This hat will make you want to start chowing on your child’s head. It’s the original cupcake hat, first published freely on the internet in 2005. It’s the most popular pattern I have ever made, it’s everywhere. It was even on the View, apparently. Who knew Snoop and Babs were fans? Anyhow, this is where you can get it for free. Scroll to the bottom for updates and alternative toppings.
SIZE
1-4 years.
MATERIALS
- Acrylic yarn in the following colors:
- Cup (CC): 1 skein Gold Worsted Weight
- Frosting (FC) : 1 skein Pale Pink
- Cherry: Scrap Red Yarn, preferably Chunky
- Size US 7 (4.5 mm) DPN, OR SIZE OBTAIN GAUGE
- Large-eyed, blunt needle
- Stitch markers
- Optional: Buttons, scrap yarn, beads, safety pins
GAUGE
16 sts and 22 rows = 4″ in St st BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE.
(MN) MAKE NUBBLE Pull loop through the next st as if to K, then place this look on the left needle next to the original st,2sts. Pull new loop through the second st as if to K, then place loop on the left needle next to the second st,3sts. Repeat twice: 5sts. BO 4 kwise. The fifth stitch is now on the right needle.
DIRECTIONS
With Cup Color (CC), cast on 80. Work in k2 p2 ribbing for 1 row, join in the round and continue k2p2 for 2 inches.
Switch to Frosting Color (FC). K one row.
Next row, *K1, MN. Repeat until you made one row of nubbles. (40 times, but who wants to count that?)
K until entire piece measures 5 1/2 inches.
*Knit 8 stitches, place a marker. Repeat from * 9 more times.
*K 6, k2tog, pass marker. Repeat from * 9 more times.
*K 5, k2tog, pass marker. Repeat from * 9 more times.
*K 4, k2tog, pass marker. Repeat from * 9 more times.
*K 3, k2tog, pass marker. Repeat from * 9 more times.
*K 2, k2tog, pass marker. Repeat from * 9 more times.
*K 1, k2tog, pass marker. Repeat from * 9 more times.
*K2tog, remove marker. Repeat from * 9 more times.
Continue to k2tog until 5 stitches remain. Break off yarn and thread the end through the remaining 5 stitches.
With the chunky red, make a pom pom, about 1 inch wide. Whatever looks best on your cupcake.
**NOTE: If making this hat for a child 2 or under, do not attach beads, buttons, or any other small choking hazards.
UPDATES: TOPPINGS AND ADULT SIZES
So browsing around on Ravelry, I saw a lot of creativity when it comes to the cupcake hat.
For instance, instead of a pompom cherry, why not a knitted cherry?
Or a strawberry?
There’s also been a few i-cord candles: Just switch to a candle color instead of threading through the remaining 4 stitches at the end, work in the round until about 3 inches, then add a small tassel for the flame!
As for an adult size, some people have cast on 100 stitches instead of 80.
what do you mean with K1, MN, how is this stitch accomplished?
MN means Make Nubble. The directions for making a nubble are at the top of the pattern.
this is awesome!!!!thanks!!!!
No, you’re awesome. Thank YOU.
I think my mom’s bf needs a lemon cupcake hat with a bright green candle. Come to think of it, mom might need one too… And if it comes to that I can’t leave my little sister out… This is definitely one of the cutest patterns! I will decide if it beats the kitty ear hat after making one.
Thanks so much! (For making this pattern, for making it free, for making it adorable, etc.)
You’re welcome!
Can’t wait to make one for my college-age daughter! We have a family tradition— you get a cupcake on your half-birthday. Last year– her first year of college out of state–I unsuccessfully mailed a cupcake….This hat will be PERFECT for this year!
Not only am I knitting one for my daughters, but one for myself and my sister as well. Thanks for the awesome pattern, hope I can do it!
How would you convert this pattern for a 7 year old?
