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Knit Reindeer Beanie

Published: | Updated: | By Ashlee

This knit reindeer beanie is quick to whip up and perfect for the holidays. Make the beanie any size you want so it can fit anyone of any age.

I have been on quite the yarn kick lately.  I have been loving both crocheting and knitting again, and especially hats.  

After our pumpkin beanie and then the Turkey leg Thanksgiving hat I had to come up with something for winter!  

I actually finished this just a few days AFTER Christmas, bummer, but I did make the hat bigger so MAYBE he’ll fit it next year (or my sisters new baby will?!?!).  

But for now it’s a cute winter hat, esp since he spends most of his time in the Moby wrap and his head is the only thing people ever really see!  

And could be be any cuter?  I can’t BELIEVE he’s 3 months old already, the time goes WAY to fast for my liking.

Buy the Ad-Free pattern pdf here!

Materials:
Baby soft yarn- brown for this hat (I like Caron Simply soft)
size 6 double pointed needles (I use a long needle for the cast on)

Abbreviations:
k- Knit
p- Purl
k2tog- Knit two together (decrease)
ssk- slip one knitwise, slip another knitwise, insert left needle into front of both slipped stitches and knit (decrease)

Gauge:
10 stitches per 2 inches

Cast on: 72 (6 months- 84, 12 months- 96, toddler- 108)
I prefer to use the long tail cast on for hats, it leaves a clean and flexible edge.

divide stitches evenly onto double pointed needles and join

First 8 rows a simple rib pattern: k2, p2 around

knit around until the hat is as tall as you want it.  I stopped mine at 4 3/4 inches and it’s a tad bit too long, I wish I’d stopped at 4 1/4 or 4 1/2.  But some basic size estimates is newborn- 4.5″, 6 months- 5.5″, 12 months- 6″ and toddler- 6.5 inches

now to start decreasing for the crowns, the k2tog then ssk creates nice even lines up to the crown instead of having your decreases curve around your beanie.  It’s a bit trickier, but totally worth it in the end in my opinion.

Crown:
row 1- k4, k2tog, ssk, k4 around (so there will be k8 in between the decreases)
row 2- k around
row 3- k3, k2tog, ssk, k3 around (now k6 between the decreases)
row 4- k around
row 5- k2, k2tog, ssk, k2 around
row 6- k around
row 7- k1, k2tog, ssk, k1 around
row 8- k around
row 9- k2tog, ssk
cut the yarn with several inches left.  With a needle pull the yarn through all the remaining loops, secure and weave in end.

And the beanie is done!  A great base for any baby hat!

For the antlers you have two choices, using double pointed needles you can make them separately and attach them later or, like me, knit them directly onto the hat!  Pick where you want your antlers (mine centered on each side, 4 rows down from the center- in hindsight I WISH I’d done my antlers more forward from the center) and slide 4 needles through 3 stitches on each side creating a square.  We want to start with 12 stitches.  Stuff it as you go.

Antlers
Materials:
baby soft yarn- tan (caron simply soft)
size 4 double pointed needles
filling

Abbreviations:
k- Knit
p- Purl
k2tog- Knit two together (decrease)
ssk- slip one knitwise, slip another knitwise, insert left needle into front of both slipped stitches and knit (decrease)
kfb- knit front and back (increase)

Rows 1-9- k around (12 stitches) starting on the right side, then the bottom, then the left side, and finally the top
row 10- k9, kfb, k1, kfb (14)
row 11- k around
row 12- k3, kfb, k1, kfb, k3, kfb, k3, kfb (18)
row 13- k around
row 14- k11, kfb, k5, kfb (20)
row 15- k12, cast on 2 skip 7, k1 (15- with 7 left on a separate needle for later) (don’t forget to stuff as you go)
row 16- k3, kfb, k3, kfb, k7 (17)
row 17- k around
row 18- ssk, k9, k2tog, k4 (15)
row 19- knit around
row 20- ssk, k7, k2tog, k4 (13)
rows 21-23- k around
row 24- k2, ssk, k1, k2tog, k6 (11)
row 25- k around
row 26- k2tog, k3, ssk, k4 (9)
cut the yarn with several inches left.  With a needle pull the yarn through all the remaining loops, secure and weave in end (remember the stuffing).

going back to the skipped 7, add the cast on 2 stitches for a total of 9 and spread out evenly over 3 double pointed needles.
rows 1-4- k around (9)
row 5- k2, ssk, k1, k2tog, k2 (7)
cut the yarn with several inches left.  With a needle pull the yarn through all the remaining loops, secure and weave in end (don’t forget to stuff).

I had some wide holes where I knit the first row, so when I was done I took some extra yarn and sewed it a bit, tightening up the gaps, you can’t even see the gaps anymore!

