When I was nineteen, I lost a cousin to a heart attack. She was ten months younger than me, and as neither of us had sisters, I always considered her to be my would-be sister. The cause was likely an undiagnosed heart defect. My cousin’s passing is something I’ve always meant to write about, but since she’s not a member of my immediate family, I don’t feel comfortable going into tremendous detail since her death will always be much more their story than mine.
Our attempt at a selfie using a disposable camera at Grandma’s house, ca. 1996.
I decided to touch on this topic today for a couple reasons. August 26 marks, I can’t believe it, 8 years since it happened. From my perspective, I always thought this tragedy could just as easily have struck any one of the grandkids in my family as it struck her. But really, as I’ve grown and matured with the influence of that tragedy on my life, I now realize that this could have happened to anyone. This leads me to the other reason I’m sharing this story today – to let you guys know how you can help raise awareness about congenital heart defects (heart defects babies are born with).
The Campaign
Please note this information is from the 2015 campaign. As of October 2015, there are over 20 states participating in Little Hats, Big Hearts. Please visit the AHA’s Little Hats, Big Hearts page to see if a state near you is participating in this fantastic program!
A couple months ago, I came across a new group on Meetup called Chicago‘s Red Hats for Newborns Project, organized by the American Heart Association. As you might know, February is American Heart Month. The AHA is hoping to gather at least 1,000 donated red hats for newborns to give to (hopefully) every newborn in Chicago during the month of February 2015. The hats will be donated to new parents as a way to raise awareness about the AHA’s mission and of the fact that heart defects are the most common congenital defect among newborns. Check out the AHA’s website for more information on this project.
The AHA is looking for donations of a few things:
- finished knit or crochet hats for newborns
- red yarn
- gift cards for buying red yarn
If you’re knitting/crocheting a hat, or donating yarn, they prefer medium to heavy weight yarn. It must also be a washable material, and they’d like donors to avoid any exotic fabrics and wools. The deadline for donations is January 15, 2015.
How to donate
You can simply drop your donations in the mail to the address below, but I’d love to see your donations before you do! You can use the hashtag #handsoccupied on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/etc. or email me pictures of your donations at handsoccupied-at-gmail-dot-com. I’m planning on doing a roundup of everyone’s brilliant donated items and want to make sure to include you all!
Donation address:
American Heart Association
Anne Schullo
208 S. LaSalle #1500
Chicago, IL 60604
If you live in other parts of the United States and want to donate locally, email me and I’ll get in touch with my contact at the AHA to connect you to where you can donate hats locally.
The Pattern: Baby Hearts Hat
Since this is an issue that is near and dear to me, I wanted to share a pattern for you guys to knit up specific to this cause. The pattern features four big hearts spaced evenly around the hat as a nod to Heart Month. Also, heart shapes are cute, especially on the head of a baby!
I made this Baby Hearts Hat pattern in two sizes, using this this size chart. The newborn size is 14 inches in circumference and obviously for newborns and is the size the Heart Association is looking for for donations. I thought I’d include a baby size, which is 17 inches in circumference, in case you want to make an extra one for a baby in your life.
The other differences between the newborn size and baby size is that the baby size features a folded edge and a pom pom. Newborns have enough new things to learn without a pom pom (no matter how adorable the pom may be) pushing into their soft spots. I’m not a baby expert, but that seemed like a practical change to include. Plus, I skipped the cuff on the newborn size so you wouldn’t have to worry about it rolling down onto the newborn’s face.
Babies wiggle all over the place – they don’t have time for no stinking pom poms!
Baby Hearts Hat Pattern
Supplies
DK weight light worsted yarn (confused? see this guide)
appropriate needles (~size 6 double pointed needles or circular)
yarn needle
pom pom making supplies (optional)
Abbreviations
CO – cast on
sts – sitches
k – knit
p – purl
rnd – round
k2tog – knit 2 sts together
{ } around – repeat from { to } for the entire round
Newborn Size Pattern
CO 56 sts (or any multiple of 14 sts) and join into around.
rnds 1-8. k1, p1
9-12. k around (4 rows)Knit heart motif
13. {k6, p2, k6} around
14. {k5, p4, k5} around
15. {k4, p6, k4} around
16. {k3, p8, k3} around
17. {k2, p10, k2} around
18-20. {k1, p12, k1} around (3 rows)
21. {k2, p10, k2} around
22. {k3, p3, k2, p3, k3} around
23. {k4, p2, k2, p2, k4} around
24-27. k around (4 rows)Reduce and finish
28. {k5, k2tog} around (48 sts remain)
29 & all odd rows through end. k around
30. {k4, k2tog} around (40 sts)
32. {k3, k2tog} around (32 sts)
34. {k2, k2tog} around (24 sts)
36. {k1, k2tog} around (16 sts)
38. {k2tog} around (8 sts)Break yarn and weave in ends.
