Premature babies are being born all the time and there is a large need for premature baby caps. These help to keep the little ones warm and cosy while they are often fighting for life. You don’t need much knitting yarn but it does need to be find baby knitting ply. Here in Australia we use 3ply or 4ply, often referred in Britain as fingering or baby yarn.

These little caps seem small, and they really need to be. Some little babies are born at 26 weeks and are no longer than the distance from your wrist to your middle finger. So they have very little heads.

The best patterns don’t have seams, as these are a little rough on their fragile skin. The following pattern was given to me by a lovely lady – Lorraine Hartley, after she had perfected the pattern once given to her. I am happy to share it here with you.

Feel free to share this pattern with your friends and any other crafts people who would like to make things for their local community hospital. Perhaps you have some spare wool and could donate it to a craft group who would make some of these little hats for the little ones that need them.

FREE PATTERN PDF
Click here for the PDF OF THIS PATTERN

PREMATURE BABY CAP

Using 3 or 4 play baby wool or nylon

Cast on about 60 stitches, knit across row.

Repeat this row until the piece measures 10 ½ cm (4 inches)

Shape crown:

Row 1 Knit 2, knit 2 together, repeat to end of row

Row 2 Knit across

Row 3 Knit 1, knit 2 together, repeat to end of row

Row 4 Knit across

Row 5 Knit 1, knit 2 together, repeat to end of row

Row 6 Knit across

Row 7 Knit 2 together, repeat to end of row

Row 8 Knit across


Break off yarn, leaving 41cm (16in) length.

Thread this length into a large needle, drawing yarn through all remaining stitches and pull up tightly.

Secure firmly with a few stitches, then sew edges together for back seam.