Free Knitting Pattern! Bear Hat for the Rest of Us

Bear Hat For the Rest of Us
By Jennifer Dickerson

By popular demand! I have received many requests for additional sizing for the baby bear hat...

Here's the original pattern:
Baby Bear Newborn or Preemie Hat

Because of your wonderful comments and requests, I have written this pattern in a multitude of sizing to accommodate everyone else's heads!

Please Note: Pattern includes instructions for both a seamed hat and a hat in the round.

Materials:

• 1 (2, 2) Skein(s) Lion Brand Nature's Choice Organic Cotton (or your favorite worsted weight yarn) 
• US10.5 Straight needles (for knitting flat) 
• US10.5 Circular Needles and Set of 4 US 10.5 DPNs (for knitting in the round) 
• Tapestry Needle 

Sizing:

Click here for Preemie, Newborn, and Baby sizes!

Toddler/Child (Teen/Adult Woman, Adult Man)

• Circumference: 17” (20”, 22”) (toddler/child, woman, man) 
• Height: 6.25” (7.25”, 8”), includes roll of brim 

Note: hat is very stretchy, but measure circumference of head first for best fit.

Gauge:

• 14 Stitches and 19 Rows = 4 Inches 

Abbreviations:

• CO: Cast on 
• BO: Bind off 
• K2tog: Knit two stitches together 
• St st: Stockinette stitch 
• WS: Wrong side 
• PM: Place marker

Instructions for Hat (knitted flat):

CO 56 (64, 72) sts leaving a long tail for seaming up later.
Work in st st until hat measures 6.5” (7.5”, 8.25”) from CO edge, ending on a WS row.

Decrease (all sizes):
Row 1: K4, K2tog across
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: K3, K2tog across
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: K2, K2tog across
Row 6: Purl
Row 7: K1, K2tog across
Row 8: Purl
Row 9: K2tog across

Using tapestry needle, break yarn leaving a long tail. Thread through remaining stitches and pull tightly. Seam up the back of hat and weave in ends.

Instructions for Hat (knitted in the round):

CO 56 (64, 72) sts
Join in the round, being careful not to twist, PM
Begin working in st st (knit all rounds) until hat measures 6.5” (7.5”, 8.25”) from CO edge.

Decrease (all sizes):
*Note: Switch to DPNs when necessary.
Row 1: K4, K2tog around
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: K3, K2tog around
Row 4: Knit
Row 5: K2, K2tog around
Row 6: Knit
Row 7: K1, K2tog around
Row 8: Knit
Row 9: K2tog around

Using tapestry needle, break yarn leaving a long tail. Thread through remaining stitches and pull tightly.

Instructions for Ears (make two):
Note: Ears are worked in garter stitch to make them nice and sturdy.
CO 8 (10, 10) sts (be sure to leave a long tail for attaching the ears later)
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: Knit
Row 4 (toddler/child size): K2, k2tog, k2tog, k2
Row 4 (woman and man size): K3, k2tog, k2tog, k3
BO

Finishing:
Stitch both ears to top of hat with tapestry needle and matching yarn.. Weave in any ends.

© Jennifer Dickerson 2013

Please note: Patterns are for personal and charity use only. In addition, if you enjoy the pattern, please link to it, but do not copy the pattern to your own website or blog (including other languages). Thank you!