Baby Size Pattern
CO 64 sts (or any multiple of 16 sts) and join into a round.
rnds 1-15. k1, p1
16-19. k around (4 rows)Knit heart motif
20. {k7, p2, k7} around
21. {k6, p4, k6} around
22. {k5, p6, k5} around
23. {k4, p8, k4} around
24. {k3, p10, k3} around
25. {k2, p12, k2} around
26. {k1, p14, k1} around
27. {k2, p5, k2, p5, k2} around
28. {k3, p4, k2, p4, k3} around
29. {k4, p2, k4, p2, k4} around
30-33. k around (4 rows)Reduce and finish
34. {k6, k2tog} around (56 sts remain)
35 & all odd rows through end. k around
36. {k5, k2tog} around (48 sts)
38. {k4, k2tog} around (40 sts)
40. {k3, k2tog} around (32 sts)
42. {k2, k2tog} around (24 sts)
44. {k1, k2tog} around (16 sts)
46. {k2tog} around (8 sts)Break yarn and weave in ends. If you like, you can make a pom pom using this tutorial, leaving a long tail to sew it to the tip of the hat, and weave in ends.
Red hats for everyone!
My friend Alyssa lent me her lovely girls, Nora & Harper, for the photos you see here. They’re way more adorable than the yellow onion I used last time I shared a baby hat knitting pattern. I’d never done a photo shoot with kids, and the girls were amazing, especially since they’re 2 and just a few months old. Thank you, Alyssa!
Can the newborn hat be knitted flat ? DP’s hate me
Hi Mary! That’s totally understandable. :) Since this pattern perfectly repeats twice, I *think* it should work flat. If you get it to work, let me know, I’d love to add that to the notes on this pattern! -Heidi
Mary;
DPN’s hate me too. I knit everything I can flat…with the Magic Loop method, using circular needles. I gave away all my straight needles because you can use a circular needle just like a straight needle.
I love Magic Loop because I can knit all the way down to tiny baby mitten thumbs, and do it flat…but it turns out seamlessly and in the round.
There’s lots of youTube clips on ML.
If you do go for Magic Loop, invest in Addi interchangeable needles. There are other types of interchangeables which cost far less, and I’ve owed them (and sold them). Any needle system that you screw onto the cord WILL untwist and fall off, usually when you least want it to. What a mess. Plus it’s far too easy to flare out the tip end while tightening with the little tool. The metal is too cheap.
Addi Clicks are a bayonet-type fitting and don’t undo until you want it to.
Me, too. Then I found the Magic Loop means of knitting very few stitches in the round. Great how-to videos on u-tube.
Love this little hat. I encountered what I believe to be an error on line 28 of the newborn hat. I believe it should read as follows:
28. (k5, k2tog) around
Thank you!
You are correct, Bernadette! Thanks for the note – I’ve updated the pattern with the change. High five! -Heidi
I am an AVID crocheteer and would love to make baby hats. Do you have a pattern for crocheting these hats?
I don’t have a pattern of my own yet for crocheting a hat, but the website for the charity has a few: check them out here. So glad to hear you’re interested in donating! :)
just to let you know…and maybe you already are aware…the web site for crocheted hats is no longer available. thank you and have a great day.
Hi Ava-Jo! If you’ve got a second, can you let me know which link specifically wasn’t working? I’d love to update it since this post gets so much attention for the cause! :)
THANK YOU! I hadn’t seen that website!
Hi, I just found your site while browsing for patterns. I would love to knit some red heart hats for the AHA. I live in Spokane WA. Can you give me a contact for this area?
The only contact that I’m aware of is in Chicago. :( Knitters from as far as Portugal have been mailing hats to this area. Maybe next year they’ll be able to expand the program with how big Chicago’s has gotten!
I would like to know how to make this hat size 9-12 months?
thank you very much!
According to this hat size chart, which is my go to size chart, the 17″ head size should work for you! Just compare the baby you’re knitting for’s head size with the chart in case they’ve got a head size that’s different than the average. As a woman with a tiny head (21″), I’m always knitting teen or women’s XS hats to fit me! -Heidi :)
Do you have a local contact for me to donate to? I live in Corona CA?
Hi Marti! I would email Anne.schullo-at-heart.org – she’s my contact for Chicago and she’s know who to connect you with. Thanks for your interest in supporting the cause!
