Free Hat Knitting Patterns to Cast-On Today

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What yarns should I use to knit hats?

When it comes to creating handmade hats, the fiber you choose can make all the difference in comfort, functionality, and sustainability. Natural fibers, like wool and alpaca, offer a range of benefits that synthetic materials simply can’t match.

A great, budget friendly wool that I love to use is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes.

But at the end of the day, if all you have access to or if all you want to use is an acrylic yarn, then use that!

Breathability and Temperature Regulation

Natural fibers are incredibly breathable, which means they can wick away moisture and help regulate body temperature. Wool, for example, is both insulating and breathable, making it perfect for keeping your head warm in winter without overheating.

Softness and Comfort

Many natural fibers, especially those like merino wool or alpaca, are incredibly soft against the skin. They’re less likely to cause irritation, which is important for hats that rest directly on your scalp and forehead. With proper care, natural fibers can feel luxurious and cozy, offering unmatched comfort.

Durability and Longevity

Hats made with natural fibers are often more durable than their synthetic counterparts. Wool, in particular, has a natural elasticity, which helps hats maintain their shape over time. While they require a bit more care, natural fibers tend to last longer and wear better, making your handmade piece a worthwhile investment.

Eco-Friendliness

For those mindful of their environmental footprint, natural fibers are the clear choice. They’re biodegradable and often sourced sustainably, especially if you opt for organic or ethically produced yarns. Unlike synthetics, which are petroleum-based and contribute to microplastic pollution, natural fibers break down naturally at the end of their life cycle.

Water Resistance and Weather Adaptability

Wool and alpaca fibers are naturally water-resistant, meaning they can repel light rain or snow—perfect for outdoor winter hats. These fibers also retain warmth even when damp, a feature synthetic materials often struggle to replicate.

Aesthetic Appeal

Let’s not forget the beautiful, natural texture and color variations that come with fibers like wool or alpaca. Whether you’re going for a rustic, earthy look or a polished, minimalist style, natural fibers add depth and character to your handmade hats that synthetics can’t quite capture.

Tips for Using Natural Fibers in Hat-Making:

• Match the fiber to the purpose: Use wool or alpaca for warm, winter hats and cotton or bamboo for lightweight, summer styles.
• Check for allergies: Some people are sensitive to certain fibers, like wool. Opt for alternatives like alpaca or organic cotton for hypoallergenic options.
• Care instructions: Natural fibers often require handwashing or gentle care. Add a label or note if your hat is a gift, so the recipient knows how to keep it looking its best.

By choosing natural fibers for your hat projects, you’re not just crafting something functional and beautiful—you’re also embracing a more sustainable and thoughtful approach to making. Plus, there’s something magical about working with materials that come directly from the earth, connecting your creations to nature in a meaningful way.

Free Hat Knitting Patterns to Cast-On Today

All of the patterns listed below are from a variety of designers. Credit is given to all designers as well as where to find their knitting patterns. I want to thank them for creating such amazing hat patterns and for offering them for free!

Fox Beanie

I love unique hats – especially ones with fun colourwork sections. I find them a joy to knit and gift them to my friends and family. This Fox Beanie is so adorable and I already know the perfect person who would treasure this unique handmade piece.

This free hat knitting patterns is available in sizes 45 (50, 55) cm / 17.5 (19.5, 21.5) inch.

Pattern Name: Fox Beanie
Designer: Anna Syrjänen
Yarn Weight: Dk Weight
Suggested Yarn: Sandnes Garn Double Sunday

This pattern is available on Ravelry

Jason’s Cashmere Hat

A hat knit out of cashmere wool sounds delightful. I love the ribbing an cable combination on this hat. I really have been enjoying knitting hats with a folded brim because they add another layer of warmth over the ears and with how cold it has been here, that warmth is needed, Jason sure is a lucky guy to be able to have this hat to keep his head warm.

This hat pattern is available in one size that is designed to fit 22-24″.

Pattern Name: Jason’s Cashmere Hat
Designer: Melissa Thomson
Yarn Weight: Aran
Suggested Yarn: Sweet Fiber Yarns Cashmere Aran

This pattern is available on Ravelry

Ribelation

This cozy hat uses 1×1 rib and smaller needles to create a dense, very warm hat. Because it is knit with 1×1 rib, it is also super stretchy which makes it perfect to knit as a gift for someone else. I love the style of the crown of this hat. The 4 decrease sections make a very clean looking top to the hat which stands out on such a simple stitch pattern.

This free hat knitting pattern is available in sizes 21/22″ and 23/24″ but because the ribbing will stretch to fit, gauge is not crucial which can allow for even more size variation.