Thanks to the ribbing, the hat is very stretchy and able to fit a variety of head sizes. The original pattern was baby sized, but it stretched to fit the head of a 7-year-old girl. Barely. To make it fit a bit better might take some experimentation on your part. But I’d go ahead and cast on 100 as in the adult version (and you’d place a marker at every 10 stitches, not 8), and make it a bit taller, for instance 2.5 inches of cup and 6 inches for the frosting before you start decreasing for the crown. Hopefully your 7-year-old is handy to try the hat on her as you go along!
This is wonderful!
I make this small-sized hat for a toddler. Here are my suggested adjustments to the hat pattern: I reduced the number of cast-on stitches for the nubble to three (instead of four). To make larger hats: Cast on 88 sts for child (4-7); 96 sts for older child (8-12; and 104 sts for adult. Decrease in the established 8-stitch pattern as printed for the smallest size. If you cast on 100 sts for the adult size, the decreasing will not be even (must stay with 8-stitch decrease pattern for a uniform look). When I tie on the pompom by bringing the knot threads to the inside of the hat, I put a small dot of Super Glue gel before finishing the square not. The glue soaks into the knot and secures it to the hat. When not quite dry, I press the knot with my thumb to flatten it so that it doesn’t dry in a “hump”. Don’t use the original “runny” Super Glue as it might soak through and discolor the pompom. If you find it difficult to make the nubble edge, here is an alternate suggestion: After attaching the “frosting” color, K1 row. Purl the next row which will leave the bump-side of the stitch to the front (outside) of the work. Then, continue to knit each row and finish off. Then, crochet a shell edge all around the cupcake by working the shells into these bumps. This edge replaces the knitted nubble. I have also added “sprinkles” by sewing little lines all over the “frosting” with a variety of colors using scraps of yarn (use a yarn sewing needle: Bring the yarn through to the front from the inside of the hat, make a line stitch, then bring yarn back through to the inside. Tie a tight square knot and trim off loose ends of yarn).
Would you mind elaborating a little more on the crochet shell stitch row that you do on the purled row of the frosting? how many stitches do you skip between the shells? And which shell stitch pattern do you find works the best? Thank you for great adaptations!
I’m a novice crocheter, can you please give some guidelines for the shells? I bet that detailing would be very nice.
This is by far the cutest pattern that I’ve ever seen. I found it before I knew how to work in the round and now that I do, it is the next thing on my list to knit! My daughter and niece are going to look so adorably scrumptious this Christmas. I think I’m even going to make one for my friend who shares a passion for knitting and baked goods. Thank you!
Thanks so much. I have been looking for this pattern. I saw it done with pink for the ribbing and white for the frosting part. It also had matching mittens. It was adorable.
Can you send a pic of the mittens or the link if there is a posted pattern? I found a few on line, but they were intarsia and I have not mastered that skill yet.
What does BO 4kwise mean?
Bind Off 4 stitches knit-wise.
What is BO?
I belong to a group that makes preemie caps for our local hospital, so after I made one of these for my daughter, I adapted it for preemies. If you don’t mind, I’ll post the adaptation here:
Cast on 60 sts on size 5.
Rib for 10 rows.
Work one row of icing color and then work nubbles row.
Work 14 rows of icing.
Knit 8, k2tog across six times, then do knit 7 ,k2tog on the next row and so on as stated in original pattern.
Finish as stated in original pattern and make a small red pompom.
Thanks for such an awesome cupcake hat!
I thought you had removed this because you had seen so many sold on etsy without your permission, but i’m glad to see this again! I made a couple as gifts for my niece and a friend and they were such a hit!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing this. I’ve never knitted anything more lovely and your instructions were really great.
I am fairly new to knitting and I really want to make this hat for two adorable twins. I was wondering if anyone could clarify on the make nubble part or if there was a video. I have no idea how to do this part and would love to get them done before christmas!
Thanks so much
Try to find a video for a knitted cast on. You’re casting 4 stitches on, and then binding them off.
