Tis’ the season for all the Christmas themed knitting projects! Our classic Elf stocking cap hat is the perfect gift for loved ones in your life this holiday season. The soft and chunky yarn makes this project a quick knit. This free knitting pattern will give you all the details to make this hat in sizes newborn, baby, toddler, women and men.
Our chunky Christmas elf stocking cap hat knitting pattern makes the perfect family Christmas photography prop or winter hat for your little one.
This pattern is a twist on our original Christmas cap. Changes are – slower, more gradual decrease as you work the top of the hat; slightly different style when transitioning from the brim to the main section of the hat; more sizes included.
The pattern for the Santa version, shown above, is available here.
* Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link.
Although our patterns are always free on our blog, many prefer our premium ad-free, printer friendly, PDF versions. These are available to purchase HERE.
Our other Christmas hats you will love:
Santa Pompom Hat | Medium Weight Christmas Hat Collection | Chunky Pompom Christmas Hat Collection | Santa Stocking Cap | Christmas Stocking Cap
Supplies:
Yarn – Lion Brand Thick & Quick yarn (Super Bulky 6). Colors Fisherman, Grass and Cranberry.
Order online: (Lion Brand) (Amazon USA) (Amazon Canada) (Michaels) (Love Crafts)
Needles – US 13/9mm or whichever size needed to obtain gauge. Size US 13/9mm circular needles, 16” long and US 13/9mm double pointed needles for the decrease, if desired.
Darning needle, stitch marker, pompom maker, measuring tape and scissors. I use the Clover brand pompom makers – size 2.5” (green) size for the newborn and 0-3 month hats; and the 3 3/8” (blue) size for the larger sizes.
Gauge:
4” x 4” = 9 stitches and 12 rows in stocking stitch (same as pattern). I recommend using US 13 needles, but if you are a loose knitter you may need to drop down to US 11 or go up to US 15 for tighter knitters.
Be sure to check your gauge to ensure the hat will fit your little one properly.
Abbreviations:
K = Knit
P = Purl
K2tog = Knit two together
Sizes:
Newborn, 0-3 Months, 3-6 Months, 6-12 Months, 1-3 Years, 4-12 Years, Women, Men.
Colors:
The pattern for the Santa version, shown below, is available here.
Tip – When I knit my hats using stripes or color changes I like to use the Jogless Stripes method to switch colors. If this is unfamiliar to you, there are some great tutorials on YouTube and Pinterest that you may want to check out to see if you’d like to include it in your work.
Note on Decrease: When working your decrease rows towards the top of the hat, you won’t always have enough stitches to complete the last full set of *K3, K2together*. That is ok! Work through the decrease round until you come to the last stitch. Then move on to the K all 3 rows, even if you didn’t finish with a K2together on the last stitches of the decrease round.
Directions:
Newborn:
Cast on 24 stitches on your circular needle in the color Grass.
Join.
Begin by working *K1 P1; repeat from * to the end of the round – for 4 rounds.
Switch to the color Fisherman. For the remainder of the hat, complete 3 rows of Fisherman, 3 rows of Cranberry, repeat.
P all for 1 round.
K all for 6 rounds.
Decrease:
*K3, K2together; repeat from * to end.
K all for 3 rounds.
Repeat these four rounds (1 decrease row, 3 K all rows) until you have 6 stitches left. While working these rounds, depending on the number of stitches on your needles, on some decrease rows you will not have enough stitches to complete the last full set of *K3, K2together; repeat from * to end. That is ok! Work through the decrease round with the number of stitches you have until you come to the last stitch. Then move on to the K all 3 rows. Switch to the double pointed needles when it is too tight to knit around the circular needles
Once you have 6 stitches remaining, K all for 3 rounds. Finish here, or continue adding K all rounds if you would like that hat longer.
Cut yarn and weave through the remaining stitches. Pull the end tight to close up the top of the hat. Make pompom using a pompom maker and attach to the top of the hat.
0-3 Months
Cast on 26 stitches on your circular needle in the color Grass.
Join.
Begin by working *K1 P1; repeat from * to the end of the round – for 4 rounds.
Switch to the color Fisherman. For the remainder of the hat, complete 3 rows of Fisherman, 3 rows of Cranberry, repeat.
