Knitting - baby hat...free patterns on internet?

[BrianCoxandTheTempleofDOOM]

Hi,

am very wet behind the ears where knitting is concerned.

I have knitted a blanket (free hand - ie no pattern, just went for it) and now want to test myself with something a bit more challenging, but not too challenging.

Knitting patterns confuse the hell out of me, scare me, I pick them up and go cross eyed and then put them down again. Have yet to buy any because of this fear of 'what the actual....'

I was thinking of knitting a baby hat, using a pattern - is that relatively easy? Just for a newborn, nothing fancy. Am I out of my league?

Also, are there free patterns on the web?? I just did a search but it took me to directory after directory and seemed to lead to paying for patterns.

Thanks in advance.

There are free patterns for crochet on raverly.com, there is a option for knitting so i'm guess there would be some on there.

There is also a knitting option on www.craftsy.com/patterns

I have made this garter stitch hat in Baby Cashmerino. I knitted it flat on two needles and sewed it up, rather than knitted it in the round. I can crochet and made the flowers but it looks lovely without them too.

Apologies if the following explanation is telling you stuff you already know. It is not my intention to patronise you.

The pattern is quite easy to follow, just knit one fewer stitch between each K2tog on each decreasing row, working a knit row in between each decreasing row until you get to 8 stitches. This means that the last row you knit will be K2tog all along the row (no knit sts in between). Cut a long tail and thread through a bodkin or wool needle. Pass the needle through the stitches on your knitting needle - this puts them on the "tail". Pull the tail though the stitches and pull tight - don't cut the thread. Then use the tail to sew up the seam. Darn in the end from your cast on. I usually sew down most of the way with the thread from the top and fasten it off securely then sew up with the tail from my cast on so that the two parts of the seam meet.

Ravelry has hundreds upon hundreds of free patterns - sign yourself up, join our Woolly Hugs group and you'll be well away :) This should be a link to search results for free patterns for knitted baby hats, but I guess it may not work if you don't have an account with them.

I love Aviatrix if you want to start with one that doesn't involve knitting in the round.

Sorry for posting and running!

Thank you for the pointers.

I can assure you TheWoolybacksWife that you are not telling me stuff I know, not patronising at all - I am a beginner, although I can knit neat, basic rows of stitches, the rest is new territory and the terminology is a bit daunting! I suppose the only way to understand is to throw myself in!

That hat is sooo lovely. I have my eye on crochet too, but I want to master knitting first (I have a habit of dropping something half way through and then not going back to it!)

I have signed up to the Craftsy site (thank you) and went to sign up to Ravelry only to be told I have an account with them I know the much mocked baby-brain is an actual 'thing' but that takes the biscuit as I have no recollection of setting it up!!

Thank you for you help and once I am more confident I will pop over to the Woolly Hugs thread

Oh and Aviatrix - thanks for that, knitting in the round sounds highly complicated

I did it, I did it, I did it!!!

See pics on profile!

DD is very pleased with her baby doll's new hat!

Now to buy the actual recommended wool and make THE hat for boy!!

Thanks Woolly your instructions really made sense once I was in the midst of it. Also a practice run really good as I made a few mistakes and hopefully won't make them next time!

I feel very clever now you know

Brilliant!

I love knitting hats. Your baby will be the warmest headed child on MN .

aha, yep - I can stealth boast all over MN about my baby's super warm head!