A Beautiful Way to Keep Your Head Warm

I haven’t knit a lot of hats, because I don’t wear hats that often, and because I don’t wear hats that often, the ones I have knit tend to be pretty basic and utilitarian. There’s nothing wrong with that, but there’s also nothing wrong with treating yourself to a lovely hat that takes a little more time to knit but will also be a joy to wear whenever you need to.

I think the Two Grey Hills hat from Tressa Weidenaar is an example of that second kind of hat. With its allover colorwork design and use of DK weight yarn, this is going to take you longer to knit than, say, a ribbed hat in bulky yarn. But you’ll also get that time to enjoy the process and reflect on the meaning behind the colorwork, which is inspired by Navajo weavings.

The pattern calls for two colors of DK yarn and is available in two sizes, adult medium and large. Two colors with a nice contrast will be helpful for seeing the design, which is somewhat intricate in places.

Despite that, this isn’t a difficult pattern if you’ve done stranded knitting before. You need to know how to cast on, knit, purl, work in the round, do colorwork from a chart and decrease stitches to make this hat.

Make this hat with a soft yarn and you’ll want to wear it all day, every day when the weather is cold. You can grab the pattern on Ravelry, and also check out the Rug Weaver’s Headband, which has a different look but is also inspired by Navajo weaving. The headband might be a better choice to knit if you don’t live somewhere where you need a winter hat that often.

Looking for more hats? Check out these hat knitting patterns that use worsted weight yarn leftovers.

[Photo: Tressa Weidenaar]

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There is something very sweet about vintage baby knitting patterns, especially the ones that still feel wearable today. This Vintage Baby Sweater Knitting Pattern PDF from the CraftGossipStore has that lovely old-fashioned charm without looking fussy or too dated, which is exactly what makes it a nice find for knitters who enjoy making baby gifts with a bit of heirloom feeling.

The pattern includes two classic baby sweater styles: a textured crew neck jumper and cardigan options with raglan sleeves. The stitch pattern gives the finished pieces that beautiful handmade texture we all love, but it still feels practical enough for real babies — not just the kind of outfit that gets worn for one photo and then carefully folded away forever.

You can find the pattern here: Vintage Baby Sweater Knitting Pattern PDF from CraftGossipStore.

This is a restored vintage knitting pattern delivered as a printable PDF, so there is no physical pattern posted out. After purchase, the file is available through Etsy as an instant digital download, which is handy if you’re the sort of knitter who gets an idea at 9 pm and wants to cast on before common sense has a chance to intervene.

The pattern is designed for 8 ply / DK weight yarn, which makes it a practical choice because DK baby yarn is easy to find in soft modern colours. It uses 3.25 mm and 4 mm knitting needles, along with stitch holders, buttons for the cardigan versions, a yarn needle, scissors, and measuring tape.

What I like about this pattern is the flexibility. Worked in cream, lemon, powder blue, sage green, oatmeal, dusty pink, or warm beige, it would suit either a traditional baby wardrobe or a more modern neutral nursery style. The cardigan version is especially practical because cardigans are always easier when dressing little ones. Anyone who has ever tried to wriggle a jumper over a sleepy baby’s head will understand that immediately.

Because this is a vintage pattern, it is worth remembering that older knitting patterns are often written more briefly than modern ones. They tend to assume the knitter already knows a few things, so I’d recommend this for confident beginners through to intermediate knitters rather than someone picking up needles for the very first time. If you’re comfortable reading shaping instructions, checking gauge, working textured stitches, and sewing seams neatly, this should be a very satisfying little project.

Before starting, make a tension square. I know, I know — no one wants to hear it, but baby garments are small enough that gauge really does matter. A tiny difference in tension can quickly change the finished size, and nobody wants to finish a beautiful baby cardigan only to discover it fits a doll or a toddler with very optimistic shoulders.

This pattern would make a lovely baby shower gift, newborn photo outfit, heirloom baby knit, or handmade market sample. It is also a nice choice for knitters who enjoy vintage patterns but prefer having them cleaned up into a more usable digital format.

If you need supplies, look for a soft DK baby yarn, smooth knitting needles, small cardigan buttons, stitch holders, and a blunt yarn needle for finishing. Mary Maxim is always worth checking for baby yarns and classic knitting supplies, while Amazon can be handy for basics like stitch holders, measuring tapes, button packs, and printed pattern binders if you like keeping your PDF patterns organised.

For anyone who enjoys traditional baby knitting, this is a sweet little pattern with plenty of charm. It has that “made by Grandma, kept forever” feeling, but with enough simplicity to make it useful for everyday babywear too.

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