P all for 1 round.
K all for 6 rounds.
Decrease:
*K3, K2together; repeat from * to end.
K all for 3 rounds.
Repeat these four rounds (1 decrease row, 3 K all rows) until you have 6 stitches left. While working these rounds, depending on the number of stitches on your needles, on some decrease rows you will not have enough stitches to complete the last full set of *K3, K2together; repeat from * to end. That is ok! Work through the decrease round with the number of stitches you have until you come to the last stitch. Then move on to the K all 3 rows. Switch to the double pointed needles when it is too tight to knit around the circular needles
Once you have 6 stitches remaining, K all for 3 rounds. Finish here, or continue adding K all rounds if you would like that hat longer.
Cut yarn and weave through the remaining stitches. Pull the end tight to close up the top of the hat. Make pompom using a pompom maker and attach to the top of the hat.
3-6 Months
Cast on 28 stitches on your circular needle in the color Grass.
Join.
Begin by working *K1 P1; repeat from * to the end of the round – for 5 rounds.
Switch to the color Fisherman. For the remainder of the hat, complete 3 rows of Fisherman, 3 rows of Cranberry, repeat.
P all for 1 round.
K all for 7 rounds.
Decrease:
*K3, K2together; repeat from * to end.
K all for 3 rounds.
Repeat these four rounds (1 decrease row, 3 K all rows) until you have 6 stitches left. While working these rounds, depending on the number of stitches on your needles, on some decrease rows you will not have enough stitches to complete the last full set of *K3, K2together; repeat from * to end. That is ok! Work through the decrease round with the number of stitches you have until you come to the last stitch. Then move on to the K all 3 rows. Switch to the double pointed needles when it is too tight to knit around the circular needles
Once you have 6 stitches remaining, K all for 3 rounds. Finish here, or continue adding K all rounds if you would like that hat longer.
Cut yarn and weave through the remaining stitches. Pull the end tight to close up the top of the hat. Make pompom using a pompom maker and attach to the top of the hat.
6-12 Months
Cast on 30 stitches on your circular needle in the color Grass.
Join.
Begin by working *K1 P1; repeat from * to the end of the round – for 6 rounds.
Switch to the color Fisherman. For the remainder of the hat, complete 3 rows of Fisherman, 3 rows of Cranberry, repeat.
P all for 1 round.
K all for 9 rounds.
Decrease:
*K3, K2together; repeat from * to end.
K all for 3 rounds.
Repeat these four rounds (1 decrease row, 3 K all rows) until you have 6 stitches left. While working these rounds, depending on the number of stitches on your needles, on some decrease rows you will not have enough stitches to complete the last full set of *K3, K2together; repeat from * to end. That is ok! Work through the decrease round with the number of stitches you have until you come to the last stitch. Then move on to the K all 3 rows. Switch to the double pointed needles when it is too tight to knit around the circular needles
Once you have 6 stitches remaining, K all for 3 rounds. Finish here, or continue adding K all rounds if you would like that hat longer.
Cut yarn and weave through the remaining stitches. Pull the end tight to close up the top of the hat. Make pompom using a pompom maker and attach to the top of the hat.
1-3 Years
Cast on 32 stitches on your circular needle in the color Grass.
Join.
Begin by working *K1 P1; repeat from * to the end of the round – for 7 rounds.
Switch to the color Fisherman. For the remainder of the hat, complete 3 rows of Fisherman, 3 rows of Cranberry, repeat.
P all for 1 round.
K all for 10 rounds.
Decrease:
*K3, K2together; repeat from * to end.
K all for 3 rounds.
Repeat these four rounds (1 decrease row, 3 K all rows) until you have 6 stitches left. While working these rounds, depending on the number of stitches on your needles, on some decrease rows you will not have enough stitches to complete the last full set of *K3, K2together; repeat from * to end. That is ok! Work through the decrease round with the number of stitches you have until you come to the last stitch. Then move on to the K all 3 rows. Switch to the double pointed needles when it is too tight to knit around the circular needles
Once you have 6 stitches remaining, K all for 3 rounds. Finish here, or continue adding K all rounds if you would like that hat longer.
