This adorably cute dinosaur knitted hat pattern for toddlers is made in our super soft Chunky Wool and suitable for beginner knitters. The pattern starts off with the braided ties made with an i-cord technique, followed by shaped ear muffs and a shaped crown. It is made in 2 pieces and joined in the middle where the horns are knitted-in to finish.
How to Knit a Dinosaur Hat
Knit a playful toddler hat with braided-look i-cord ties, shaped earflaps and a row of soft dinosaur spikes along the crown. The hat is made in two matching side sections, which are joined through the centre after the contrast-colour spikes are knitted.
The project uses chunky yarn and large needles, making it a quick and approachable project for beginner knitters.
Project Details
- Project number: P384
- Difficulty: Easy knit
- Size: One toddler size
- Finished circumference: approximately 44 cm
- Finished length: approximately 20 cm
- Construction: Two matching side pieces
What You Will Need
Yarn
- Main colour: 2 × 100 g balls of Makr Chunky Wool in Rainforest
- Contrast colour: 1 × 100 g ball of Makr Chunky Wool in Sugar Swizzle
Needles and Equipment
- 15.00 mm knitting needles
- Wool needle for sewing seams and ends
Alternative Yarns
Choose a very chunky or super bulky yarn that produces a firm but flexible fabric on 15.00 mm needles. Matching the finished tension and measurements is more important than matching the original ball count.
- Super bulky wool: The closest substitute for warmth, elasticity and stitch definition.
- Chunky wool and acrylic blend: Provides warmth with improved durability and easier care.
- Super bulky acrylic: A lightweight, washable and economical option for children’s accessories.
- Soft chenille-style chunky yarn: Can create a plush finish, but the spikes may be less defined.
- Two strands of a lighter chunky yarn held together: May be suitable where a single super bulky yarn is unavailable, provided the finished tension matches.
Select a soft, non-shedding yarn suitable for a child’s skin. Avoid fibres with loose glitter, sequins, beads or easily detached embellishments.
Knitting Abbreviations
- C: colour
- K: knit
- P: purl
- K2tog: knit two stitches together
- P2tog: purl two stitches together
- Kfb: knit into the front and back of one stitch
- RS: right side
- WS: wrong side
- St or sts: stitch or stitches
- Stst: stocking stitch
About the I-Cord Technique
The ties are worked as a two-stitch i-cord. At the end of each row, do not turn the work. Slide the stitches back to the opposite end of the needle, pull the working yarn firmly across the back and knit the stitches again.
About the Knit-Up Technique
To knit up stitches along a vertical edge, insert the needle evenly through the edge stitches from right to left. Wrap the yarn around the needle and draw a new stitch through each edge until the required number of stitches has been picked up.
Knit the First Hat Side
Make two matching side pieces.
Make the Tie
- Using the main colour, cast on 2 stitches.
- Knit one row.
- Slide the stitches back to the opposite end of the needle without turning the work.
- Pull the working yarn firmly across the back and knit the 2 stitches again.
- Continue in this manner for 20 rows, finishing after sliding the stitches.
Shape the Earflap
- Knit into the front and back of each of the next 2 stitches. 4 stitches.
- Next row: K1, P2, K1.
- Next row: K1, Kfb in each of the next 2 stitches, K1. 6 stitches.
- Next row: K1, P4, K1.
- Next row: K1, Kfb, K2, Kfb, K1. 8 stitches.
- Next row: K1, P6, K1.
Shape the Head
- Cast on 4 stitches, then knit to the end. 12 stitches.
- At the beginning of the following row, cast on 4 stitches purlwise, then purl to the end. 16 stitches.
- Work 6 more rows in stocking stitch.
Shape the Crown
- Next row: K6, K2tog, K2tog, K6. 14 stitches.
- Next row: P5, P2tog, P2tog, P5. 12 stitches.
- Next row: K4, K2tog, K2tog, K4. 10 stitches.
- Next row: P3, P2tog, P2tog, P3. 8 stitches.
- Next row: K2, K2tog, K2tog, K2. 6 stitches.
- Next row: P1, P2tog, P2tog, P1. 4 stitches.
- Cast off.
Make the Second Hat Side
Repeat the complete tie, earflap, head and crown instructions to create a second matching side.
Knit the Dinosaur Spikes
Work the contrast-colour spikes separately along the centre edge of each hat side. The two layers will later be sewn together.
First Side
- Using the contrast colour, knit up 16 stitches evenly along the centre edge.
- Purl one wrong-side row.
- First spike: K2tog, K2tog, then turn.
- Purl the remaining 2 stitches.
- K2tog.
- Pull the yarn through the final stitch and cut it, leaving a 15–20 cm tail for sewing.
- Rejoin the yarn to the remaining stitches and repeat the spike sequence.
- Continue until all spikes have been formed.
Second Side
Work the spikes along the centre edge of the second hat side in the same way.
Assemble the Hat
- Place the two hat sides together with right sides facing.
- Using the main-colour yarn, sew the centre edges of the hat together, leaving the contrast spikes free.
- Turn the hat right side out.
- Match each contrast spike with the corresponding spike on the opposite side.
- Use the contrast-colour yarn tails to sew each pair of spikes together around the outer edges.
- Weave in all loose yarn ends securely.
Child Safety
Ensure all yarn tails and seams are firmly secured. The long ties should only be used while the child is supervised and should not be worn during sleep.
Check the finished hat regularly for loose fibres, stretched seams or damaged ties.
When substituting yarn, knit a tension sample and compare the finished measurements. A significant difference in yarn thickness may change the hat’s fit.
