Knit Preemie Hat Pattern

Knitting materials and knitting tools:

<> 5 Double Pointed Knitting Needles or 16” Circular Knitting Needles 3.5 mm (US 4)

<> Red Heart: Soft Touch (4) – 100% Acrylic. For preemie hats it is better to use a wool yarn!!!

Knit preemie hat size:

 Head circumference: 26-28 cm

Gauge: 19-20 sts – 10 cm (4 inches) in stockinette

Common abbreviations of knitting stitches:

k – knit

p – purl

st(s) – stitch(es)

k2tog – knit two together.

Preemie hat knitting pattern:

Ribbing part of the preemie hat:

Cast on 48 stitches or any other number that is divisible by 6.  Place marker and join yarn, then k1, p1 across all stitches. Repeat ribbing until piece reaches 2.5-3 cm. I knitted 6 rounds

If you want to learn how to joint and knit in rounds cast on one extra stitch (in this case 49 sts) and check this short video tutorial.

Body of the preemie hat:

Round 7: knit all stitches around.

Repeat Round 7 until hat reaches 9 cm from the edge. I knitted 14 rounds in stockinette stitch.

Shaping crown of the preemie hat:

Round 1: [ k6, k2tog] – repeat till the end of round.

Round 2: knit all stitches around.

Round 3: [ k5, k2tog] – repeat till the end of round.

Round 4: knit all stitches around.

Round 5: [k4, k2tog] – repeat till the end of round.

Round 6: knit all stitches around.

Round 7: [k3, k2tog] – repeat till the end of round.

Round 8: [k2, k2tog] – repeat till the end of round.

Round 9: [k1, k2tog] – repeat till the end of round.

Cut the yarn leaving 10-15 cm tail. Draw the tail through the remaining stitches. Weave in ends.

If you want to knit a matching preemie socks for the full set, please check this post.