Free Unisex Leaf Lace Hat Knitting Pattern for Beginners | Step-by-Step Tutorial.

This leaf lace hat knitting pattern is perfect for beginners who want a simple, stylish lace design with a cozy unisex fit.

Hello friends! A warm welcome to our new blog post. I hope you’re enjoying our free hat and beanie knitting tutorials.
In today’s post, I’m sharing a unisex hat knitting pattern that features a beautiful leaf lace design.

The leaf lace pattern adds an elegant and stylish touch, making the hat even more attractive.

Most of my hats are knitted using straight needles, making them perfect for beginners. You can also explore more free hat knitting patterns and try your favorite designs! Below, you’ll find a detailed step-by-step tutorial to help you knit this beautiful hat.

Let’s get started and learn how to make a unisex leaf lace hat together!

Materials Needed to Knit the Unisex Leaf Lace Hat

1: Vardhman Woolista 100% Merino Wool Yarn Knitting (4 ply/stranded 8 ply thickness 100% pure merino wool, Yardage approx. 180-200 mtrs per 100gm ball).
2: Use a 3.25 mm straight needle.
3: Other optional tools are a tape measure, scissors, and yarn needle.

Abbreviations You’ll Need for This Leaf Lace Hat

New to lace knitting? Don’t worry! Download my free knitting abbreviations, they’re ideal for beginners making this leaf lace hat knitting pattern.

SSK: Slip Slip Knit
SSSK: Slip, Slip, Slip, Knit
K2tog: Knit 2 sts together
P2tog: Purl 2 sts together
SL: Slip Stitch/Stitches
K: Knit
P: Purl
STS: Stitches/Stitch
RS: Right Side
WS: Wrong Side

Unisex Leaf Lace Hat Knitting Tutorial for Beginners

Cast on: 115 sts (with Vardhman Woolista 100% Merino Wool Yarn Knitting/3.25 mm straight needle).
Sizes Available: Unisex lace hat, fits a 23–24 inch head circumference. Finished length is approximately 9 inches in total (1-inch brim, 7-inch body, and 1-inch crown).
Skill Level: Intermediate/Beginner.
Pattern Language: English.
Techniques Used: You’ll need basic knitting skills like casting on, working a 2×2 rib for the brim, knitting the leaf lace pattern for the main body, shaping the crown with decreases, and joining your work neatly to finish the hat.

Knitting the Perfect 2×2 Rib Brim for Your Hat

The hat features a simple 2×2 rib stitch brim, giving it a neat and stretchy edge. You can adjust the brim length according to your preference, knit it shorter or longer as you like.

The brim knitting pattern is shared below.

Row 1: P1, * K2, P2 * repeat from * to * …………………… last 2 sts K1, P1
Row 2: * P2, K2 * repeat from * to * …………… last 3 sts P3

Repeat these rows until you have completed 10 rows or reached approximately 1 inch in length.

Step-by-Step Leaf Lace Pattern for the Hat Body

The leaf lace pattern used in this hat is worked over 14 stitches, with 3 extra stitches added for the edges. In total, the hat has 115 ( 14X8 = 112+3 edge sts = 115 sts) stitches, and the leaf lace pattern repeats every 24 rows.

Below, you’ll find detailed instructions on how to adjust and place the pattern in your hat design.

Row 1: P1, K3, K2tog, * P2, Yo, K1, Yo, P2, SSK, K5, K2tog * repeat from * to * …………….. last 11 sts P2, Yo, K1, Yo, P2, SSK, K3, P1
Row 2: P5, * K2, P3, K2, P7 * repeat from * to * ………………………. last 12 sts K2, P3, K2, P5
Row 3: P1, K2, K2tog, * P2, K1, ( Yo, K1 ) 2 times, P2, SSK, K3, K2tog * repeat from * to * ……………… last 12 sts P2, K1, ( Yo, K1 ) 2 times, P2, SSK, K2, P1
Row 4: P4, * K2, P5, K2, P5 * repeat from * to * ………………………. last 13 sts K2, P5, K2, P4
Row 5: P1, K1, K2tog, * P2, K2, Yo, K1, Yo, K2, P2, SSK, K1, K2tog * …………… last 13 sts P2, K2, Yo, K1, Yo, K2, P2, SSK, K1, P1
Row 6: P3, * K2, P7, K2, P3 * repeat from * to *
Row 7: P1, K2tog, * P2, K3, Yo, K1, Yo, K3, P2, SSSK * repeat from * to * …………….. last 14 sts P2, K3, Yo, K1, Yo, K3, P2, K2tog, P1
Row 8: P2, * K2, P9, K2, P1 * repeat from * to * ………….. last sts P1
Row 9: P1, K1, P2, * K9, P5 * repeat from * to * ………………………. last 13 sts K9, P2, K1, P1
Row 10: P2, K2, * P9, K5 * repeat from * to * ………….. last 13 sts P9, K2, P2
Row 11: Same as row 9
Row 12: Same as row 10
Row 13: P1, K1, Yo, P2, * SSK, K5, K2tog, P2, Yo, K1, Yo, P2 * repeat from * to * …………… last 13 sts SSK, K5, K2tog, P2, Yo, K1, P1
Row 14: P3, * K2, P7, K2, P3 * repeat from * to *
Row 15: P1, K1, Yo, K1, P2, * SSK, K3, K2tog, P2, K1, ( Yo, K1 ) 2 times, P2, * repeat from * to * ……………. last 12 sts SSK, K3, K2tog, P2, K1, Yo, K1, P1
Row 16: P4, * K2, P5, K2, P5 * repeat from * to * …………………….. last 13 sts K2, P5, K2, P4
Row 17: P1, K1, Yo, K2, P2, * SSK, K1, K2tog, P2, K2, Yo, K1, Yo, K2, P2 * repeat from * to * ……………….. last 11 sts SSK, K1, K2tog, P2, K2, Yo, K1, P1
Row 18: P5, * K2, P3, K2, P7 * repeat from * to * ……………………. last 12 sts K2, P3, K2, P5
Row 19: P1, K1, Yo, K3, P2, * SSSK, P2, K3, Yo, K1, Yo, K3, P2 * repeat from * to * ………………………. last 10 sts SSSK, P2, K3, Yo, K1, P1
Row 20: P6, * K2, P1, K2, P9 * repeat from * to * ………………. last 11 sts K2, P1, K2, P6
Row 21: P1, K5 * P5, K9 * repeat from * to * ……………. last 11 sts P5, K5, P1
Row 22: P6, * K5, P9 * repeat from * to * …………….. last 11 sts K5, P6,
Row 23: Same as row 21
Row 24: Same as row 22

