Iain’s Bubble Hat

Update: There is now an easy to print PDF version of The Bubble Hat pattern available.

For years now I’ve been trying to find just the right winter hat for Iain. It needed to work for both of us. He wanted something that was easy to pull on and off. I wanted something that wasn’t going to just fall off. He wanted something he liked the look of. I was all for good looks too, but more importantly I wanted something that covered his ears and kept him warm during the long hours he spends outside.

I think that we finally, finally, found THE hat.

bubble hat
And we’re both quite pleased.

He picked the main yarn; Taos by Tahki Yarns in the Autumn (004) colorway. He showed me the kind of look he liked and I designed the hat.

I wanted to use two different yarns for this and I just loved how the dark brown of this local alpaca/wool blend picked up the thread of brown through the Taos.

bubbles
I told him that since it was his hat, he could name the pattern. He says it’s a Bubble Hat, so there you go!


The Bubble Hat

One size fits most- older child through adult

materials: 1 skein each of bulky yarn in color A and color B
a set of size 9 double point needles
one stitch marker

Cast on 76 stitches with color A, join round, and place a marker
Work 15 rows of K2, P2 rib
note: I wanted it to come all the way down and cover his ears and forehead. If you would like a shorter style feel free to adjust the number of rounds accordingly.

Break yarn

switch to color B

**Work 5 rounds in ss (knit every row)
*K5B (see details below), K3*, repeat around
Work 5 more rounds of ss
K2, *K5B, K3* repeat to last 2 stitches, K5B, K1**

Repeat from ** to **

Break yarn

With color A K 1 round
*K2tog, K4*, repeat to last 2 stitches, K2
K 1 round
*K2tog, K3* repeat to last stitch, K1
*K2tog, K2* for one round
K 1 round
*K2tog, K1* to last 2 sts, K1 (24 stitches)
K 1 round
K2tog for one round
K 1 round
K2tog

Break yarn and pull tightly through the remaining stitches
Work in ends, and voila!

silly

K5B=Knit Stitch 5 Rows Below

Now I’m going to try my best to describe how to do this using words, but if you still aren’t getting it, then there is a nice picture tutorial here that should set you straight (she uses a crochet hook and I’m going to tell you how to do it with your knitting needles).

Ok, so what you are ultimately doing is working a stitch 5 rounds down from where you are.

Here’s how:
Slip the stitch that you are about to knit off of the needle and pull out the stitch below it 4 times. I know, I know, don’t be scared, it will be ok, just keep a crochet hook on hand. Now put your needle back into the loose stitch. There should be a ladder of 4 strands above it. Alright, now, from this position, with the stitch in front, your yarn in back and the ladder in between, knit the stitch. And that’s it!

back
If you make one, be sure to leave me a link, I’d love to see it!  You can find the Bubble Hat on Ravelry here.

By
free patterns, Kids, Yarn Crafts
42 Replies

42 thoughts on “Iain’s Bubble Hat”

  1. Shawnna

    Oh how I wish I could knit! It's just an AWESOME looking hat! Tell him congrats! There is nothing like guys and their perfect hat! =)

  3. Jenn

    Love the hat! Hate dpn's :) Might try it on a small circular after I finish crocheting the blanket for our newest family member to be. Though I'm still waiting to try that dress/tunic pattern…would be perfect for both my girls since the only difference needed to fit them both is length(yes my almost 5 year old and 19 month old have the same size chest, very odd).
    I also have a question for you, Melody. Please email me @ angel1141023@hotmail.com

  4. Michelle

    Thank you so much for the pattern Melody. You are quite an accomplished knitter. So nice of you to share. It looks great. I am going to try this hat next.

  6. Brie

    Such a wonderful hat. My friend posted a link to it on her facebook account. I showed my mother on Monday; today she surprised me with a hat of my own (in my profile photo)! I can't wait to buy some yarn and have her make me another. She is very excited and is starting to make more to donate to the homeless shelter.

  7. Mommy (aka Marni)

    I love this hat! I plan to make it for a friend's daughter who has leukemia and has lost her hair from chemo. I think it will be beautiful on her!

  8. Melody

    ***********************************
    Thank you everyone! I had a lot of fun making it. Elijah has requested one next. :)

    Brie- That story made my day! I'd love to see the other hats she makes as well!

    Marni- I hope it's warm and cozy for her! I'd love to see yours when it's completed as well.
    **********************************

  12. Cici

    i love this beanie, and it’s my first time to knit a beanie and this is the result…

    i know i made some mistakes but it looks good to me (low expectation LOL)
    thanks for sharing!!!

  13. Linda Easley

    Thanks so much for the pattern. I made it for my 10-year-old grandson and he loves it. He picked out the colors–black wool plus a red-white-black sock yarn knit into the bubble part. I would have brightened it up, but he’s into dark colors these days. I shortened the ribbing to 2″ because he has a low forehead. A great hat!

  14. cecilia

    hey there, i am about to start this for my hubby and just wanted to check (since it says one size fits most) – does that hat fit your hubby?? (ie- grown man :) )
    can’t wait to try out this new k5b business!