I am knitting this hat right now – I just finished the bobble row. It was too much fun. I have never made nubbles before, I swear I laughed as each one was finished off. Thanks for such a lovely free pattern.
Thank you! So glad that knitting gave you the giggles.
I made 20 of these hats for xmas & they were such a hit everyone loved therm. I just adjusted the stitces as to the childs age & head size
By any chance…do you know where I can find a pattern for the “Round Looms” type CupCake Hat?? I have no idea how to knit regular…I am just starting…and it is almost like learning a new language…I am just not getting it!!!
I have no idea. I’ve never used a round loom, but I assume it would be pretty hard to get the details like the frosting drips done on a round loom.
I have never used double points before. Is it possible to use a circular needle to make the pattern or do I need to have someone show me how to use double points?
Thanks
If you can decrease the crown of the hat easily on circulars, go for it. Me, I always found that frustrating and preferred DPNs.
You can use circulars and do it with the Magic Loop Style. They have many utube videos on magic loop. You will just need to be sure that your circulars are 32 inches or longer.
This is darling, how do I make it smaller to fit a newborn? The premie pattern for this hat is too small.
TIA
Could you tell me how many double pointed needles you need for this pattern. I’ve not knitted in the round before but I’d love to give this pattern a go, but I’m just not too sure on how many needles I’ll need. Thanks
I have a friend who is giving a baby shower for her neice. The “cake” will be cupcakes. I am going to make this in the newborn/preemie size and hope in comes out OK for a newborn. I am not the greatest knitter! How fun this is.
I tried doing MN but I am not able to figure this out is there a more simple instruction available?
Look up nubble videos on youtube, it makes it so much easier!
I have made several of these cupcake hats—newborn and larger——no adults tho!! I love doing them on circular needles I am going to try one on the ‘magic loop’ method soon. m^j^
Adorable hat – made it for my friends first grandchild – loved it.
On a side note – sorry to see that people are trying to sell the pattern on etsy.com and claiming it’s their pattern and “for personal use only”. Takes a lot of nerve to do that when they got it free in the first place.
I’ve attempted this hat a couple times now and I always end up with double nubble! Has anyone else had this problem or have any insight? What am I doing wrong? I keep going over the nubble directions and doing it step by step, but I still seem to end up with way too many nubs.
You should try using Youtube so you can watch how nubbles are made! I didn’t understand them at first either, but after watching the video mine came out perfectly.
I was just wondering, you say 1 skein golden worsted weight and one skein pink. Does that mean the pink one is not worsted weight but sport weight (or similar)? PS: Lovely pattern I will try it this weekend. =)
Oh I was also wondering, how did you manage to get the “cup” part to be such a lovely V shape? Did you just knit it a lot tighter for the first few rows or add the odd sneaky stich as you came up towards the point where the icing starts?
I think that shape happened because I cast on tightly.
Thank you so much for this pattern. My friend has trigger finger(?) and is unable to make the gifts she wanted to make for Christmas and the price of a pre-made ones are out. So now I can make it for her.–Thanks, Chris.
I’m new to knitting in the round. How many stitches on each needle? All the videos show dividing them, I’m confused
I dont under stand hoe to do the nubble,would bubbles be ok .If I knew the nubble I would do that. Is there a easier way? Help lol
I didn’t understand the nubbles at first… I went on YouTube and watched videos on how to do it… it makes it so much easier!
I just finished the Nubbles, and was so excited I could do them. Thank you for this pattern, I love it, so will my grandaughters. The pattern says knit the rest of the way, the photo looks like stockinette sts. Are there no purl sts. in the pattern. Please let me know I don’t want to stop. Thanks again.
When you work in the round, all you have to do is knit and it will make stockinette stitch.
I knitted two of these hats on dpns and they turned out fantastic!
Can’t wait to try this –hope to have one made by the end of May. Thanks for sharing!
Love it. And thanks for offering it free.
I am going to scale it down for a 3 pound preemie. He will be the hit in the NICU.
Just not sure what flavor he likes! LOL
Many thanks, Linda