Love this hat? Maybe you might also want to check out this free messy bun hat with cables. 🧡
Okay, so this is an unscheduled post, but it has to jump the queue. There have been so many requests for a messy bun – ponytail hat over the last few months. CRAZY. As it is summer here, the idea of hats hasn’t been on my radar. But I am a fan of the messy bun.
I wear a messy bun most days…..
So here is the pattern for a Messy Bun – Ponytail Hat. I have looked at so many of them recently, and I think this sorts out a few of the issues I have seen in other patterns. This has an elastic band at the top for securely holding the bun, making it a tighter fit. It is also more shaped to the head, as the shape is a little different to a regular hat.
I have also made this a plain knitted hat so you can use textured or patterned yarn, or even adapt it with your own favourite textured stitch in the main part of the hat.
Also, here it is in both straight and circular knitting patterns, as well as in 3 sizes.
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Messy Bun Hat
You will need:<
mm circular knitting needles<
K Yarn<
hort piece of elastic
Instructions are given for Small (Medium, Large) hats. Small is for children, medium for most adults, large for anyone with a lot of hair, or a lot of curly hair.
CIRCULAR:
Cast on 80 (92,100) stitches<
ib 12 (14, 16) rows using the 2×2 rib pattern (knit 2, purl 2)
Knit 14 (16, 18) rows
On the following row, knit 8, knit 2 together – repeat over the row reducing the number of stitches on the needles to 72 (83, 90)
Knit 6 (8, 10) rows
On the following row, knit 7, knit 2 together – repeat over the row reducing the number of stitches on the needles to 64 (74, 80)
Knit 4 (6, 8) rows
On the following row, knit 3, knit 2 together – to the end. (for small and medium sized hats this number will not be even, just knit the final stitches)
Knit 2 (3, 4) rows
On the following row, knit 2, knit 2 together – to the end. (for small and medium sized hats this number will not be even, just knit the final stitches)
Knit 2, purl 2 – rib the remaining stitches over the next 2 rows.
Knit 2 together, purl 2 together – over the following row.
Thread a length of elastic through all the remaining stitches. Tie up with enough room to comfortably fit around your ponytail.
Stitch in your tails.
Elastic threaded through the top of the hat.
STRAIGHT:
Cast on 80 (92,100) stitches<
ib 12 (14, 16) rows using the 2×2 rib pattern (knit 2, purl 2)
Stockinette Stitch 14 (16, 18) rows
On the following row, knit 8, knit 2 together – repeat over the row reducing the number of stitches on the needles to 72 (83, 90)
Stockinette stitch 5 (7, 9) rows beginning on a purl row.
On the following row, knit 7, knit 2 together – repeat over the row reducing the number of stitches on the needles to 64 (74, 80)
Stockinette stitch 3 (5, 7) rows rows beginning on a purl row.
On the following row, knit 3, knit 2 together – to the end. (for small and medium sized hats this number will not be even, just knit the final stitches)
Stockinette stitch 1 (3, 3) rows beginning on a purl row.
On the following row, knit 2, knit 2 together – to the end. (for small and medium sized hats this number will not be even, just knit the final stitches)
Knit 2, purl 2 – rib the remaining stitches over the next 2 rows.
Knit 2 together, purl 2 together – over the following row.
Thread a length of elastic through all the remaining stitches. Tie up with enough room to comfortably fit around your ponytail.
Fold the hat in half, and stitch up the seam. Stitch in your tails.
The Knit Guru 
I like the knitted hat instead of the crochet version. I would like to add a wide brim and use a textured pattern. Any suggestions for these modifications?
Thank you.
Hello there! Yes, very cool. For a wide brim, do you mean like one that folds over? For that I would recommend doubling the length of the ribbed section. To add a textured pattern, I would simply add it into the stockinette stitch section. There are 2 early decreasing rows – I would ignore those and carry on without decreasing there. When the hat reaches the length that the main decreasing starts, I would just to those. The hat will have a slightly different shape, but the textured pattern would be uninterrupted.
I love this and am going to make some for my two grandaughters. Thank you.Rose
I am confused.. at the end of the pattern it states that you run the elastic thread through the stitches, but doesn’t say anything about binding off.. what do i do????
Heya, run the elastic through the stitches instead of binding off. The line of elastic will hold the stitches in place, and vice versa.
What size straight needles or is the same size as circular 🤔
Yup, same size needles on straight or circular. I hope this helps, Diane.
I’m confused how you bind together the ends? Do you bring it together with a back seam using the elastic?
There is no back seam on the circular pattern. On the straight pattern, line up the sides and stitch the hat up the back seam as you would for a retailer hat… just don’t stitch through the top row of stitches. The ribbed section you knit first is the band of the hat, and the last section with the elastic threaded in the stitches is the top where your bun goes. Does that help?
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What is the gauge on this hat thanks Marilyn
About 22 stitches and 30 rows = 10 cm.
Thanks
The pattern is cut off on my phone. What size needles do I need for this pattern?
Also wondering what weight yarn. Thank you!
And an 8ply or DK yarn. ☺️
4mm needles. ☺️
What is DK yarn
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I wish I knew how many yards are necessary for each of the sizes. Thanks
If you have a 100gm ball, you have more than enough.
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The numbers are cut off on my iPad. What size circular needles?
Hiya – 4mm needles. I’m not completely certain what that is in American sizes… size 6 I think.
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Thankk you for sharing this
My pleasure.
How many inches are 16 rows? I’ve lost count.
😂 I know that feeling! I would just say continue to a length that feels right…… I’m not very good on inches as I was raised metric, but about 2 1/2 is my best estimate.