Our chunky Christmas Santa pixie hat is a stylish and trendy look for all ages. 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, toddlers and children.
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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.
Supplies:
Yarn – Lion Brand Thick & Quick yarn (Super Bulky 6). Colors: Cranberry and Fisherman.
Order online: (Lion Brand) (Amazon USA) (Amazon Canada) (Michaels) (Love Crafts)
Needles – Size 11/8mm needles or whichever size needed to obtain gauge. I knit mine on circular needles (going back and forth only. It is not knit in the round) so there’s lots of room for the bonnet on the needles when working the pattern.
Crochet Hook – Size 8mm/L or similar. The hook is used for making the side ties.
Darning needle, stitch marker, faux fur pompom or pompom maker, measuring tape and scissors. If you choose to add a pompom, the Clover brand pompom makers
Gauge:
4” x 4” = 9.5 stitches and 15 rows in stocking stitch (same as pattern). I recommend using US 11 needles, but if you are a loose knitter you may need to drop down, go up for tighter knitters.
Be sure to check your gauge to ensure the hat will fit your little one properly.
Abbreviations:
K = Knit
P = Purl
Sizes:
Newborn, 0-3 Months, 3-6 Months, 6-12 Months, 1-2 Years, 3-4 Years, 5+ Years
Note on Changing Colors:
Once the brim is complete, you will alternate from white to red and back to white while working the main part of the bonnet. Create a bobbin of white yarn to use on one end and use the main yarn ball for the other end.
When it is time to change colors in the row, “lock” the old yarn color in place when both tails of yarn are on the wrong side (WS) of the bonnet. After completing the last stitch in the old color, place the new yarn color strand over the old yarn color strand. This will lock the old color in place. Continue working the row with the new color.
Directions
Newborn:
** See the “note on changing colors” section above for more information on alternating back and forth with the red and white yarn once you complete the brim**
Cast on 27 stitches with contrast color (white).
Row 1 – *K1 P1; repeat from * to last stitch, K1. Turn work.
Row 2 – *P1 K1; repeat from * to last stitch, P1. Turn work.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have completed 4 rows.
Row 5 – P3 (white), K to last 3 stitches (red), P3 (white). Turn work.
Row 6 – P3 (white), P to last 3 stitches (red), P3 (white). Turn work.
Repeat rows 5 and 6 until your work measures 5.25” deep.
Cast off. While doing this, cast off the white stitches with the white yarn and the red stitches with red yarn. Cut yarn, leaving a long enough tail in both colors to stitch the back seam of the bonnet. When stitching up the back of the bonnet later, use the white tail with the white section of the work and red yarn with the red section.
Move to the “Finishing the pixie bonnet” directions below.
0 – 3 Months:
** See the “note on changing colors” section below (page 9) for more information on alternating back and forth with the red and white yarn once you complete the brim**
Cast on 29 stitches with contrast color (white).
Row 1 – *K1 P1; repeat from * to last stitch, K1. Turn work.
Row 2 – *P1 K1; repeat from * to last stitch, P1. Turn work.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have completed 4 rows.
Row 5 – P3(white), K to last 3 stitches (red), P3(white). Turn work.
Row 6 – P3 (white), P to last 3 stitches (red), P3 (white). Turn work.
Repeat rows 5 and 6 until your work measures 5.5”.
Cast off. While doing this, cast off the white stitches with the white yarn and the red stitches with red yarn. Cut yarn, leaving a long enough tail in both colors to stitch the back seam of the bonnet. When stitching up the back of the bonnet later, use the white tail with the white section of the work and red yarn with the red section.
Move to the “Finishing the pixie bonnet” directions below.
3 – 6 Months:
** See the “note on changing colors” section above for more information on alternating back and forth with the red and white yarn once you complete the brim**
Cast on 31 stitches with contrast color (white).
Row 1 – *K1 P1; repeat from * to last stitch, K1. Turn work.
Row 2 – *P1 K1; repeat from * to last stitch, P1. Turn work.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have completed 4 rows.
Row 5 – P3 (white), K to last 3 stitches (red), P3 (white). Turn work.
Row 6 – P3 (white), P to last 3 stitches (red), P3 (white). Turn work.
Repeat rows 5 and 6 until your work measures 6”.
Cast off. While doing this, cast off the white stitches with the white yarn and the red stitches with red yarn. Cut yarn, leaving a long enough tail in both colors to stitch the back seam of the bonnet. When stitching up the back of the bonnet later, use the white tail with the white section of the work and red yarn with the red section.
Move to the “Finishing the pixie bonnet” directions below.
6 – 12 Months:
** See the “note on changing colors” section above for more information on alternating back and forth with the red and white yarn once you complete the brim**
Cast on 33 stitches with contrast color (white).
Row 1 – *P1 K1; repeat from * to last stitch, P1. Turn work.
Row 2 – *K1 P1; repeat from * to last stitch, K1. Turn work.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have completed 5 rows.