Pattern Name: Ribelation
Designer: Anne Gagnon
Yarn Weight: Worsted
Suggested Yarn: Cascade Yarns ® Cascade 220, Malabrigo Yarn Worsted, Berroco Ultra Alpaca, Lion Brand Heartland, Cascade Yarns ® Longwood Aran

This pattern is available on Ravelry

A Twisted Affair

“Sometimes things get twisted… you do your best and hope for the right outcome and it still wraps around itself and makes a tangle…

I am pretty sure you can apply this truth to something today. Whatever that is, I hope this free hat pattern can help you unwind and get through your life’s twists.” – Joji Locatelli

How sweet is this designer? Not only have they offered the knitting community a great free pattern but they have also included this wonderful message with it. This pattern is designed to fit a head circumference of approx. 22½ to 23¾“ (56 to 59.5 cm).

I picked this hat because of the beautiful cable design but am inspired to cast it on right away because of the message that comes with it. I too want to knit this heartfelt gift but I do not think I have any bulky yarn in my stash right now which just means I get to go shopping for the perfect yarn for this hat.

Pattern Name: A Twisted Affair
Designer: Joji Locatelli
Yarn Weight: Bulky
Suggested Yarn: Woolfolk Luft

This pattern is available on Ravelry

Bankhead

This hat was named in honor of the designer’s favourite ghost town; Bankhead which is in Banff National Park. I have been to Banff numerous times and have never been to Bankhead! I guess that will have to change next time I am in the area and to prepare for that future trip I will knit this hat!

This pattern comes in a range of sizes from baby to adult XL.

Pattern Name: Bankhead
Designer: Susie Gourlay
Yarn Weight: Worsted
Suggested Yarn: Peace Fleece Worsted Weight

This pattern is available on Ravelry

Sockhead Slouch Hat

Do you have skeins of sock yarn taking up room in your stash that you don’t want to use for socks because it is just too pretty to be on your feet? This free hat knitting pattern is perfect for that skein of fingering weight yarn and creates a comfy, slouchy had.

Available in sizes baby through adult extra large, this hat is constructed with “miles of stockinette stitch” (as the designer describes it) making it a perfect project for on the go knitting or while watching tv.

Pattern Name: Sockhead Slouch Hat
Designer: Kelly McClure
Yarn Weight: Fingering
Suggested Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Lightweight, Colinette Jitterbug 400, madelinetosh Tosh Sock, Malabrigo Yarn Sock, Misti Alpaca Hand Paint Sock, Schoppel-Wolle Zauberball® Crazy

This pattern is available on Ravelry

October Hat

Is anyone surprised that I have another cable hat with a folded over ribbed brim on my list of hats to knit? They are just such fun hats to knit and the double brim keeps your ears nice and toasty warm. For the record, while writing this list of free hat knitting patterns to cast on today, it is snowing and we already have about 3 feet of snow on the ground (and it is still November). So I need all the warm knitted hats my hands can make!

This hat construction starts with a provisional cast on, which is a nice alternatives and gives the knitter a change to how a lot of hat patterns are constructed.

Pattern Name: October Hat
Designer: Sloane Rosenthal
Yarn Weight: Aran
Suggested Yarn: Kelborne Woolens Germantown

This pattern is available on Ravelry

Antler Toque

This free hat knitting patterns is available in sizes baby through adult large and features a folded over ribbed brim and interesting cable pattern to the crown. This pattern includes both written and charted instructions for the cable pattern of the hat.

Pattern Name: Antler Toque
Designer: tincanknits
Yarn Weight: Worsted
Suggested Yarn: Cascade Yarns ® Cascade 220, Tanis Fiber Arts Green Label Aran Weight, madelinetosh Tosh Vintage, Sweet Fiber Yarns Cashmerino Worsted, Quince & Co. Osprey, Stone Wool American Cormo

This pattern is available on Ravelry

Gwedenn Hat

This hat is knitted seamlessly from the brim to the crown. The cable pattern for this hat is charted out for all sizes making it easy to follow along as you go.

I have never used the brand of yarn suggested by the designer but I love the depth of colour on their samples so will have to keep my eye out to see if I can find it where I live.

Pattern Name: Gwedenn Hat
Designer: Solenn Couix-Loarer
Yarn Weight: Worsted or Sport + Lace
Suggested Yarn: De Rerum Natura Gilliatt, De Rerum Natura Ulysse, De Rerum Natura Bérénice

This pattern is available on Ravelry

Torfhús hat

This stranded colourwork hat is knit from the ribbed cuff up to the brim. There is also a matching pullover by the same designer if you would like a sweater and hat matching yet.

This free hat knitting pattern is available in sizes S/M and M/L.

Pattern Name: Torfhús hat
Designer: Jigsknits Katarzyna Plachta
Yarn Weight: Aran
Suggested Yarn: Ístex Léttlopi

This pattern is available on Ravelry

March Hat

Another hat from the Kelbourne Woolens 12 free hat patterns series – this one begins with a tubular cast on and interesting texture. The texture of this free hat knitting patterns is what caught my eye – I thought it looked very interesting to knit.

This hat pattern is available in sizes 18″ and 20″.

