Max's Knitted Hat

Max's Knitted Hat by Joan Laws

What Is Being Made

Max's Knitted Hat is a beginner-friendly knitted beanie designed in two sizes: Baby (18"/46cm circumference) and Child (20"/51cm circumference). This downloadable knitting pattern creates a classic, fitted hat suitable for young children, featuring a two-color design with contrasting yarn weights and textures.

Yarn Materials

This pattern uses two distinct yarns to create visual and textural interest:

• Main Color (MC): Kraemer Perfection yarn in Admiral (#Y1534), a blend of 30% Domestic Merino and 70% Acrylic. One skein of 225 yards per 100 grams is required.
• Contrast Color (CC): Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash in Space Needle (#892), 100% Superwash Wool. One skein of 220 yards per 200 meters is needed.

The yarn weight combination of DK and Worsted creates an interesting mixed-weight construction, with the Kraemer Perfection working as a lighter-weight yarn and the Cascade 220 Superwash as a worsted-weight option. The Superwash wool in the contrast color provides easy-care properties ideal for children's garments.

Needles and Notions

• US Size 5 (3.5mm) 16-inch (40cm) circular needle for ribbed cuff
• US Size 7 (4.5mm) 16-inch (40cm) circular needle for main body
• US Size 7 (4.5mm) double-pointed needles (DPNs) for crown decreases when stitches become too tight on the circular needle
• Five stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

Max's Knitted Hat employs fundamental knitting techniques appropriate for beginners while introducing practical skills:

• Cast-on: 90 stitches (Baby size) or 100 stitches (Child size) using the smaller needles and contrast color yarn
• Circular knitting: The pattern is worked in the round using a 16-inch circular needle, requiring careful attention to avoid twisting stitches during the join
• Ribbing: The cuff begins with alternating knit and purl rounds (Rounds 1 and 2 repeated twice) worked on smaller needles to create elastic, fitted ribbing that hugs the head
• Stockinette stitch (St st): The main body is worked in stockinette stitch—knitting every round—creating a smooth, classic fabric on the larger needles
• Gauge shaping: A purl round is worked mid-pattern while simultaneously placing stitch markers every 18 stitches (Baby) or 20 stitches (Child) to prepare for crown decreases
• Needle transition: The pattern requires switching from circular needles to double-pointed needles as the crown shaping reduces the stitch count and causes crowding on the circular needle

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is designed to achieve a gauge of 20 stitches over 4 inches when worked on the larger US Size 7 (4.5mm) needles. Proper gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished circumference. The two-size construction allows customization for babies and children with different head measurements.

Difficulty Level

Rated as a beginner pattern, Max's Knitted Hat introduces knitters to in-the-round construction, color changes, and basic shaping techniques without overwhelming complexity. The straightforward stitch pattern and clear size progression make it an ideal project for developing fundamental circular knitting skills.