Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Bear Ears Hat Knitting Pattern

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I’m pretty sure it’s impossible to resist the cuteness of a hat with animal ears on it. Whether for little ones or even adults, adding ears to a hat just ramps up the cuteness factor, and it’s really not any more difficult and doesn’t take much longer to add ears to the top of a hat.

>>> While you are here, check out these 10 Teddy Bear patterns for Valentine’s day. <<<

When my kid was younger I made hats that looks like bears, cats and bunnies (and of course I made a version of a cat hat for adults, too). Ears are a great little detail that makes a plain hat that much cuter. And there’s something about little kids in hats with ears that seems to make both the kid and the hat extra cute.

This bear ears hat knitting pattern from Fox & Pine Stitches uses super bulky yarn and is sized for newborns, 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-12 months, 1-3 years and 4-12 years (though the same size hat would fit a 4 year old and a 12 year old quite differently; check the head measurement against the child you’re knitting for to make sure it will fit).

This little hat would be so cute to knit for a pregnancy announcement and to use in a newborn photo shoot, or make them for all the kids in your family for super cute holiday photos. And of course you could add the same style of ears to a bulky hat for any age to make coordinating head gear for everyone in the family.

The pattern is available for free from Fox & Pine Stitches.

Looking for more cute projects for baby? Check out my collection of easy baby blanket knitting patterns and a more recent list of baby blanket knitting patterns. (Baby blankets are my favorites, but hats are great to knit for babies, too, and you can always make both for a super sweet and thoughtful gift!)

[Photo: Fox & Pine Stitches]

Have you read?

Free Knitted Crown Pattern for Kids and Adults: A Sweet Handmade Dress-Up Idea

There’s something wonderfully charming about a knitted crown. It’s playful, useful for the dress-up basket, and just the sort of small project that gives a leftover ball of yarn a proper purpose. Much better than letting it roll around the cupboard for another three years.

This free knitted crown pattern for kids and adults combines a simple garter-stitch band with shaped triangular points. The mustard-gold colour gives it that storybook crown look, although pink, purple or woodland green would be equally lovely.

A Manageable Next Step for Beginner Knitters

The construction is the appealing part of this design. Everything is knitted flat, so you won’t need double-pointed needles or experience joining stitches in the round.

You knit the band first, then work each crown point separately over a group of 12 stitches. Paired decreases gradually narrow each triangle, giving you a small, repeatable section to concentrate on.

I’d describe this as a confident beginner knitting project. You’ll need to know how to knit, work two types of decreases, hold unused stitches and sew a simple seam. There are several yarn tails to weave in, so a little patience with finishing will help.

Three Sizes With Room to Personalise

The pattern includes three sizes, with seven, eight or nine crown points. Choose by the wearer’s head measurement rather than age, and check your gauge carefully. Yarn stretch will make a noticeable difference to the fit.

For birthdays, an embroidered initial would be a sweet finishing touch. Contrasting yarn diamonds could suggest little jewels without adding hard embellishments.

What to Know Before Casting On

This is a soft knitted crown, so expect gentle points rather than a rigid costume accessory. A springy wool or wool-blend yarn should give the shaping more support than a very drapey yarn.

The stitch calculations have been checked, but the design has not yet been sample-knitted. The accompanying image is an illustrative mockup, so the finished texture and proportions may vary with your yarn and tension.

For a small handmade birthday accessory or a cheerful addition to the dress-up box, this is an appealing idea. And if an adult needs a matching crown for supervising the royal household, the larger size has that covered too.