These hats are knit flat on straight needles and seamed so no need for dpns! Some are easy but some are more ambitious with short rows, cables, and other design techniques. Updated 6/6/23.
To get the knitting patterns, scroll down the page to the individual pattern you want and click on the link to that pattern.
These patterns are not my designs but links to other designers who have generously shared their patterns. If you have questions about how to knit a specific pattern, please contact the designer directly.
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Free Patterns
Folk Fusion Hat
Hat knit flat in two pieces and seamed. Features a honeycomb cable on the front and a tassel. Designed by Cathy Maguire for Lion Brand.
Bimitral Beret or Beanie
This slouchy hat is knit sideways with bias stripes. It can be adapted to a beret or beanie shape. 3 sizes. Designed by WoollyWormhead for Knitty
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See the Ravelry page
- See more hat knitting patterns by Woolly Wormhead
Cabled Hat
Learn how to make this gloriously textured cabled hat with expert knitwear designer, Norah Gaughan. Instructions to knit flat OR in the round. Pattern and instructional video class available for free with a free trial at Creativebug .
Game Day Hat
Classic ribbed hat knit flat with optional stripes and pompom. Knit in your favorite team colors! 2 sizes. Rated easy by the designers at Red Heart Design Team
U-Turn Hat Knit Flat
This hat is knitted flat from side to side WITHOUT short rows. Perfect for showcasing variegated yarn – especially for that stash sock yarn. Designed by Sybil R for fingering yarn.
Gift Beanie
These hats feature mirrored cables and are knit flat and seamed. Designed by Cathy Payson
Easy Roll Brim Beanie
This stockinette hat is knit flat and seamed. Brim rolls naturally. Designed by Kathleen Sams. Rated easy by Ravelrers.
Two Square Hat
Easy hat perfect for beginners. Two Squares are worked in easy Garter stitch stripes and then seamed to form hat. Uses 2 contrasting color balls of recommended yarn.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- Get the recommended Lion’s Pride® Woolspun yarn on Amazon
- See more Beginner Knitting Patterns
Skull Slouchy Beanie
Hat with fair isle skull motifs is knit flat and seamed. Designed by Cathy Payson.
Fern Green Hat
This slouchy hat by Lion Brand couldn’t be cuter or simpler — garter stitch that is knit flat and then seamed.
More Free Patterns
Cloche Divine
Designed by Meghan Jones, this cloche is knit flat sideways and seamed. It features a wide border of seed stitch for the brim. The stunning bow is created by making short rows and then gathering them together by purling together two rows at once.
Swirled Ski Hat
Designed by Caps for Kids, this cap comes in 2 sizes. Knit flat from side to side, increases on one side and decreases on the other turn vertical stripes into swirls when the cap is seamed. Great for multi-color yarn! Pictured project by Scsteinberg
Chunky Messy Bun Hat
Easy hat knit flat and seamed to leave a top opening for messy bun or ponytail. Designed by Marni Reecer. Quick knit in super bulky yarn.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- Get the recommended Premier Yarns Deborah Norville Serenity Chunky Yarn on Amazon
2 Row Repeat Seed Stitch Slouchy Hat
This easy hat takes just one skein of the recommended yarn and comes in two sizes. Designed by Cathy Payson
Cabled Bun Hat
Cable hat knit flat with a drawstring top opening for messy bun or ponytail. Designed by Lion Brand Yarn
Vertigo Hat
This hat is worked flat with short rows that create swirls of multi-colored or self-striping yarn. Designed by Kerstin Michler. Pictured project by sockpr0n and Tilde. Available in English, Dutch, German, and Portuguese.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See the Ravelry page
- Get the Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock used in the pictured project
Jordan
This easy hat from Berroco features two color garter stitch stripes, one with multi-color yarn, to create the illusion of complex striping. Looks like it is knit sideways and then seamed. Designed by Cirilia Rose
Matching Bi-Color Slouchy Hat
The vertical stripe colorwork in this set is knit with NO stranding or slipping any stitches. Mitts pattern has an option for full mittens. Hat can be knit flat or in the round. Great with multi-color yarn. Designed by Terry Morris
- Get the free HAT knitting pattern
- Get the free matching MITTS knitting pattern
- See more Colorful Mittens and Gloves Knitting Patterns
Super Slouch Hat
Knit flat on straight needles, this design by Gretchen at Balls to the Wall Knits has simple lace bands. You can make it less slouchy by omitting pattern repeats.
Mossing Along
DROPS Design’s slouchy hat features double moss stitch. Knit flat and then seamed.
Patterns for Purchase
4 Easy Hats
No longer free. Set of 4 hats knit flat on 2 straight needles including Bobble Hat with an 8 row rib and bobble stitch, Beret with a tent stitch texture, Pull-on Hat with a 2 row repeat rib stitch, Slouchy Hat with a 6 row repeat drop stitch rib stitch. All but the Slouchy Hat use just one skein of fingering weight yarn. Hats in Sirdar Country Style 4 Ply 7992.
Aspen Hat
Slouchy cabled beanie knit flat in a 24-row repeat that mixes two smaller cables with larger cables and with alternating seed stitch. Worked flat, then grafted to form a tube, and gathered and cinched at the top in 2 rounds, instead of using short rows. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Songbyrdy.
Sunday Pictorial Beret
Garter stitch beret knit flat. This simple pattern is a great introduction to hat knitting, simple shaping and basic sewing up. Knitted flat with every row knit it is a quick and easy knit. Pictured projects by the designer and shilao. Designed by Susan Crawford.
Muratura Sideways Slouchy Hat
Slouchy beanie with a textured stitch that showcases multicolored yarn. Designed by Woolly Wormhead.
Cable Wrap Beanie
Slouchy hat knit sideways so the cables run horizontally around your head, almost like a scarf, with the cables making a natural slouch. Designed by Katrine Hammer. Rated easy by Ravelrers. No longer free.
Toph Slouchy Beanie
Featuring short row colorwork, this hat is knit sideways flat on straight needles and grafted.. Designed by Woolly Wormhead.
Bavarian Twist Hat
This crisply textured cap is knit flat sideways, using short rows to shape the crown. It has a Bavarian twist stitch cable around the side of the cap, and a garter stitch border at the lower edge.
Niamh
This beanie is knit flat with sideways cables and a button band, shaped with short rows and seamed. Designed by Woolly Wormhead.
Imagiro Turban Hat
Worked flat, this piece is all in the finishing with fascinating folds and turns that turn simple garter stitch into a sculptural masterpiece. To fit size: 17 [19, 21, 23] in/ 43.25 [48.25, 53.25, 58.5] cm
