How to knit the Aviator Hat

Know a little one that could use a new, warm hat? Here’s a step by step with pictures of how you knit one of the most popular baby hat designs on our site, the Baby Aviator Hat (DROPS Baby 14-16).

You will also find a video to assist you at the end of this lesson. But if you still have questions, you can always leave them to our experts, by using the form at the bottom of the page!

Size: 1/3 - (6/9 - 12/18 months - 2 - 3/4 years)
Size in cm: 50/56 - (62/68- 74/80 - 86/92-98/104)

Materials: DROPS Alpaca from Garnstudio (yarn group A)
100-100-100 (150-150) g colour no 6205, light blue

DROPS pointed and double pointed needles size 2.5mm or the size needed to get 26 stitches and 52 rows garter stitch on 10 cm in width and 10 cm in height.

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

Let’s get started!

We are working the smallest size, 1/3 months (the other sizes are in brackets).

The entire piece is worked in garter stitch (all rows are knitted).

1) Cast on 33 (38-42-46-50) stitches on needle size 2.5 mm.

2) Knit 1. row (= right side) as follows: knit 2 stitches, make 1 yarn over (= 1 stitch increased). Work until 4 stitches remain.

3) The last 4 stitches are worked as follows: knit 2 stitches together, knit 2.

4) Knit all stitches (from wrong side), but when 3 stitches remain (yarn over + 2 stitches), knit the yarn over twisted to avoid making a hole (ie: work in the back loop rather than in the front loop), knit last 2 stitches.

5) Repeat these 2 rows until the piece measures 5½ (6-6½-7-8 cm). The photo below illustrates the shape of piece seen from the right side.

6) Then decrease 1 stitch in the right side and increase 1 stitch in the left side as follows: Decrease: from right side, knit 1 stitch, slip 1 stitch onto right needle, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over (= 1 stitch decreased). Work until 2 stitches remain.

7) Increase: from right side, you have 2 stitches left on needle, make 1 yarn over, knit 2, turn piece.

8) From wrong side: knit all stitches (knit yarn over twisted).

9) Repeat these 2 rows for a total of 5½ (6-6½ -7-8) cm.

10) Now, go back to increasing in the right side (seen from right side), but this time increase on every 4th row, while at the same time: continue decreasing in the left side, every 2nd row until piece measures 15½ (16½-17½ -18-19) cm from cast on edge. Place a marker in each side of piece.

11) Half the piece is completed and the second half is worked opposite to the first part. Ie: continue as follows: decrease 1 stitch in right side (seen from the right side) on every 4th row, and increase 1 stitch in left side every 2nd row until piece measures 20 (21-22-22-22) cm.

12) Increase in right side (seen from right side) every 2nd row, and decrease 1 stitch in the left side every 2nd row until piece measures 25½ (27-28½-29-30) cm.

13) Decrease 1 stitch in the right side every 2nd row and increase 1 stitch in left side every 2nd row until finished measurements = 31 (33-35-36-38) cm.

14) Cast off.

Back of hat = the side of piece which has 2 full tips and 2 half-tips. The middle of the 3 full tips in opposite side of piece = middle of forehead on the front of hat.

15) Sew the tips on the back of hat together. Assembly.
Sew hat together, using small neat stitches, as follows: sew first half-tip to first half of first full tip.

16) Continue by sewing the second half of first full tip to first half of second full tip.

17) Then, sew second half of second full tip to last half-tip.

18) Finally, sew hat together mid back.

Assembly is completed.

19) Now, work 2 I-cords (for tieing). Cast on 4 stitches on needle size 2.5 mm.

20) Work I-cord as follows: knit 1 stitch, place strand in front of piece (towards you).

21) Slip 1 stitch purlwise.

22) Place strand behind piece again (away from you).

23) Repeat point 20-22 over the remaining stitches.

Turn piece and repeat point 20-23.
This will become a knitted tube. Cast off when cord measures 16 (18-20-22-24) cm. Work 1 more I-cord the same way.

24) Sew 1 cord to each of the bottom points in each side.

Done!

Find the hat pattern here!

Need some help?

Should you want more information about the different stitches or techniques, here’s a list of lessons and video tutorials that will help: