Panda Patch Beanie: Free Knit Pattern

Introduction

The Panda Patch Beanie is a sweet, cozy little hat made for toddlers, and it is a wonderful first project for anyone ready to knit in the round. Worked from brim to crown in soft DK merino, it is seamless, quick, and topped with a playful white patch that holds a light blue panda face. The ocean blue body looks crisp and wintry, while the merino feels gentle and warm against little ears. Best of all, the patch is knitted separately and sewn on at the end, so the colorwork stays simple and stress-free.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: DK weight (light worsted) 100% merino wool, 120 yards (110 meters) per 50g skein.
  • Main color (MC), Ocean Blue: 1 skein (approx 100 yards)
  • Contrast color 1 (CC1), White: small amount (approx 15 yards)
  • Contrast color 2 (CC2), Light Blue: small amount (approx 10 yards)
• Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm) circular needle, 16" (40 cm) cable, plus a set of US 6 (4.0 mm) double-pointed needles (DPNs) for the crown, or the size needed to obtain gauge.
• Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle, scissors, tape measure.
• Finished size: To fit a toddler head circumference of 18–20" (46–51 cm). Finished hat circumference approx 16" (41 cm) unstretched, height approx 7.5" (19 cm).

Abbreviations

• CO: cast on — make the starting loops on your needle.
• k: knit stitch.
• p: purl stitch.
• k2tog: knit two stitches together — a right-leaning decrease that turns 2 stitches into 1.
• St st: stockinette stitch — knit every round when working in the round, or knit on right-side rows and purl on wrong-side rows when working flat.
• RS / WS: right side (the outside, public face) / wrong side (the inside).
• BOR: beginning of round.
• BO: bind off — finish the live stitches so they don't unravel.
• MC / CC1 / CC2: main color (Ocean Blue) / contrast color 1 (White) / contrast color 2 (Light Blue).

Gauge

22 stitches and 30 rounds = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch in the round, blocked. Knit a small swatch in the round, block it, and count your stitches and rounds over 4" (10 cm) before starting; if you have more stitches, go up a needle size, and if you have fewer, go down.

Tips Before You Start

• When you join to work in the round, check that the cast-on edge is not twisted before knitting the first stitch — a twist here cannot be fixed later.
• Switch to the DPNs when the crown gets too small to stretch comfortably around the circular needle, usually around Round 13.
• On the patch, carry the unused color loosely along the wrong side so the fabric doesn't pucker; keep the floats no longer than about 1" (2.5 cm).
• Block the hat and the patch before sewing them together so the patch sits flat and the hat holds its finished shape.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Brim

With MC, CO 88 sts. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. Place a marker for the BOR.

Rnds 1–10: [k2, p2] around (88 sts).

Body

Change to St st (knit all rnds).

Rnds 11–47: knit around (88 sts).

Work even until the piece measures 5" (12.5 cm) from the cast-on edge, ending after a complete round.

Crown

Rnd 1: [k9, k2tog] around (80 sts).

Rnd 2: knit (80 sts).

Rnd 3: [k8, k2tog] around (72 sts).

Rnd 4: knit (72 sts).

Rnd 5: [k7, k2tog] around (64 sts).

Rnd 6: knit (64 sts).

Rnd 7: [k6, k2tog] around (56 sts).

Rnd 8: knit (56 sts).

Rnd 9: [k5, k2tog] around (48 sts).

Rnd 10: knit (48 sts).

Rnd 11: [k4, k2tog] around (40 sts).

Rnd 12: knit (40 sts).

Rnd 13: [k3, k2tog] around (32 sts).

Rnd 14: knit (32 sts).

Rnd 15: [k2, k2tog] around (24 sts).

Rnd 16: knit (24 sts).

Rnd 17: [k1, k2tog] around (16 sts).

Rnd 18: knit (16 sts).

Rnd 19: [k2tog] around (8 sts).

Cut the yarn, leaving a 6" (15 cm) tail. Thread the tail through the remaining 8 sts, pull tight, and secure on the inside.

Panda Patch

With CC1 (White), CO 20 sts. Work in St st flat (knit on RS rows, purl on WS rows).

Row 1 (RS): knit with CC1 (20 sts).

Row 2 (WS): purl with CC1 (20 sts).

Row 3: k8 with CC1, k4 with CC2, k8 with CC1 (20 sts).

Row 4: p8 with CC1, p4 with CC2, p8 with CC1 (20 sts).

Row 5: k7 with CC1, k6 with CC2, k7 with CC1 (20 sts).

Row 6: p7 with CC1, p6 with CC2, p7 with CC1 (20 sts).

Row 7: k6 with CC1, k8 with CC2, k6 with CC1 (20 sts).

Row 8: p6 with CC1, p8 with CC2, p6 with CC1 (20 sts).

Row 9: k6 with CC1, k8 with CC2, k6 with CC1 (20 sts).

Row 10: p6 with CC1, p8 with CC2, p6 with CC1 (20 sts).

Row 11: k7 with CC1, k6 with CC2, k7 with CC1 (20 sts).

Row 12: p7 with CC1, p6 with CC2, p7 with CC1 (20 sts).

Row 13: k8 with CC1, k4 with CC2, k8 with CC1 (20 sts).

Row 14: p8 with CC1, p4 with CC2, p8 with CC1 (20 sts).

Row 15: knit with CC1 (20 sts).

Row 16: purl with CC1 (20 sts).

BO all sts. The patch should measure approx 3.5" (9 cm) wide and 3" (7.5 cm) high.

Assembly and Finishing

Block the hat and the patch lightly, shaping the hat to its finished measurements and pressing the patch flat. Once dry, center the patch on the front of the hat, with its lower edge sitting just above the brim, and pin it in place. Using CC1 and mattress stitch, sew around the sides and bottom of the patch, leaving the top edge open to form a small pocket if you like. Weave in all ends on the inside of the hat and the wrong side of the patch, then give the finished beanie a final light steam or wet block.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Change the palette: swap CC1 and CC2 for any two contrasting shades, or work the whole patch in one color for a simpler look.
• Make it a bigger kid's hat: cast on 96 sts and work the crown decreases starting with [k10, k2tog] to fit a child's head of about 20–22" (51–56 cm).
• Close the pocket: if you prefer a flat patch, sew all four edges instead of leaving the top open, or add a tiny button at the top corner for extra charm.