Pattern Name: March Hat
Designer: Meghan Babin
Yarn Weight: Worsted
Suggested Yarn: Kelbourne Woolens Germantown

This pattern is available on Ravelry

Brioche Starter Hat

2 years ago I really got into knitting brioche patterns (thanks to Stephen West shawls) and even made a brioche hat. The hat pattern I found had, what I consider to be, a very sloppy set of decreases in the crown. This hat has a beautifully designed crown with decreases that look like a snowflake on top of your head.

Two colour brioche knitting can be very intimidating at first but once you have practiced the technique it can become very intuitive to complete the project. That being said, I always have to do a refresher before jumping into a big brioche project and this hat would be perfect for that. I really want to knit this hat so I guess I should go find a larger brioche project – perhaps another shawl or a wrap – that will compliment the hat.

Pattern Name: Brioche Starter Hat
Designer: Raina K
Yarn Weight: Worsted
Suggested Yarn: Garnstudio DROPS Karisma, Debbie Bliss Rialto DK (Solids), Malabrigo Yarn Rios, Malabrigo Yarn Arroyo

This pattern is available on Ravelry

Lake Reed

This one size adult hat pattern features ribbing and cables, and utilizes twisted stitches knit through the back loops to let less wind through around the table pattern – a neat little trick the designer is teaching us.

I do not have many DK weight hats in my collection because I do not tend to buy DK weight yarn but I love this hat so am now on the search for a yarn to make it with.

Pattern Name: Lake Reed
Designer: Asita Krebs
Yarn Weight: DK
Suggested Yarn: Sidispinnt Merino DK Single, Sidispinnt MerinoCable, Sidispinnt Merino DK Twist

This pattern is available on Ravelry

Five By Five Cable Slouchy Hat

I once knit a scarf pattern with a very similar cable pattern. I gifted it to a friend for her birthday and now I want to make this hat so she can have a matching set!

Of all the free hat knitting patterns on this list, I would recommend this one for any beginners out there wanting to try cables. This pattern is knit with bulky yarn making it really easy to see your stitches and understand what is happening with the cable pattern creation. Plus, using such thick yarn and large needles, this project will knit up super quickly.

I also want to note how beautiful the model’s hair colour is! I want it on my head!

Pattern Name: Five By Five Cable Slouchy Hat
Designer: Ashley Haak
Yarn Weight: Bulky
Suggested Yarn: Cascade Yarns Pacific Chunky

This pattern is available on Ravelry

Graham

This unisex hat is a simple slouch hat pattern with a texture made using the broken rib stitch. The pat is completely reversible and is worked seamlessly.

This pattern is available is sizes adult medium and large.

Pattern Name: Graham
Designer: Jennifer Adams
Yarn Weight: Worsted
Suggested Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca, Cascade Yarns Eco Alpaca

This pattern is available on Ravelry

Tiilda Hat

Who doesn’t love a good matching set? This seamless hat featuring cables and a ribbed brim has a matching pair of mittens that is also a free pattern!

The designer says Tiilda patterns were born out of warm memories of cold, sparkling white and beautiful winters in Latvia. I have never been to Latvia but living in northern Canada I understand the beautiful sparkling white inspiration!

Pattern Name: Tiilda Hat
Designer: Inese Sang
Yarn Weight: bulky
Suggested Yarn: Deramores Vintage Chunky

This pattern is available on Ravelry

Rikke Hat

Featured in over 200 blog posts, over 13k projects on Ravelry, and in almost 8000 queues, this is clearly a very popular hat pattern. The garter stitch design showcases both semi-solid and variegated yarn colourwars in stunning fashion.

Pattern Name: Rikke Hat
Designer: Sarah Young
Yarn Weight: DK
Suggested Yarn: madelinetosh Tosh DK, House of A La Mode House DK, House of A La Mode House DK Single Ply

This pattern is available on Ravelry

January Hat

Looking for a hat with amazing texture and a pattern that will keep you interested throughout the whole project? Look no further than this January hat! I love the combination of diamond cables with the bobbles. It looks so fun to knit.

Pattern Name: January Hat
Designer: Courtney Kelley
Yarn Weight: worsted
Suggested Yarn: Kelbourne Woolens Germantown

This pattern is available on Ravelry

Beloved Aran

Available in sizes baby through adult large, this simple yet impressive knit hat is a great pattern to cast on today. I love the texture created by the double seed stitch pattern.

Pattern Name: Beloved Aran
Designer: Solenn Couix-Loarer
Yarn Weight: Aran
Suggested Yarn: De Rerum Natura Cyrano

This pattern is available on Ravelry

Swivel Winter Hat

Another hat with amazing texture to finish off the list of free hat knitting patterns to cast on today. I love the crown of this hat – the decreases chosen by the designer almost make it look like a flower.

This pattern is designed to fit a head circumference of 21-22″ and has a video to accompany it.

Pattern Name: Swivel Winter Hat
Designer: Annanitato Lolo
Yarn Weight: Worsted
Suggested Yarn: Loops & Threads Impeccable

This pattern is available on Ravelry