Repeat these 24 rows until you reach the desired hat length. I knitted approximately 8 inches in total (1 inch rib border + 7 inches leaf lace design). For this length, I completed 2 full pattern repeats plus 10 additional rows.

Step-by-Step Guide to Decreasing Stitches for the Crown

Once the hat reaches the desired length, it’s time to start decreasing the stitches. Follow the decrease pattern according to the leaf lace design, so the crown maintains its beautiful shape and flow.

The crown decrease pattern is shared below.

Row 1: P1, K1, P2, * K9, P2tog, P1, P2tog * repeat from * to * …………………… last 13 sts K9, P2, K1, P1
Now I have total 101 stitches remaining.
Row 2: P2, K2, * P9, K3 * repeat from * to * …………. last 13 sts P9, K2, P2
Row 3: P1, K1, P2, * SSK, K5, K2tog, P3 * repeat from * to * …………………… last 13 sts SSK, K5, K2tog, P2, K1, P1
Now I have total 85 stitches remaining.
Row 4: P2, K2, * P7, K3 * repeat rom * to * …………… last 11 sts P7, K2, P2
Row 5: P1, K1, P2, * SSK, K3, K2tog, P3 * repeat from * to * ……………………last 11 sts SSK, K3, K2tog, P2, K1, P1
Now I have total 69 stitches remaining.
Row 6: P2, K2, * P5, K3 * repeat from * to * ………………. last 9 sts P5, K2, P2
Row 7: P1, K1, P2, * SSK, K1, K2tog, P3 * repeat from * to * ……………………last 9 sts SSK, K1, K2tog, P2, K1, P1
Now I have total 53 stitches remaining.
Row 8: P2, K2, * P3, K3 * repeat from * to * ………………. last 7 sts P3, K2, P2
Row 9: P1, K1, P2, * SL2tog, K1, both slip sts over the knit sts, P3 * repeat from * to * …………… last 7 sts SL2tog, K1, both slip sts over
the knit sts, P2, K1, P1
Now I have total 37 stitches remaining.
Row 10: P2, K2, * P1, K3 * repeat from * to * ………….. last 5 sts P1, K2, P2
Row 11: P2, P2tog, * P1, P2tog, P1 * repeat from * to * ……………. last sts P1
Now I have total 28 stitches remaining.
Row 12: Purl all sts
Row 13: P2tog, P2tog, P2tog, ……………………
Row 14: Purl all sts

Now the hat crown is fully shaped, and you’ll have 14 stitches remaining. Cut the yarn, thread the remaining stitches onto a yarn needle, pull tightly to secure and close the top of the hat.

Next, sew the side seam of the hat neatly. While sewing, make sure the half leaf patterns on both sides align perfectly, so the design looks clean and beautifully finished.

Congratulations! Your hand-knitted leaf lace hat is complete and ready to wear.

Wrapping Up: Your Unisex Leaf Lace Hat Is Ready!

I hope you enjoyed knitting this unisex leaf lace hat pattern and love how beautifully it turned out!

I’d be so happy to hear from you, please share your feedback, comments, or suggestions below.

Don’t forget to join our Facebook knitting community to share your handmade projects, get inspired, and connect with other knit lovers. Also, make sure to check out our other free beginner hat patterns and the knitting abbreviations tutorial to help you learn and grow your skills.

Happy Knitting and see you in the next project!

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