Knitting Patterns for hats using scrap or leftover yarn. Many of the patterns are free.
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.
All links on this site are for informational purposes, but please note that some links are to affiliate sellers that pay me a small commission on purchases.
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Free Patterns
Easy Peasy Hat
Colorful hat knit with striped patterns in multiple colors. Designed for those new to colorwork knitting, the stranded pattern is easy to knit, only two colors in one round and no more than 3 stitches of one color pass. Versions for two-, five-, seven- and ten-colors so it's great for mini skeins, stashbusting, and using up leftover yarn. Sizes S/M [L/XL] DK weight yarn. Designed by Karolina Adamczyk. Available in English and Polish
Sea Glass Hat
This hat is designed to use up scraps of leftover yarn knit with 1 x 1 colorwork, switching between 2 colors every stitch. Links to video tutorials in pattern. Sizes Newborn (6-12month, 1-2yr, toddler, kid/teen, adult S, adult M, adult L) Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Wool and Pine. Does require subscription to newsletter to get pattern.
- Get the free knitting pattern. Requires newsletter subscription to get pattern.
- Buy the matching Seaglass Sweater pattern which also includes the hat pattern
Graphic Fair Isle Hat
This hat features a graphic design with mix of horizontal and vertical stripes. Perfect project for the beginner fair isle knitter, as it features a simple stitch repeat that is both intuitive and engaging. Designed for 5 colors, it's a great stashbuster for leftover yarn. Bulky weight yarn. Designed by Yarnspirations.
Chevron Hat
Hat with colorful chevron zigzag stripes and pompom. Designed for 5 colors, it's a great stashbuster for leftover yarn. Bulky weight yarn. Designed by Yarnspirations.
Fading Shades Hat
Hat knit with five colors with a slipped stitch design that creates an ombre look from one color to another. Designed for 5 colors, you can use one skein of the recommended yarn which has all the colors you need or knit it as a stashbuster for leftover yarn. Bulky weight yarn. Designed by Yarnspirations.
Cimarron Hat
Striped beanie hat knit with an easy texture. Designed for 5 colors, it's a perfect stashbuster for leftover yarn or mini skeins. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Bonnie Dean. Note: For health reasons, she cannot offer support.
14 Color Slouch Hat
Easy striped slouchy beanie hat worked with just the knit stitch in the round. Designed for 14 colors, it's a perfect stashbuster for leftover yarn. Fingering weight yarn. 14 Color Woolstok Light Slouch designed by Virginia Sattler-Reimer for Blue Sky Fibers.
20 Color Slouch Hat
Easy hat knit with stripes of 2 round repeat linen stitch. Designed for 20 colors, it's a perfect stashbuster for leftover yarn. DK weight yarn. Designed by Premier Yarns.
Dovetail Hat
Colorful beanie hat knit with 4 colors. Perfect stashbuster for leftover yarn. 2 Sizes. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Quinn Reverendo for Fairmount Fibers.
Sarah's Slouch Hat
Easy reversible hat knit by holding two strands of yarn together for a marled effect. Perfect for using up scraps of leftover yarn. 4 Sizes. Rated easy by Ravelrers. Designed by Woolly Wormhead.
More Free Patterns
Fruit Smoothie Tam
Baby and child sized beret hat knit in at least 6 colors so it's a great stashbuster for leftover yarn. Sizes Baby (Toddler, Child). Designed by Lion Brand. Worsted weight yarn.
Easy Fair Isle Hat
Beanie knit with 5 different colors and a stranded arrow design, this hat is perfect for mini skein sets like the recommended yarn or stash yarn. Rated easy by the designer and Ravelrers. Designed by Caron. Bulky weight yarn. Pictured projects by the designer and sirianv.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- Get the BABY / CHILD version of the knitting pattern
- See more Colorful Hat Knitting Patterns
Glitch Hat
Great for stash sock yarn, this colorful hat is knit by randomizing traditional stranded colorwork and marling using 4 different colorways of variegated fingering yarn. Uses just 30g/100m of each of the four colors. Rated easy by Ravelrers. Designed by Beata Jezek for Hedgehog Fibres
Corrugated Pillbox Hat
A pillbox had with multi-colored vertical stripes in corrugated ribbing and a latvian braid at the crown. The designer made this hat with scraps of Noro Kureyon, but you can use also use just two different colorways. Designed by Ellen Rodgers
Migrating Hat
Striped beanie with slipped stitch pattern inspired by migrating birds in a 14 row repeat. Great for stashbusting or mini skeins or you can also knit with solid background. Designed by Maureen Clark. Worsted weight yarn.