Thank you for sharing this pattern. I am very sorry for your loss – my niece was diagnosed at 1 month old as a CCHD baby. It’s been a long road for her these last 15 months, and she has a long road ahead. I am working on hats for this campaign and hope to create a stockpile over the next year as well :)
I got confused at line 21 on the smaller hat, what does kk2 mean? I’m a new knitter ;)
That means a typo, haha! It should just be k2. :)
I love this pattern. I am going to try and make some in the newborn size. Does this pattern come in an adult size? If so could you please email it to me. I’d greatly appreciate it.
Thanks!
Kristie
Hi Kristie, I haven’t yet made this pattern for adults. Just newborn and preemie so far! -Heidi
Thank you so much for the adorable pattern and the loving heart that led you to share it. So happy to have found you!
i love this hat and have made two of the newborn size however I am having trouble with the larger size. Sixty four 64 stitches does not work out correct.when you start the 20th row you are left with 3 stitches at the end of the row. Is there a correction to this pattern?
The pattern is correct – I just double checked the math and others have knit this hat without running into extra sts at the end of row 20. Since there are 64 sts each round, the repeating pattern in rows 20 through 29 should each be 16 sts since 16 goes into 64 4 times, resulting in 4 repeating heart motifs equally spaced around the hat.
With the newborn size, I used 56 sts and a heart motif that repeats 4 times around the hat, but is accomplished with only 14 sts. So 56/14 = 4 repeating motifs around the newborn size.
All best,
Heidi
I also ran into that problem with 64 stitches. What am I doing wrong. I have 3 stitches remaining.
A lot of folks aren’t knitting the repeats properly. When the pattern says (k6,p2,k6), you will k6, p2, k6, k6, p2, k6, etc. You’re knitting 12 sts in a row when you repeat. 👍🏻
Please do you have any patterns of animal hats done by crochet or knitting.
Thank you Edith
I don’t currently have any, unfortunately! You can find some cute ones at mamainastitch.com though.
How much yarn is needed for each hat?
Oh gosh, not much, but I can’t remember specific yardage. If I had to guess, I’d say nor more than 25 yds max.
I had the same trouble as Pam on row 20 until I realized I was doing the pattern wrong….it’s not k7,p2 until you finish the row… It’s k7,p2,k7 and then k7, p2,k7 again, etc….
Gee, I was having the same problem. Thanks for the heads up!
Heidi. I love this idea and pattern. I’m newish to hats and dp needles. I have size 4s and size 8s. I can I do this pattern with one of these sizes or should I go buy size 6s???? Ps. I’m on Chicago too! Former YA librarian. Now I work at ALA. I was so excited to find your blog and learn about your careers.
Hi Kristin! Always nice to hear from other librarians. :) The needle size all depends on the yarn you’re using and how tight you knit. Are you using the same yarn as me?
WARNING! If you go to Crafter Me website as mentioned above in Nutmegknitter’s suggestion (the green one) a pop-up box comes on. Don’t click it or follow the advice to call a number to correct a virus. It’s not real and they are trying to get your information.
Hello I knit on looms and would be interested in making some newborn hats to donate. I live in London, KY. Could someone email me and let me know if loom knit hats would be acceptable please.
Thank you,
Crystal Davis
I believe all red hats are accepted! Visit http://www.heart.org/littlehatsbighearts for contact info & state level donation info. Glad you’re donating!
Hello, I want to make this hat for charity. I only have a size 8 and 9 circular needles. Will a size 8 work for this pattern?
Thanks,
Amy
For the record I have purchased lion brand wool ease for this project. It actually says size 8 on it. Maybe j asked the wrong question first. Will this yarn be OK for this project? Ha.
It will be bigger since the gauge with that yarn is bigger. I recommend trying the preemie size hat (https://handsoccupied.com/2014/12/red-hats-for-preemies/) if you’re using the larger yarn.
I do not understand how to estimate the finished size of the hat if you use the different weight yarns and larger knitting needles. For example, what if I use knitting worsted weight yarn with size 8 needles? Or what about using knitting worsted weight yarn with size 9 needles? Thank you for explaining things for me to understand.
It’s called calculating your gauge, which basically means knitting a rectangle in the needles and yarn you’ll be making a project in to see how many stitches and rows per inch you’re getting. Here’s a useful tutorial: https://www.craftsy.com/blog/2013/05/how-to-measure-your-gauge-in-knitting/. If you need help calculating gauge for the first time, shoot me an email at Heidi-at-handsoccupied-dot-com and I’ll walk you through it! :)
Thank you for sharing your beautiful pattern . I’ve stumbled onto quite by mistake but now you’ve got me hooked. I’ll be knitting a few of these and posting them to you all the way from Tasmania ( Australia )
Wow! Thank you so much – that is incredible!
I just stumbled upon this website and found this pattern. I will try it out and donate if it comes out right.
Hi I saw the post on Facebook for preemie hats needed for the heart association. My daughter and I have taken up loom knitting and we would love to donate red hats for this great cause .we r not sure where to take them because syracuse ny is not on the list .
Hats are being collected, for the most part, at the state level. Visit the Little Hats, Big Hearts campaign website and click the New York link for the address of the person collecting and distributing hats to NY hospitals. Thanks so much for knitting! :D
Hi, just wondering what sort of gauge is needed for this? I’m planning to use Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino which suggests a size 3 needle and wondering how this hat would turn out with a size 6 needle. Gorgeous pattern!! Thanks :)
The yarn I used for the pictured hat was Patons Classic Wool DK Superwash, and its gauge is 22 sts & 28 rows on a US 6 needle. You could maybe hold two strands of the Debbie Bliss yarn you mention together for a similar gauge – I’d recommend knitting a 4 inch swatch holding the 2 strands together on US6 needles to see if your gauge is close to mine. That way you might not need to modify the pattern. Best of luck!
Heidi: If the gauge on your Paton yarn is 22 st/4 in., that would be 5.5 st per in. The larger hat has 64 st around, so this works out to 11.6 in. in circumference — much smaller than the 17 in. shown. The smaller hat with 56 st around works out to 10.2 in. in circumference — not 14 in.. What am I missing here?
Very interested in making hats for newborns; how do I get the crochet pattern???
Judy
In NC
If you visit heart.org/littlehatsbighearts and click on any one of the states, each page features a variety of hat patterns for knit, crochet or loom knitting.
Dear Heidi, Thank you for the beautiful pattern! ❤️ I have forwarded it to so many in Texas that knit for, Little hats, big hearts. I started this program in Texas and have meet some the best ladies wanting to help! Thank you again, Nancy Rink-Johnson, Sonora, Texas
I don’t knit…… would you have a crochet pattern? I love the knitted one and sorry I have not learned to knit except just the basic K & P stitch.
Thanks.
Absolutely! The campaign is run through the American Heart Association, visit heart.org/littlehatsbighearts for full info and where to donate locally. :)
That’s all you need, except for knitting 2 together. Easy, peasy.
Hello Heidi – We are doing Little Hats, Big Hearts at the hospital level, and I’m wondering if you would mind if we posted a link to your adorable hat pattern. Could you please let me know if that would be OK? We’ll certainly give you the credit – let me know how you would like that credit to appear.
Tracy Randazzo
North Oaks Medical Center
Hammond, Louisiana
Hi Tracy!
All you have to do is link it to the pattern and include that it came from Hands Occupied and you’re all good. Glad to have more folks on board!
Best,
Heidi
I participated in this project last year and have already started for this year (I just got a bag of red yarn donated to me for this). I am so excited to have come across this pattern!! It’s perfect for the Little Hats Big Hearts Campaign!!! Thank you so much!!!
I’m working the first baby size hat. I just have a question as the heart pattern doesn’t seem to be working out perfectly…it seems I have a half of heart at the end of the round and a larger gap before the first heart at the beginning of the round. I also do not have enough stitches in between (say to do the k4 p6 k4, seems I have to do k4, p6 k2 p6 k 2 all the way around in order for the hearts after the first to be symmetrical). Hmmm. Thoughts? Thanks!
Barb, you must be doing something wrong. I’ve made one of these hats, and had no problem with symmetry. Make sure your repeats are 14 st each.
My problem is with size. Using #3 yarn and size 6 needles, I get 6 st/in. This does not result in the circumferences listed. Fortunately, I have enough experience to allow for this.
I would like to know if you are still accepting hats? I am a knitter and would like to help out.
OH Wow! Just what I was looking for for Red Hat Day. I’m going to try one of these today. If it works out I plan on making a ton for our local Seattle children’s hospitals. Have you tried your pattern on the Loops and Threads/Addki knitting machine? I’d love to try it on the loops and threads machine, since I want to make a LOT and my hands hurt after a couple hours knitting. Thank you! :)
I haven’t tried one of those machines before, but stitch count-wise, the math should work even on a loom. If you try it, let me know how it goes!
Where can I get the teens size pattern? I want to knit one up for my aunt that’s turning 100 on this Friday.
How fun! You can cast on any multiple of 8 stitches for the pattern repeats to work out. To calculate a larger size, I recommend doing a gauge swatch to know what number of stitch to cast on to get the size you’re looking for. Happy birthday to your aunt, by the way!