Row 6 – P4 (white), K to last 4 stitches (red), P4 (white). Turn work.
Row 7 – P4 (white), P to last 4 stitches (red), P4 (white). Turn work.
Repeat rows 6 and 7 until your work measures 6.75”.
Cast off. While doing this, cast off the white stitches with the white yarn and the red stitches with red yarn. Cut yarn, leaving a long enough tail in both colors to stitch the back seam of the bonnet. When stitching up the back of the bonnet later, use the white tail with the white section of the work and red yarn with the red section.
Move to the “Finishing the pixie bonnet” directions below.
1 – 2 Years:
** See the “note on changing colors” section above for more information on alternating back and forth with the red and white yarn once you complete the brim**
Cast on 35 stitches with contrast color (white).
Row 1 – *P1 K1; repeat from * to last stitch, P1. Turn work.
Row 2 – *K1 P1; repeat from * to last stitch, K1. Turn work.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have completed 5 rows.
Row 6 – P4 (white), K to last 4 stitches (red), P4 (white). Turn work.
Row 7 – P4 (white), P to last 4 stitches (red), P4 (white). Turn work.
Repeat rows 6 and 7 until your work measures 7.25”.
Cast off. While doing this, cast off the white stitches with the white yarn and the red stitches with red yarn. Cut yarn, leaving a long enough tail in both colors to stitch the back seam of the bonnet. When stitching up the back of the bonnet later, use the white tail with the white section of the work and red yarn with the red section.
Move to the “Finishing the pixie bonnet” directions below.
3 – 4 Years:
** See the “note on changing colors” section above for more information on alternating back and forth with the red and white yarn once you complete the brim**
Cast on 37 stitches with contrast color (white).
Row 1 – *P1 K1; repeat from * to last stitch, P1. Turn work.
Row 2 – *K1 P1; repeat from * to last stitch, K1. Turn work.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have completed 5 rows.
Row 6 – P4 (white), K to last 4 stitches (red), P4 (white). Turn work.
Row 7 – P4 (white), P to last 4 stitches (red), P4 (white). Turn work.
Repeat rows 6 and 7 until your work measures 7.75”.
Cast off. While doing this, cast off the white stitches with the white yarn and the red stitches with red yarn. Cut yarn, leaving a long enough tail in both colors to stitch the back seam of the bonnet. When stitching up the back of the bonnet later, use the white tail with the white section of the work and red yarn with the red section.
Move to the “Finishing the pixie bonnet” directions below.
5 + Years:
** See the “note on changing colors” section above for more information on alternating back and forth with the red and white yarn once you complete the brim**
Cast on 39 stitches with contrast color (white).
Row 1 – *P1 K1; repeat from * to last stitch, P1. Turn work.
Row 2 – *K1 P1; repeat from * to last stitch, K1. Turn work.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have completed 5 rows.
Row 6 – P4 (white), K to last 4 stitches (red), P4 (white). Turn work.
Row 7 – P4 (white), P to last 4 stitches (red), P4 (white). Turn work.
Repeat rows 6 and 7 until your work measures 8.25”.
Cast off. While doing this, cast off the white stitches with the white yarn and the red stitches with red yarn. Cut yarn, leaving a long enough tail in both colors to stitch the back seam of the bonnet. When stitching up the back of the bonnet later, use the white tail with the white section of the work and red yarn with the red section.
Move to the “Finishing the pixie bonnet” directions below.
Finishing the pixie bonnet:
The directions below are shown in our solid colored pixie bonnet. The directions are the same for our Santa version.
Fold the bonnet in half with the wrong side facing out (pearl side). Thread the yarn from the cast off edge onto the darning needle. Using the whip stitch, work along the back seam from the bottom to the top. Secure the yarn at the top and weave in the end. Turn work to the right side facing out (knit side).
Making the ties:
The side ties are made with a crochet hook. If you are unfamiliar with crocheting, there are many Youtube videos explaining how to do the two basic stitches: Chain (ch) & Slip Stitch (sl st). As an alternate, you can cut three pieces of yarn twice as long as you want the ties to be, slip them through a gap at the bottom corners of the bonnet and braid them. These look very sweet and are a great alternative to the crocheted ties.
Insert the hook into a gap at the corner edge of the brim. Hook the yarn and pull it through to the outer side of the bonnet.
ch 29 (Newborn, 0 – 3 Months)
ch 31 (3 – 6 Months, 6 – 12 Months)
ch 33 (1 – 2 Years)
ch 35 (3 – 4 Years)
ch 37 (5 + Years)
Once you complete your chain, sl st back up through each ch stitch until you reach the top.
Slip stitch through a couple of stitches on the inside of the bonnet to secure the tie. Cut the yarn and knot it with the end from the beginning of your chain. This will ensure the tie will not come undone or be pulled out. Weave in all of the ends up the inside of the bonnet. Repeat on the other side.
Add pompom if desired.
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.
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Cindy says
They are absolutely amazing I will order the patterns