Dingle Hat
Inspired by a colorful Irish village named Dingle, this slouchy hat interprets the traditional Fair Isle in a geometric pattern that uses only two colors per round. Designed by Sabrina Schumacher. Perfect for stashbusting or mini skeins.
Werewolf of Westport Hat
This colorful beanie features garter stitch, stripes, short rows wedges and modular construction. It uses 5 colors of worsted yarn ranging in amounts from 10 meters to 42 meters so it’s perfect for scrap yarn and stash busting. Designed by Les Tricoteurs Volants. Pictured project by JulieKnitsInParis
Scrap Happy Hat
Colorful earflap hat perfect for scrap yarn. Knit 2 strands of worsted weight yarn doubled throughout the project. Designed by Susan B. Anderson. Rated easy by Ravelrers
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See more Earflap Hat Knitting Patterns
Get Itty Bitty Toys by Susan Anderson at Amazon (Kindle and Prime options available)
Attention Span Hat
This colorful earflap hat by Mimi Kezer is a great sampler of knitting techniques. Pattern includes a pinhole cast-on, a bit of Entrelac, a lateral braid or two, some stranded colorwork, tassels and a pom-pom, German short rows, and a little stockinette stitch.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See more Earflap Hat Knitting Patterns
- See more Sampler Knitting Patterns
Ombre Party Hat
Beanie knit with fingering weight held double to create beautiful transitions from one color yarn to the next. This is a fantastic stash buster (who doesn’t need another one of those) or goes great with mini skein sets. Designed by Melissa Ilgen. Fingering weight yarn. Pictured projects by the designer and aknewlin.
Clayoquot Toque
Like father, like son with these matching hats for new baby and proud daddy by Tin Can Knits. This modern fair-isle hat comes in multiple sizes, from Newborn to Adult, so parent and child can be two of a kind at any age! Great stash buster!
Patterns for Purchase
The Art of Knitting Hats: 30 Easy-to-Follow Patterns to Create Your Own Colorwork Masterpieces
These vibrant colorwork hat knitting projects offer the perfect introduction for knitters new to colorwork with photo tutorials, while the variety and versatility of each design will inspire even the most experienced knitter. Pair bold motifs such as stripes, zig zags, hearts and falling snow with daring colors to create one-of-a-kind gifts and cherished handmade accessories. Great for stashbusting and scrap leftover yarn. Designed by Courtney Flynn.
Double-up Hat and Headband
Knit a strip of garter stitch stripes in 24 colors and then either turn into the brim of a hat or headband. Perfect stashbuster for leftover scraps of DK weight yarn. 3 sizes Small, medium, large. Designed by Lauren Rose.
Larch Hat
Easy slouchy hat knit in seed stitch. Sizes child (adult S/M, adult L/XL). Rated easy by Ravelrers. Designed for four colors, this squishy, textured hat is the perfect stash-buster project! Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Knox Mountain Knit Co.
Dazzle Hat
Knitted using fun, easy garter stitch short row stripes, this hat offers many options to play with color and works up super fast. Great for stash and leftover yarn. Designed by Katy Osterwald
Stashbuster Slouch
Textured loose-fitting slouch hat or beanie using scraps of different colored worsted yarn. Sizes toddler to adult. Designed by Rian Anderson
Easy Bubble Beanie Hat
Easy beanie knit in stripes using the fun bubble stitch. You could also use gradient yarn. The designer also includes a video tutorial. Great stashbuster! Rated easy by Ravelrers. Bulky weight yarn. Designed by Kristen McDonnell for Studio Knit,
Tilting Fair Isle Hat and Mitts
Bands of stranded colorwork are separated by short-row wedges that put everything at angles for a quirky effect.
Prism Hat Trio
3 easy colorwork hats including Triangles, Dots, and Stripes. Sizing: baby (toddler, child, adult SM, adult L). DK weight yarn. Designed by Tin Can Knits
Cheery Scrap Cap
Sizes from Adult to Newborn. Two designs are included for this earflap hat – one featuring a row of hearts, the other a skull and crossbones.
