3-Piece Dinosaur Hat and Mitten Set Knitting Pattern for Children

You almost certainly know which child this is for.

The one who corrects adults on the difference between a brachiosaurus and a diplodocus. The one who has strong opinions about whether T-Rex could actually outrun a jeep. The one who, when asked what they want for their birthday, says dinosaurs, and means it.

This dinosaur hat and mitten set knitting pattern was designed for that child specifically.

It is a trapper-style hat with knitted ear flaps and a row of spikes running along the crown, plus fingerless mittens and full mittens with matching spikes along the back of each hand. Three pieces, one very pleased small person, and a gift that will actually get worn rather than put on a shelf.

What You Are Making

The set has three pieces, and each one has its own complete instructions in the 8-page PDF.

The hat is a trapper style with a ribbed brim and knitted ear flaps with a short I-cord tie. The spikes run along the crown and are what make the whole thing immediately recognisable as a dinosaur hat rather than just a hat.

The fingerless mittens cover the hand and palm with an opening for the thumb, so small fingers can still operate a juice carton or a dinosaur figurine without having to remove them entirely. Spikes run along the back.

The full mittens follow the same construction as the fingerless version, with a shaped mitten top worked in simple decreases. Also with spikes.

All three pieces are worked in the round in two colours. Yarn A is the main colour, Yarn B handles the spikes and trim. There are no colourwork charts. The colour changes are simple and clearly explained.

About the Spikes

The spikes are the part that looks complicated and is not.

Each one is knitted flat as a small triangle. The triangles are joined into a chain before being sewn onto the hat or mittens, which sounds involved but is actually very satisfying once you get going. The PDF has extra notes on this section because it is the part that looks impressive in the finished object and is, in practice, the least fiddly part of the whole set.

If you have ever worked a small piece flat and seamed it, you are already equipped for this. For a clear explanation for mattress stitch, Marly Bird is worth bookmarking alongside the pattern.

Materials

Yarn: Stylecraft Special DK, 100% acrylic, 295m / 322 yds per 100g

Stylecraft Special DK is worth mentioning by name because it is easy to find in UK yarn shops and online, it washes at 40 degrees without drama, and one 100g ball of each colour covers all three sizes across all three sizes. The yarn cost for the full set is modest, which is useful when the recipient is the kind of child who loses one mitten before February.

Colourway shown: Yarn A, Petrol (1708), Yarn B, Copper (1029) Alternative colourway: Yarn A, Khaki (1027), Yarn B, Parchment (1218)

Needles: 3.25mm and 4mm DPNs or circulars for working in the round. Magic loop works perfectly well if you prefer it.

Also needed: Stitch markers, tapestry needle, pins, smooth DK waste yarn for the thumb opening.

Gauge: 22 sts x 30 rows = 10cm x 10cm in stocking stitch using 4mm needles. Hat fit depends on tension more than almost anything else, so a quick swatch before you cast on will save a lot of second-guessing later.

Sizing

Three sizes, covering children aged 1 to 11 years. The finished hat circumference is slightly smaller than the head measurement it fits, which gives the hat enough grip to stay on during the sort of outdoor activities a dinosaur-obsessed child tends to get involved in.

Not sure which size to cast on? The Baby and Children’s Knitting Size Guide has a full head circumference chart by age that will help you choose before you start.

Skill Level

This is a confident beginner pattern. It uses knit and purl stitches, simple increases and decreases for shaping, and working in the round on DPNs or using magic loop. If you have made a hat before and you are comfortable with the round, this set will be well within reach.

The fingerless mittens are a gentle starting point if you have not made mittens before. The full mittens follow exactly the same construction with one extra step at the top. The spikes, as mentioned above, look harder than they are.

Abbreviations used in the pattern are explained within the PDF. There is also a full reference in the Knitting Abbreviations Guide on the blog if you want to check anything before you begin.

When to Knit This

The three-piece set makes a more considered gift than a hat on its own. It is the kind of thing that lands well as a birthday present for a child in the 2 to 7 age range, when dinosaur opinions tend to be at their most firmly held.

It also works well as a Christmas knit. The hat, fingerless mittens, and full mittens together feel like a proper set, and all three pieces are practical enough to go outside in rather than sit in a drawer. The knit is not a race, but with DK yarn and straightforward construction it moves along at a reasonable pace.

If there is a new baby in the family who is going to need a slightly older sibling entertained and onside, knitting that sibling a dinosaur hat is not the worst strategy.

Get the Pattern

The dinosaur hat and mitten set knitting pattern is an instant PDF download, 8 pages, covering all three sizes. Instructions are clear and easy to follow, with extra notes on the spike construction so you know what to expect before you get there.

Designed by Jane Burns, with 18 years of experience creating exclusive knitting patterns for babies and children.

Pick up the pattern in the shop here — shop.janeburns.co.uk

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Pattern copyright Jane Burns Designs. For personal use only. Finished items may be sold in small quantities with credit to Jane Burns.