The above two are from patterns I have made multiple times, especially the one on the right. But for my full review of free Hat PDFs for children and babies, read on!
My all-time favourite free PDF hat patterns
I must start, of course, with these favourites - tried and tested as they are.
First, the Scrappy Sunhat (so-called because you can make it with scraps of fabric) from Jessica at Projects by Jess. I wrote about the ones I made for my grand-daughters in this post. Every one has turned out beautifully, and they are easy to make using Jessica's free PDF pattern.
(Jessica's web site used to be called Running with Scissors; the previous link to Running with Scissors doesn't work, so please use the new one I've provided..)
First, one made in the smallest size:
And this hat in use! Adorable.
Next, one made with the middle size pattern. I like the little fake cloth button feature I made on this one:
And finally, one made in the largest of the three sizes:
I'm sure I'll be using this pattern again, though. I've got one more younger grand-daughter who will need a hat or two next summer (as well as the hand-me-downs!); plus, I think I'll be able to make it a little larger quite easily, by drawing around the largest size pattern to make it a little bigger all round.
Although Jessica shows one of her hats graciously modelled by her son (in ironic fashion) this summer hat is clearly one for the girls. My next favourite is a winter bonnet, and I think would work equally well for young boys. It is another free PDf and tutorial from Purl Soho and is called Corinne's Winter Baby Bonnet. The pattern sizes go from a 0-3 months version up to an 18-24 months version.
I used the largest size to make this little tie-on winter bonnet for Jane. This would have been her second birthday (but at this stage she was quite tiny). I wrote about the whole birthday outfit, of which the hat was a part, in this post.
Unfortunately, at this age, she wouldn't stand still for a second to be photographed. But she did have a go at trying to put it on by herself.
Now for some more free PDF hat patterns
First, I suggest you look at Fleece Fun, who have several different styles of hats on their web site.
Then, if you are looking for something specific, check these out. (My differentiation between the different types is a bit arbitrary! So you might need to check out more than one type.)
Knotted hats
Knotted style hats are usually suitable for new-borns and small babies up to 3 months (after which, they may be able to pull them off!). They are great at keeping tiny heads warm. They are also suitable for premature babies (of which we have some experience).
1. First, let's look at what is available in premature baby size. To be honest, there's not a lot, now that Blesseddesigns.net seems to have gone to the wall. Luckily, I have a similar pattern myself. You can get a copy of my free PDF below by clicking on the image. However, in case you can't easily print it to scale, there is a 1" and a 4cm square - so you could draw it on squared paper. This is suitable for 4 - 7 lbs or approximately 1.75 kgs - 3.25 kgs. We needed one even smaller, but just by tying the knot a bit further down, it worked until she grew a bit.
As well as the pattern piece from the PDF, you will need a piece of soft ribbing 10 1/2" by 3" (or 26.5cms x 7.5 cms). There are directions and a full tutorial in this post.
2. This one, a Dutch pattern, also has a premature baby size pattern for a knotted hat. I haven't tried it. But it has 3 sizes.
The Coral and Co pattern below under Beanies, though not a knotted design, also has premature baby sizes.
The ones following are also knotted hats, but not for premature babies. Most are for newborns / 0-3 months in age.
3. Make it love it beanie with top knot - suitable for 0-3 months
4. Zaaberry have this knotted hat pattern (and with beanie versions). These are also for newborns.
5. See Kate Sew offers one for newborn to 2/3 months.
6. Fleece fun variation A slightly different version, in that it uses an existing hat pattern also available on their site, and adds a separate top knot. This has the advantage that their basic hat pattern comes in multiple sizes from 0-3 months to adult. See below.
Beanies
6. Fleece fun variation A slightly different version, in that it uses an existing hat pattern also available on their site, and adds a separate top knot. This has the advantage that their basic hat pattern comes in multiple sizes from 0-3 months to adult. See below.
Beanies
7. Beanie pattern from Coral and Co.
As with many pattern sites now, you have to subscribe (free), but this free PDF comes in sizes from premature to 12 months.
8. Simple Beanie by Make it Love It. This is only in a 0-3 months size, but it is very easy, and also includes some nice ideas and a template for adding knit flowers for a girl's version (or for a boy's, if you want!)
9. Simple Newborn hat by Stitched by Crystal. This is made all in one, without needing a separate cuff or headband, but it has a little more shaping.
10. Perhaps more of a helmet than a beanie, but without straps, so I've included it here: this nice pattern from How Joyful, which has optional teddy bear ears - very cute. It is sized for 0-3 months but Joy suggests how it can be enlarged (as she did herself) for an older baby.
11. Small Dream Factory, one of my favourite sites for free children's patterns, has a toddler hat in two sizes, from 10-20 months - similar idea to the How Joyful one, but with strings.There is also a beanie version for knits up to aged 10 years.
12. Fleece Fun - mentioned earlier - have a very basic beanie pattern, but it comes in no less than 7 sizes from baby to adult.
Helmet Style with chin strap
Nore that some of the beanies also can be made with strings to go under the chin. These are hats with built-in (all in one) chin straps. These have the advantage that they are hard to pull off. (Why do nearly all babies want to pull their hats off?) However, this can also make them pretty angry if they are das determined as one of our grand-children was to remove it!
13. Corinne's Winter Baby Bonnet (one of my two favourites, above!)
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Brimmed old style bonnets
These look very cute, and many people like them for girls. The brim forms a good sunshade. I have to say they weren't for us, so I don't have any pictures of my own efforts. But if it's your thing, then here are some sweet examples.