  15. Melody Post author

    cecilia- It fits me and it fits him, but he says to mention that he wears a smallish hat size for a man. I can give you some ideas for making it a bit bigger if you think they are needed (like if your honey has a particularly large head).

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  17. Heather

    Love the hat..what size needles would I need to make it for a 2yr old?
    Thanks Heather

  18. Mary Jo Zeien

    I am in the midst of making gloves and hats for grandchildren and friends children, just found your bubble hat pattern and I love it. I am one of the knitters that will not start a new pattern without finishing the one I have started. This will really get me going, I can’t wait to try it. Thanks so much for your patterns. Mary Jo

  19. Lisa

    I love this hat! I just made one for my cousin who is 6. He will be getting it for Christmas this year, so I hope he likes it! Great pattern, thanks for sharing.

  20. Mary Jo Zeien

    I can’t tell you how many of the bubble hats I have made! I love the pattern, it is one of the easiest hats I have ever made and they are the cutest things when done. I use all kinds of yarn, it really doesn’t matter. Thanks so miuch for sharing your knowledge with us. Can’t wait to try another of your patterns.

  22. Melody Post author

    I’m so glad I could help! I can’t tell you how refreshingly rare it is to hear that I actually make sense. :)

  23. Chava

    Love everything about this pattern and the accompanying ones. I got it from Knitting Paradise, where I live these days. And I like short projects that use up scrap yarn. You instructions are especially clear.

  24. joanne

    Really like the looks of this hat! Love the colors.
    Thank you for sharing the pattern, can’t wait to get started, eventhough it is 90 degrees right now.

  25. chatty cathy

    I am so glad i found this website. Just like sewing in the past, the price of patterns and materials became so expensive, it was no longer cost-effective to make your own. This gives me a chance to try new patterns and experiment without spending a fortune…which i do not have!!!

  28. Carol Almon

    I love the bubble hat.May I copy your pattern.I’m a newish knitter ,but I’d like to try it.Thanks Carol

  29. Melody Post author

    Just a little note to clarify: the blurb about not copying content is to deter people who might attempt to publish my work on the web or elsewhere. Anyone is free to print out or make a copy of any of my patterns or recipes on this site, for personal use, at any time. happy knitting, melody

  30. Elena

    hey! i would like to knit this, could u please tell me the size of your gauge?? then i can adjust the number of st. to the yarn i’d like to use :)

    Thank u for sharing!

  31. Annette Siverson

    Love the hat! And thank you for the pattern very much. And your little boy is very handsome, especially sporting his Bubble Hat!

  32. Alison M.

    Hi!! I am a complete amateur at DPNs…would this be able to be knit in the round? ( I would rate myself as being an advanced beginner) Still working mainly on straight needles but I am familiar with a lot of intermediate stitches and techniques…can’t seem to keep control of the DPNs yet…So, anything I should know about knitting this in the round? Your advice is appreciated! Great hat design!

  33. Melody Post author

    Hi Alison,
    I’ll send you a private message and we’ll see if we can work out what you are looking for.
    ~Melody

  34. Nina Barrick

    Nice hat,I just started knitting and I have made some things but am looking for a video on hats for boys and girls age 1-9…ty

  38. Cindy

    I have made at least 10 bubble hats. I wanted to mention to you that my 6 year old grandson loves this pattern. He just helped me pick out scrap yarn to make a camophlage hat. It turned out nice, and he loves it
    If I can explain it in words I wanted to explain the difference I believe I do in making the bubble. My bubbles look more pronounced (I have heard it described as popcorn). When I drop the 4 stitches and then take the one stitch up and over to the left needle, then I take the 4 ladder stitches and place them onto the left needle, now I take the right needle and knit all the stitches together. I am not sure if you do that or if your ladder stitches just hang behind. Picking them up makes the inside of hat with an awesome pattern and the bubbles more bubbly.
    Just wanted to share; maybe you do that, but I did not catch that from your instructions. Although I know how hard it is to put this stitch into words.
    I would love to show you a picture of the camo hat. I do not know how to to that on the computer. I can only send pictures on my smart phone.
    Thank you for reading. I am not meaning to correct you, all your work is so beautiful. Far beyond what I could ever accomplish. It just looks like on your hat photo, the back view that the bubbles are more flat. That is why I thought you did not pick up the 4 stitches.
    Thank you again, Cindy

  40. Melody Post author

    Thank you Elizabeth! You could use circulars to a point, but at the crown it will start to get too small. At that point you could either switch to DPN, work it using the magic loop method or using two circular needles.

  41. Hilary Buckner

    Hey there, You’ve done an excellent job. I will definitely digg it and personally recommend to my friends. I’m confident they will be benefited from this site.

  42. Stephanie Sisson

    This was a challenge even for an old knitter! But I was determined to take the challenge. haha I got quite far and had to stop and restart because I was not doing the bubble correctly. I searched for a video tutorial and found one. From that point it was great. Wish I could show you a picture of it. Thanks for the pattern.

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