Thank you so much :)
The instructions says yarn should be cotton with acrylic, which is not what patina wool ease is. It contains wool and most charity groups for wee ones discourage wool. What yarns do you recommend?
I like Red Heart Super Saver because it’s so so cheap and easy to launder. Yes, it’s 100% acrylic, but it’s sturdy as heck and is virtually indestructible, which is appreciated by the volunteers tasked with laundering thousands of hats!
I am in Nashville, TN and knit hats for a local hospital. I’m definitely going to participate in this. If possible, could you provide hospitals in my area to send the hats to?
Hi Inger,
I don’t work for the American Heart Association, but if you visit heart.org/littehatsbighearts you can find a list of participating hospitals by state!
Best,
Heidi
Hi Heidi, I would love to help. I knit all the time, and my grandson Parker has CHD. But do I have to use one of these patterns?? I have a simple hat I make, that folds up on the head. And I only use red heart yarn.
Connie
Nope! You can use any pattern, but remember to keep the American Heart Association’s guidelines in mind: heart.org/littlehatsbighearts.
This little hat is so cute! I’m knitting it up on bigger needles (size 9-10) in the baby size and getting a hat big enough for bigger kids. It’s a perfect pattern for Operation Christmas Child, so I am using any and all my leftover yarn to try to get as many as I can for next year. Our church fills 600+ boxes, so it’ll be a big challenge.
Also, if you don’t mind, I think I’ve adjusted the pattern to get an adult size. Haven’t tried it yet to see, but I want to knit one up for our pastor, who has just won his battle with throat cancer. His head needs a head warmer and the heart pattern is perfect.
No problem at all! <3
What is the adult pattern?
There isn’t one, this is just a baby hat pattern.
Is this still going on? Asking for a friend wanting to make hats
Yep! They do a hat drive every year, and the big donation window runs August through January. :)
can you please tell me how to work the parentheses? is it K6 P2 K6 DOES IT GO K6 P2 K6 P2 K6 P2 AROUND OR K6 P2 K6 AND THEN START WITH K6 P2 K6 I MADE ONE HAT AND IT DID NOT COME OUT WITH HEARTS
No problem! Just repeat from { to } the whole way around the round. Row 13 reads:
13. {k6, p2, k6} around
You would k6, p2, k12, p2, k12, p2, k12, p2, k6, assuming you cast on the 56 sts the pattern calls for. Breaking it down, math-wise, that’s four repeats of {k6, p2, k6} because 6+2+6=14, and 56/14=4.
I live in Green Bay. Can you connect me with someone local so I can donate a couple of hats. Thanks for sharing.
There are Madison & Milwaukee donation contacts on the Little Hats Big Hearts site. You can pull both of them up at heart.org/littlehatsbighearts. Excited to see Wisconsin represent! :)
Is there a printer friendly version of the pattern?
I recommend copying and pasting the pattern into a word processor like Pages or Word and printing from there. That will save you from printing images, etc. :)
hello Heidi.. .just read your note above and the reason for the red beanie for kids….i crochet so would love to try the heart cap via crochet. can u possibly share a crochet pattern for the same as i would love to try out some for the cause. thx
Wishing tou happy 2018
Dilnavaz
Hi Dilnavaz! Yes, I’ve also done a crochet pattern for this charity as well: https://handsoccupied.com/heart-applique-hat/. Glad to have crocheters interested too! :)
I’m knitting hats to be donated. Can I take them directly to the hospital. There is a participating hospital about 15 miles from me.
To my knowledge, you have to first send your hats to the donation coordinator in your area to have them laundered and bundled with an information packet to help new parents learn more about congenital heart defects. I don’t work for Little Hats Big Hearts/American Heart Association, so I recommend reaching out to your nearest donation coordinator. Good luck! :)
I hope you leave this pattern on the website for those groups making valentine’s hats. I think there is an error on the “baby size” Line 26 should repeart 3 or 4 times. I am repeating it 4 times since it is a bigger size. On the baby size, it repeats 3 times.
I LOVE this hat.
I can use the knit stitch for the entire hat? I don’t know don’t know how to pearl
Thanks
Is this project still active? I have red hats to donate.
Yes – if you knit all of the purl stitches the hat will still turn out size-wise. :) Glad you’re knitting for this charity!
As of 2019, the program is now defunct. There’s a message explaining why at littlehatsbighearts.org.
The red hat program through the American Heart Association has been discontinued. the Preemie Project decided to do a Valentine donation in 2021. We would love to receive any red hats for that. We had not donated Valentine hats in the past because of the Heart Association February Red Hat Donation.
The Preemie Project Board President
https://www.thepreemieproject.com/event/red-hats-for-valentine-day/