15. Bonnet made from vintage linens by Makezine. I can't see any sizing but it looks suitable for a newborn.
16. Reversible Bonnet for 3-6 months. from Pretty Prudent. This looks nice and easy, but only has a small brim.
17 A pure vintage style bonnet from Sew Mama Sew, with two sizes: 3 months; and 6-12 months. However the style of the hat is that it has an adjustable back tie, so it might fit a little longer than others.
18. For a toddler size, 12-18 months, have a look at this very large brimmed pattern from Delia Creates. This one is also adjustable at the back, so Delia thinks it would probably work up to about 2 years old. She also has a link back to making a small brimmed pattern from a hood pattern, for a younger baby.
19. If I did ever have the urge to make a sun bonnet style of hat, I'd probably use this pattern from Corinne at Purl Soho, at least in part because I've used one of her other hat patterns and found it works. This comes in 4 sizes 0-24 months. And it seems to me to have just about the right size of brim. But. I just can't see any of my grand-daughters wanting to wear a brimmed sun bonnet (or their mothers, my daughters, having any enthusiasm for them, either).
So, onward to brimmed hats - which have been found acceptable!
Brimmed hats
20. This first is one I downloaded some years ago, the Tulip Petal Hat by Cottage Mama. - I think it's very pretty and not too difficult, but somehow I've never got round to making one yet. It is sized 2-5 years - only the one size. Maybe I'll get round to it next summer!
21. A basic brimmed sun hat, from Twinfinite Fun, not too frilly, so would work for a boy or a girl. Sized at about 15 months.
22. From Jessica at Me Sew Crazy, this hat has a separate band thruogh loops. Sized from 12-24 months.
23. If you need a large brimmed hat, there is this version from Shwin and Shwin. The age isn't given, but it's called a toddler hat, and it fits a 20.5 cm circumference head. However, I suggest you read the whole post and the comments, as some people had to make adjustments to the pattern.
24. I like the look of Merriment's sun hat for 6-12 months. It has the advantage of some ties under the chin.
25. And my favourite Scrappy Sunhat from Running With Scissors again. 3 different sizes, I've made them all. Jane here is wearing the largest size, aged about 3.
26. Finally for a more utilitarian brimmed hat, Melly Sews has a tutorial for drafting a brimmed hat pattern (though she gives a downloadable pattern for the crown.) This would work in any size from toddlers to a man's size.
Bucket hats
Some of the brimmed hats might not work quite so well for boys (except the last one from Melly Sews). Boys often prefer a simpler bucket hat. This doesn't shade their faces as well as a larger brimmed hat. The main difference though is that a bucket hat doesn't usually have a flared or frilly brim. But check out some of the other brimmed hats, too.
27. Basic bucket hat for aged 2/3 child from Sew Much Ado.
28. Reversible bucket hat from Oliver+S.
This has 4 sizes fromn 6 months to 8 years old.
Hats with ear flaps and neck protection
Well, we live in the sort of climate where kids need warm hats in winter (and so do the adults!). But the style may also work as sun protection. Here are some great ideas.
29. Delia Create Toddler ear flap hat for an 18-19 inch head (approximatley 2 years old) - looks cute and I'd like one for me!
30. This hat from Get Creative / The Secret Workshop is not so much of a winter hat, but a great hat with flaps which would be really good sun protection. It has three sizes from newborn to 8 years old. However, please note that the pattern pieces are not numbered as their names suggest. It is pretty easy to figure it out though.
31. As I said, my categorisation is a bit arbitrary, so this ear flap hat from Fleece Fun (included here because that's what the pattern designer calls it) is actually more similar to #10 above which I've included in beanies. It says is comes in newborn to adult but I can only finspatterns from age 3 to age 12.
32. I love this idea from Indietutes, which does require you to make your own pattern from measurements of the child's head - but this has the advanatge you could make it for any age. It looks cute!
33. Not an ear flap hat, but another one I found when looking for the type of sun hat that offers protection to the back of the neck. This is from Marrietta, and the site is mainly in Russian, but you can ask it to translate, and the tutorial (all in pictures) is good and so is the free pattern. I'm not sure exactly what size it is, but the boys in the pictures look to be between 2 and 5. I'd have a go at it - I think it would be not too difficult to scale up or down.
34. This from Schnabelina is similar, but in 8 sizes from hat circumference 42cm up to 56cm. The downside is that this one is in German, but again, the pciture tutorial is very good, and you can ask it to translate. And a good pattern. Maybe I'll try it!
35. Another excellent design from the ever prolific Schnabelina, this time for a warm ear flap hat. Again, mainly written in German, but very good even if you don't read German! On the web site, you need to click on Download Schnitt for the pattern (12 sizes from 36cm to 58cm) and Download Ebook for the pictorial tutorial.
Finally - caps!
36. First, a cute flat cap / Gatsby style cap from Melly Sews, only one size, for a 19-20" head.
37. And last but not least, a baseball cap. This is sized to fit a 2-4 year old, and is from xoxoGrandma. She shows versions on both boys and girls.
Well, I hope you like my round up of free pdf hat patterns for children. and have found some inspiration. I think I need to get on with some more hat-making!
36. First, a cute flat cap / Gatsby style cap from Melly Sews, only one size, for a 19-20" head.
37. And last but not least, a baseball cap. This is sized to fit a 2-4 year old, and is from xoxoGrandma. She shows versions on both boys and girls.
Well, I hope you like my round up of free pdf hat patterns for children. and have found some inspiration. I think I need to get on with some more hat-making!
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