I did the same thing here that I did for the antlers, knit right onto the hat. I slipped one of the double pointed needles right into the hat. I started my ears 4 rows below the antlers

Ears
Materials:
baby soft yarn- brown (caron simply soft)
size 4 needles (I just used the double pointed ones I was already using)

Abbreviations:
k- Knit
p- Purl
p2tog- purl two together (decrease)
k2tog- Knit two together (decrease)
ssk- slip one knitwise, slip another knitwise, insert left needle into front of both slipped stitches and knit (decrease)
pfb- purl front and back (increase)

slip needle into 6 stitches of a column on the beanie wherever you want the ears

row 1- k6
row 2- p2, k2, p2
row 3- k2, pfb, pfb, k2
row 4- p2, k4, p2
row 5- k2, pfb, p2, pfb, k2
row 6- p2, k6, p2
row 7- k2, p6, k2
row 8- p2, k6, p2
row 9- k2, p2tog, p2, p2tog, k2
row 10- p2, k4, p2
row 11- k2, p2tog, p2tog, k2
row 12- p2, k2, p2
row 13- k1, ssk, k2tog, k1
row 14- p4
row 15, ssk, k2tog, binding off as you go
Weave in ends

And it’s done!!!  I love it!  I’m sure there are better ways to create this, and I’m still a newbie, but I’m so tickled it turned out so well!

And here you can see what I was talking about earlier on the crown of the beanie.  The k2tog, ssk creates these beautiful and straight ribbed lines instead of a curved line from using just k2tog each round.  It’s personal preference, but this totally fits my style!

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About Ashlee

With the right tips and tricks, I believe YOU can make, bake, or create anything. This is what I love to do - make some awesome, teach you how, and give you that boost of culinary confidence you need to rock your own kitchen! Read more...

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  3. tute-bot

    Oh my gosh! That is so cute. And you make it look easy. I’m not a very ambitious knitter (I usually stick with things that are rectangular) but I think I can handle this.

    Reply

    • Ashlee

      It’s SO worth it. I tried years ago but couldn’t get the hang of it. I tried again last year and finally got it!!! I have loved it, there is something about knit that is just so pretty!

  5. Sara @ Sarandipity9702

    He is absolutely precious! I remember when my little guy was that little…he’s now going on 20 months…The time goes too fast, that’s for sure! I love your hat design, too! It’s adorable! Nice job! Definitely one for the Ravelry favorites!

    Reply

  7. Toni

    So adorable! I haven’t been adventurous enough to knit a hat yet, but if I get started now, I might just get it done before next Christmas ; )

    Reply

  10. somedaycrafts

    Ashlee, You are the queen! That is the cutest hat ever. You should sell it on etsy even though you just published it for free on your blog. A lot of etsy people would never know that!!!! Baby is adorable!!!!

    Reply

    • Ashlee

      HA! That’s why I started a store in the first place, hearing “you could sell those”! It’s for sure not as easy as it sounds and in the end I hate making things more than once or twice! But If someone wants to take the pattern and sell hats I’m all for it (just not selling the pattern- since I’m all about giving it away for free it seems!) I am considering opening back up my shop for patterns, but then every time I write one I’m so excited to share it I can’t help myself. If I ever got into super complicated patterns, like full sweaters or something like that I’d be more apt to sell it rather than give it away!

  12. Eve

    Oh my gosh… that’s just about the cutest thing ever! Maybe if I start now, I can have one done by next Christmas! 😉

    I’ve just started a new meme and would love for you to come by and join in the fun @ Tranquility & Turmoil

    – Eve

    Reply

    • Ashlee

      The beanie itself is pretty fast to throw together, the antlers did take some playing around with, but I bet it wouldn’t take you THAT long in the end! I hope you do try it, it’s so much fun, he’s still wearing it out and about!

  13. Deanna @ Little Green Bow

    WOW! This is amazing and absolutely adorable. You are very talented! Knitting is not a craft I have tried my hand at, but you make it look tempting. As somedaycrafts said, you should sell this on Etsy! Even though you posted the directions, I could never make this (nor could a lot of people) and would definitely buy something like this if I was in the market for a baby hat. Stopping by from Whipperberry link party. Cheers!

    Reply

    • Ashlee

      Thanks so much! That’s is so kind to hear. I used to have a store for just that reason, but in the end it’s just not for me, I kind of hate making something more than once or twice! Not good for a store! Thanks for stoping by! I hope you find a knitting friend you can make one for you!

    • Ashlee

      If you do make it for Christmas consider adding a bright red ball nose to the front! I was planning on it, but got it done too late (I also considered great big round eyes too, but thought they might be too much!)

  15. Shelley

    Stop it!!! That is too stinking adorable I can hardly handle it! If I had a little boy I would be teaching myself how to knit so I could make this ASAP 🙂 Love it!

    Reply

    • Ashlee

      Thanks for coming by! I learned to knit just 2 years ago and I’m so glad I finally did! It’s been so worth it, I still love to crochet, but there is something about knit for certain projects that just take the cake!