When children are involved, it’s hard to contain your inner DIYer. Am I right? The options are limitless! Anne and I recently met our friends’ near-two-year-old, and I was inspired to bring along something knit for her. She opened the gift, said, “Hat!” on repeat, and flung it over her curly hair. She wore it to bed. I was happy as a clam.

When it came to actually knitting the pom-pom hat, I was a bit stumped as to the size it should be. I followed this size chart that proved to work quite well. Ultimately, I erred on the loose side so that she could grow into it in future seasons.

This project is easy and quick to knit up. If you’re new to knitting, or want to trying working in the round, I would give this project a try! (Find my adult version here.) I include video links to several of the steps below because they do a great job of clearly demonstrating how each step is completed.

Toddler’s Pom-Pom Hat

The Materials:

• 1 skein of yarn
• Contrasting color yarn for the pom-pom
• Size US 8 circular needles (16″)
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors

How-To:

1. Cast on 75 stitches
2. Knit 3 / purl 2 (repeat this until the hat rim is one and a half inches tall)
3. Stockinette stitch until the hat is 8 inches tall
4. Decrease on circular needles until too few stitches are left to knit (learn how here)
5. Close hat (learn how here)
6. Set your finished hat aside and make your pom-pom (learn how here)
7. Attach and secure the pom-pom to your hat using a tapestry needle (skip to 12:05 and learn how here)
8. Weave in any ends of yarn

This hat would make a great gift for any child. It is sure to be something they come back to for a few seasons to come!