How to knit the Sky High, basic baby hat

How to knit the Sky High, basic baby hat

You can never have too many cute baby hats. This step-by-step lesson will assist you in working a simple baby hat with rib and earflaps, like the one shown in pattern DROPS Baby 20-9. Click here to see the complete pattern.

Do you have any questions? Leave them in the comment section at the bottom of the page and we'll get back to you asap!

We work size 1/3 months in this lesson, which you will find highlighted in bold.

Size: 1/3 - 6/9 - 12/18 months - 2 - 3/4 years
Head circumference (approx): 40/42 - 42/44 - 44/46 - 48/50 - 50/52 cm = 15 3/4”/16 1/2” – 16 1/2”/17 1/4” – 17 1/4”/18” (19”-19 3/4” -19 3/4”/19 1/2”).

Do you have everything you need to get started?

Materials:

DROPS Merino Extra Fine from Garnstudio (belongs to yarn group B).
50-50-50-100-100 g color no 08, light beige mix

DROPS DOUBLE POINTED NEEDLES and CIRCULAR NEEDLE (40 cm = 16”) size 4 mm = US 6 - or size needed to get 21 sts x 28 rows in stockinette st = 10 x 10 cm = 4” x 4”.

DROPS CIRCULAR NEEDLE (40 cm = 16”) size 3.5 mm = US 4 – for rib.

The needle size is only a guide. If you get too many stitches on 10 cm = 4”, change to a larger needle size. If you get too few stitches on 10 cm = 4”, change to a smaller needle size.

Let’s get started!

SHORT OVERVIEW OF THE PIECE:
The hat is worked in the round, top-down. We start using double pointed needles and change to circular needles as the stitch count increases. Finally, the earflaps are worked back and forth on double pointed needles.

INCREASING TIP: Inc 1 st by working 2 sts in 1 st.

HAT:
Cast on 8-10-13-15-18 stitches on double pointed needles size 4 mm = US 6 (leave a thread end to use when tightening the top together afterwards).

Work 1 round stockinette stitch, AT THE SAME TIME increase 7-10-12-15-17 stitches evenly – see INCREASING TIP! = 15-20-25-30-35 stitches.

Insert 5 markers in piece with 3-4-5-6-7 sts between each, and work 1 round stockinette stitch.

On next round increase 1 stitch each side of each marker.

Repeat increase every 2. Round a total of 6 times = 75-80-85-90-95 stitches.

Change to circular needle size 4 mm = US 6.
Continue in stockinette stitch.

When piece measures 11-12-13-14-15 cm = 4 3/8”-4 3/4”-5 1/8”-5 1/2”-6” increase 25-26-29-30-31 stitches evenly (increase in approx every 3rd stitch) = 100-106-114-120-126 stitches.

Change to circular needle size 3.5 mm = US 4. Work rib knit 1/Purl 1 on all stitches over all stitches until rib measures 3 cm = 1 1/8”.

When rib measures 3 cm = 1 1/8” bind off as follows - NOTE! Round begins 10-10-8-8-7 stitches before mid back: bind off 21-21-17-17-15 stitches with knit over knit and purl over purl (= mid back).

Work the next 25-27-33-35-39 stitches and slip them on a stitch holder for earflap.

Bind off the next 29-31-31-33-33 stitches (= forehead).

Now work earflap back and forth on the last 25-27-33-35-39 stitches as follows: continue in rib knit 1/purl 1, AT THE SAME TIME decrease 1 stitch at beginning of every row a total of 9-10-13-14-16 times each side (decrease by K2 tog/P2 tog the first 2 sts) = 7 stitches.

On next row, bind off remaining stitches with knit over knit and purl over purl. Earflap measures approx 6-7-9-10-11 cm = 2 3/8”-2 3/4”-3 1/2”-4”-4 3/8”.

Work the other earflap in the same way.

Tighten the top of hat together and fasten thread.

TIE STRINGS:
Cut 2 threads measuring 75 cm = 29 1/2” each and twist them hard.

Pull string through bottom of earflap and fold it double to let it twist again. Tie a knot at the end of string. Repeat at the bottom of other earflap.

Finished

We can’t wait to see how your hat turned out! Post your pictures on social media using hashtags #dropsalong and #dropsskyhigh - or submit your project to the #dropsfan gallery

Need some help?

If you need more more information about the different stitches or techniques used in this pattern, here’s a list of lessons and video tutorials that will help you along: