Knit Monkey Hat Knitting Pattern

Knit Monkey Hat in Plymouth Yarn Yarnimals Monkey

What is Being Made

This is a knit monkey hat designed as part of the Plymouth Yarn Yarnimals collection. The hat features a playful animal character design and is available in three sizes: Child Small (finished circumference 18¾"), Child Large (20"), and Teen/Adult (21½"). The hat combines earflaps with a crown-shaped main body, creating a cozy, character-themed accessory suitable for children and adults.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Knit Monkey Hat employs several fundamental knitting techniques appropriate for beginner-level crafters. The construction begins with flat knitting in rows for the earflaps, which are worked separately using double-pointed needles. The earflaps feature increases (make one stitches) to gradually expand the fabric width. Once the earflaps reach their finished dimensions, they are joined to the main body using a circular needle, transitioning to knitting in the round. The crown shaping uses decreases (knit two together) worked strategically around the hat to create the characteristic tapered crown. The hat concludes with a gathered closure where remaining stitches are drawn together and fastened off.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch (st st) – the primary stitch throughout the hat, created by knitting all rounds when working in the round and alternating knit and purl rows when working flat
• Make one (m1) – an increase technique used in the earflap construction to add stitches gradually
• Knit two together (k2tog) – a decrease technique used extensively during crown shaping to reduce stitch count and form the tapered top
• Purl (p) – used in flat rows during earflap construction
• Knit (k) – the fundamental stitch used throughout

Materials and Needles

The Knit Monkey Hat requires one ball of Plymouth Yarn Yarnimals Monkey yarn for all three sizes. The pattern specifies a gauge of 18 stitches and 26 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch when worked on US Size 8 (5mm) needles after blocking.

Needle requirements include US Size 8 (5mm) needles in both 16-inch circular and double-pointed needle formats for the main construction, and US Size 5 (3.75mm) 24-inch circular needles (referenced in the materials list for potential ribbing or alternative techniques). Additional notions include seven stitch markers to track pattern repeats during crown shaping, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and closing the crown, and a small amount of brown sewing thread for attaching embellishments that complete the monkey character design.

Pattern Structure and Finishing

The pattern is written for the smallest size with larger sizes indicated in parentheses. Construction begins with two identical earflaps worked flat on double-pointed needles, then progresses to joining these flaps to a newly cast-on back and front section using a circular needle. The hat body is worked in continuous rounds in stockinette stitch until reaching the proper length, followed by systematic crown decreases that reduce stitches from 84, 90, or 96 (depending on size) down to 6 stitches. Embellishments are attached after the main knitting is complete, adding the final character details to the finished hat.