example, working K22 (26) stitches, then purling across the center, then K22 (26) stitches — which keeps the edges flat and prevents the stockinette from rolling. The body of the cowl is worked until the piece measures 4 (5) inches [10 (12.5) cm] from the beginning before shaping continues. This structured approach to combining border stitches with a stockinette body is a classic and reliable construction method well suited to beginner