Last Saturday was small business Saturday and Amex was running this pretty sweet promotion where if you signed up and spent $25 at a small business, they would give you a $25 credit. I immediately thought, “free yarn!” Yipee!! On top of that, my local yarn store had a “make your own sale” that day. Basically, you got to pick a poker chip out of a pot and get the equivalent discount off your purchase (including clearance items). So I set out to the yarn store with a list of yarn I needed to make this cardigan I’ve had my eye on for ages. I did end up finding the yarn I needed for that project (which I wont start until after Christmas), but I also wound up checking out the clearance bin and found some super soft red and white Alpaca and Merino blend yarn. It was a steal with both discounts, so I decided I’d make little man a Santa hat with it.
I looked around on Ravelry for a pattern I liked but didn’t really find anything just right in his size. So, for the first time ever, I went rogue and made my own knitting pattern. I based my decreases off of this hat pattern from Apartment Full of Fur, Fuss, and Fiber because she also started off with 60 stitches, but I adjusted the number of rows in between decreases. Here’s how it turned out:
In case anybody out there needs a Santa hat pattern that will fit a toddler (18-24 months…maybe beyond that given how stretchy it is), I’m posting the pattern here for you to use and enjoy too. Please bear with me if there are differences from how patterns are normally written. I’m new to this, and also just learning how to read patterns in English (I have always used French patterns until recently).
Toddler Santa Hat (18-24 mo)
Yarn: Aran weight. Approximately 110 yards MC (red) and 50 yards CC (white or ecru)
Recommended Yarn: Cascade Yarns “Cloud 9”
Gauge: 4 sts= 1 inch in stockinette
Needles: Size 9 US DPNs or 40″ (or longer) circular for “Magic Loop” method
CO 60 sts in CC. Place marker and join the round.
Stitch in garter stitch (Knit a round, purl a round)
Continue until 1.5 inches is reached
Switch to MC. Continue in stockinette until you reach 3.5 inches total
Begin decreases:
K4, K2tog, repeat around (50 sts remain)
K around for 6 rows
K3, K2tog, repeat around (40 sts remain)
K around for 6 rows
K2, K2tog, repeat around (30 sts remain)
K around for 4 rows
K1, K2tog, repeat around (20 sts remain)
K around for 6 rows
K2 tog around (10 sts remain)
K2tog 4 times, then K2
6 sts remain. Tie off by using a tapestry needle to thread through remaining sts. Attach pom pom.
6 sts remain. Tie off by using a tapestry needle to thread through remaining sts. Attach pom pom.
Seed Sowing Mama 
It appears that the yarn type listed, worsted weight, is incorrect. Based on the gauge, this must be worked using a chunkier yarn and not a worsted weight. I took this pattern and some chunky red yarn that I had in my stash to my local yarn store and they told me that the gauge directions made no sense with a worsted weight. I ended up buying a chunky white yarn to use with my red one, but the hat turned out too big for my 17 month old nephew’s head. I will redo it using US 9 DP needles and a less chunkier white yarn.
Hi there. I’m so sorry about that!! In all honesty, I made up this pattern when I was a fairly new knitter and did not understand a lot of ins and outs of knitting patterns. I have more experience now and need to make two more hats, so I’m going to try to make it clearer.
The gauge of the yarn I originally used is Aran. 4 sts=1″ on US 9.
Again, I apologize for the time you lost making the hat too big.