owl hat - free knitting pattern

lovely sister sporting the owl hat, and the scarf I knitted for her Christmas present

As promised here is the pattern for this cute owl hat that will fit an average adult’s head. Because it is worked with chunky yarn and stranded knitting it makes this an extra cosy and warm hat for the cold months we have ahead! The colours suggested below will make the white hat - if you would like to make the brown hat simply reverse the colours.
If you want to knit the hat to fit a child rather than an adult just cast on 48 instead of 52, knock off 2 stitches at each end of every row on the pattern, and begin your decreases at row 15. 

YOU WILL NEED

10mm knitting needles
4mm knitting needles
6mm crochet hook
King Cole Big Value Super Chunky (or similar super chunky weight yarn) in
Colour A - champagne 0012
Colour B – oatmeal 0014
Colour C – black 0008 (you only need a very small amount of black so use up your stash!)
Yarn in DK weight for the owls beak (I used a very pale brown)
Tapestry needle
If you can’t crochet or don’t know how to knit circles you should use felt to create the eyes (both in black and to match yarn colour B) 

TENSION

12 stitches x 14 rows = 10cm x 10cm
stocking stitch using 10mm needles

ONE SIZE
Suitable for average lady’s head or teenager

Note changes to colour B will be made explicit, if no colour is suggested use colour A, for example ‘p1, p1 with B, p5’ means ‘purl 1 with colour A, then purl 1 with colour B, then purl 5 with colour A again’. Colour B will be used over 2 rows then 2 rows will be without colour work. 

HAT

Using 10mm needles and yarn colour A cast on 52 stitches
Row 1 - *k1, p1* rib pattern, repeat to end
Row 2-6 repeat rib pattern
Row 7 - *k5, k1 with colour B* repeat 8 times, k4 to end
Row 8 – p1, *p1 with B, p5* repeat 8 times, p1 with B, p2 to end
Row 9 – knit
Row 10 – purl
Row 11 – k3, *k1 with B, k5*repeat 8 times, k1 to end
Row 12 –p3, *p1 with B, p5*repeat 8 times, p1 to end
Row 13 – knit
Row 14 – purl
Row 15 – repeat row 7
Row 16 – repeat row 8
                begin decreases to shape hat
Row 17 - *k5, k2tog* repeat 7 times, k3 to end (45)
Row 18 – purl
Row 19 - *k4, k1 with B* repeat 9 times
Row 20 - *p2, p1 with B, p2* repeat 9 times
                this is the end of colour work
Row 21 - *k4, k2tog* repeat 7 times, k3 to end (38)
Row 22 – purl
Row 23 - *k3, k2tog* repeat 7 times, k3 to end (31)
Row 24 – purl
Row 25 - *k2, k2tog* repeat 7 times, k3 to end (24)
Row 26 – p2tog to end (12)
Row 27 – k2tog to end (6)

                break off yarn, leaving tail for sewing. Using the tapestry needle thread yarn through 6 stitches left on needle and pull tight, sew seam of hat closed. Weave in all loose ends.

EARS (make 2)

With yarn colour A cast on 8 stitches
Rows 1-3 – knit
Row 4 – k2tog, k4, k2tog (6)
Row 5 – knit
Row 6 – k2tog k2, k2tog (4)
Row 7 – knit
Row 8 – k2tog, k2tog (2)
Row 9 – k2tog
                fasten off. Sew ears in position on hat as pictured. The seam of the hat should go down one side of the head as opposed to the back. Weave in all loose ends.

EYES (make 2)

With yarn colour B and a 6mm crochet hook sc6 in magic circle
Round 1 – *2sc in next* round (12)
                slip stitch to join round and fasten off

Now with colour C sc6 in magic circle
                slip stitch to join round and fasten off

Sew black circle to centre of larger circle, and then sew to hat in position as pictured.

Note if you can’t crochet, or can’t knit a circle (sorry I can’t do that!) you can simply cut circles from felt and sew to the hat as an alternative

BEAK

With DK yarn and 4mm needles cast on 10 stitches
Rows 1-3 – knit
Row 4 – k2tog, k6, k2tog (8)
Row 5 – knit
Row 6 – k2tog, k4, k2tog (6)
Row 7 – knit
Row 8 – k2tog, k2, k2tog (4)
Row 9 – knit
Row 10 – k2tog, k2tog (2)
Row 11 – k2tog (1)
                fasten off and sew beak on hat in position as pictured

looking good in their owl hats!

You are now the proud owner of a lovely cuddly owl hat! 

This pattern can be found on Ravelry here

I hope you love this pattern – if you make one yourself why not share a picture below using the new Disqus commenting system! I have also put the white owl hat up for sale on my Etsy page as my sister already claimed the oatmeal one for herself, so if you don’t fancy making one for yourself snap it up quickly by clicking the link!

I would also like to thank my beautiful friends and gorgeous sister for modelling the hats for me while I'm trying very hard to improve my photography skills. I've been playing with PicMonkey for editing, but any useful tips you could share would be appreciated! :)

This pattern is for personal use only, please do not sell items made from this pattern. Please do not republish this pattern as your own/without permission.