Simple Baby Beanie Knitting Pattern to Make and Donate

So the weather has finally turned cool. I’ve been waiting for this weather change, as I do miss wearing my cardigans. (Actually I have realised that the humble cardigan is the perfect accessory for the pre- and menopausal women, you can put it on and take it off, no matter how many hot flushes you have for each moment of the day.)

I also love that when the weather turns cool it is the perfect time for beanie and bootie season. I love seeing babies dressed up in beautiful handmade knits that keep babies’ heads and feet all snuggly and warm. Let me clarify, knits that are made by hands, with crochet hooks or knitting needles with beautiful and soft Australian made yarns. Not from an overseas factory, mass produced by machines with synthetic yarns and then advertised as handmade. (Please, it makes my menopausal body even hotter with rage)I have written previously about the importance of natural materials for bubs (well, for everyone actually) you can read about it here.

Handmade baby beanie and booties

So with this cool weather season now progressing I find it is the perfect time to curl up on the lounge with the knitting needles and make some beanies for some little babes. Every year I make it my mission to donate some beanies to local organisations.

I have found that it is important to check with your local charity to find out if they are accepting beanies at the current time. It is also important to check the donation guidelines for information such as specific yarns that you need to use, whether they want items washed first, if they need the beanies packaged and the exact delivery location.

Knit beanies made on circular needles

Once you have checked the donation guidelines, it is time to start knitting. And guess what? I have created my first baby beanie knitted pattern! This is a simple knit pattern, so it is great for beginners, especially if you are learning to use circular knitting needles for the first time.

This is a simple baby beanie pattern designed for calm, useful making. It is a lovely project for using soft yarn from your stash, making gifts, or creating small handmade items to donate.

You can find the free written pattern below. If you prefer a printable, ad-free version, you can find the PDF pattern here.

Simple Baby Beanie Knitting Pattern to Make and Donate

This simple baby beanie is knitted in the round using circular needles. It has a soft rolled edge and a gentle rounded crown, making it a lovely little project for gifting, donating, or using up a special skein of soft yarn.

Simple Baby Beanie Knitted Pattern

Pattern at a glance

Skill level: Beginner


Method: Knitting in the round


Needles: 7mm circular needles, 40cm


Yarn: 1 skein of 14 ply yarn
Finished size: Newborn and 0-3 months
Construction: Worked from the bottom up, with crown shaping.

Finished style: Rolled brim baby beanie

You will need:

* 1 skein of chunky yarn / approximately 14 ply

* 7mm circular needles, 40cm

* Stitch marker

* Yarn needle

* Scissors

Abbreviations

K — knit


K2tog — knit two stitches together


St / sts — stitch / stitches


Rnd — round


Rep — repeat

Pattern notes

* This beanie is knitted in the round.

* The rolled brim is created naturally by knitting each round.

* Place a stitch marker at the beginning of the round so you can keep track of where each round starts.

* The beanie is shaped at the crown using decrease rounds.

* The final stitches are gathered together at the top using a yarn needle.

Newborn Size

Using the long-tail cast on, cast on 60 stitches.

Rounds 1–20:
 Knit all the way around, or until your beanie measures approximately 10cm / 4 inches from the cast-on edge.

You will now begin decreasing for the crown.

Round 21:
 K1, K2tog — repeat all the way around.

Round 22: 
Knit all the way around.

Round 23:
 K2, K2tog — repeat all the way around.

Round 24:
 Knit all the way around.

Round 25:
 K1, K2tog — repeat all the way around.

Round 26: 
Knit all the way around.

Round 27: 
K2tog — repeat all the way around.

Round 28: 
Knit all the way around.

Your newborn beanie should measure approximately:

Circumference: 34cm / 13.5 inches when stretched out


Length: 13cm / 5 inches, not including the gathered point at the top of the beanie

Finishing

Leave a long tail and cut your yarn.

Using your yarn needle, thread the yarn through the remaining stitches. Pull gently to close the opening at the top of the beanie.

Weave in all ends.

Your newborn baby beanie is now complete.

0–3 Months Size

Using the long-tail cast on, cast on 66 stitches.

Rounds 1–24: 
Knit all the way around, or until your beanie measures approximately 11.4cm / 4.5 inches from the cast-on edge.

You will now begin decreasing for the crown.

Round 25:
 K4, K2tog — repeat all the way around.

Round 26:
 Knit all the way around.

Round 27: 
K3, K2tog — repeat all the way around.

Round 28:
 Knit all the way around.

Round 29: 
K2, K2tog — repeat all the way around.

Round 30:
 Knit all the way around.

Round 31:
 K1, K2tog — repeat all the way around.

Round 32:
 Knit all the way around.

Round 33:
 K2tog — repeat all the way around.

Round 34:
 Knit all the way around.

Your 0–3 months beanie should measure approximately:

Circumference: 41cm / 16 inches when stretched out


Length: 14cm / 5.5 inches, not including the gathered point at the top of the beanie

Finishing

Leave a long tail and cut your yarn.

Using your yarn needle, thread the yarn through the remaining stitches. Pull gently to close the opening at the top of the beanie.

Weave in all ends.

Your 0–3 months baby beanie is now complete.

I hope this simple little beanie pattern gives you a gentle place to begin if you would like to make something small and useful for a baby in your family, a friend’s new arrival, or a local organisation accepting handmade donations.

Please reach out if you have any questions about the pattern, or if you are having trouble finding a charity or local organisation to contact about donations.

As for me, I’ve made the beanies, I’ve reached out to check the donation guidelines, and I’ll share the process as it unfolds.

Don't forget to do something just for yourself today,

Melissa.