Cut yarn and weave through the remaining stitches. Pull the end tight to close up the top of the hat. Make pompom using a pompom maker and attach to the top of the hat.
4-12 Years
Cast on 34 stitches on your circular needle in the color Grass.
Join.
Begin by working *K1 P1; repeat from * to the end of the round – for 7 rounds.
Switch to the color Fisherman. For the remainder of the hat, complete 3 rows of Fisherman, 3 rows of Cranberry, repeat.
P all for 1 round.
K all for 11 rounds.
Decrease:
*K3, K2together; repeat from * to end.
K all for 3 rounds.
Repeat these four rounds (1 decrease row, 3 K all rows) until you have 6 stitches left. While working these rounds, depending on the number of stitches on your needles, on some decrease rows you will not have enough stitches to complete the last full set of *K3, K2together; repeat from * to end. That is ok! Work through the decrease round with the number of stitches you have until you come to the last stitch. Then move on to the K all 3 rows. Switch to the double pointed needles when it is too tight to knit around the circular needles
Once you have 6 stitches remaining, K all for 3 rounds. Finish here, or continue adding K all rounds if you would like that hat longer.
Cut yarn and weave through the remaining stitches. Pull the end tight to close up the top of the hat. Make pompom using a pompom maker and attach to the top of the hat.
Women
Cast on 36 stitches on your circular needle in the color Grass.
Join.
Begin by working *K1 P1; repeat from * to the end of the round – for 8 rounds.
Switch to the color Fisherman. For the remainder of the hat, complete 3 rows of Fisherman, 3 rows of Cranberry, repeat.
P all for 1 round.
K all for 12 rounds.
Decrease:
*K3, K2together; repeat from * to end.
K all for 3 rounds.
Repeat these four rounds (1 decrease row, 3 K all rows) until you have 6 stitches left. While working these rounds, depending on the number of stitches on your needles, on some decrease rows you will not have enough stitches to complete the last full set of *K3, K2together; repeat from * to end. That is ok! Work through the decrease round with the number of stitches you have until you come to the last stitch. Then move on to the K all 3 rows. Switch to the double pointed needles when it is too tight to knit around the circular needles
Once you have 6 stitches remaining, K all for 3 rounds. Finish here, or continue adding K all rounds if you would like that hat longer.
Cut yarn and weave through the remaining stitches. Pull the end tight to close up the top of the hat. Make pompom using a pompom maker and attach to the top of the hat.
Men
Cast on 38 stitches on your circular needle in the color Grass.
Join.
Begin by working *K1 P1; repeat from * to the end of the round – for 9 rounds.
Switch to the color Fisherman. For the remainder of the hat, complete 3 rows of Fisherman, 3 rows of Cranberry, repeat.
P all for 1 round.
K all for 14 rounds.
Decrease:
*K3, K2together; repeat from * to end.
K all for 3 rounds.
Repeat these four rounds (1 decrease row, 3 K all rows) until you have 6 stitches left. While working these rounds, depending on the number of stitches on your needles, on some decrease rows you will not have enough stitches to complete the last full set of *K3, K2together; repeat from * to end. That is ok! Work through the decrease round with the number of stitches you have until you come to the last stitch. Then move on to the K all 3 rows. Switch to the double pointed needles when it is too tight to knit around the circular needles
Once you have 6 stitches remaining, K all for 3 rounds. Finish here, or continue adding K all rounds if you would like that hat longer.
Cut yarn and weave through the remaining stitches. Pull the end tight to close up the top of the hat. Make pompom using a pompom maker and attach to the top of the hat.
Although our patterns are always free on our blog, many prefer our premium ad-free, printer friendly, PDF versions. These are available to purchase HERE.
Follow Fox & Pine Stitches on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.
Our other Christmas hats you will love:
Santa Pompom Hat | Medium Weight Christmas Hat Collection | Chunky Pompom Christmas Hat Collection | Santa Stocking Cap | Christmas Stocking Cap
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You have permission to sell items made with this pattern but credit must be given to the designer in any online listings/websites:
Pattern Credit: www.foxandpinestitches.com
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Tosh says
Omg! These are so cute 😍 I plan to one for my kids and my grandchildren for Christmas 2022! Thank you, great pattern 💕