Baker Boy Cap

Bulky wool, straight needles

A classic baker-boy (newsboy) cap: a firm 2×2 rib band, a short visor brim, and a slightly full crown gathered to a button. Worked flat on straight needles and seamed at the centre back. Intermediate.

Style: Baker boy / peaked cap (shaped brim + fuller crown), not a plain beanie.

Sizes

Baby (Child, Adult S/M, Adult L)

• To fit head circumference: 40 (48, 56, 61) cm / 15¾ (19, 22, 24) in
• Finished band (unstretched): 33 (38.5, 44, 50) cm / 13 (15¼, 17¼, 19¾) in — about 5–7 cm negative ease
• Crown depth from top of band (excluding brim): 14 (16, 18, 19) cm / 5½ (6¼, 7, 7½) in
• Visor brim depth at centre: 4.5 (5, 5, 5.5) cm / 1¾ (2, 2, 2¼) in

Choose the size whose to-fit head is closest to the wearer.

Yarn

Bulky / chunky (category 5) wool or wool-blend, about 80–100 m / 100 g.

• Baby: 70 g (~70 m)
• Child: 90 g (~90 m)
• Adult S/M: 110 g (~110 m)
• Adult L: 130 g (~130 m)

Allow extra if adding a lining or a large pompom (not used here).

Suggested: superwash merino bulky or Aran/chunky wool with good stitch definition.

Needles & notions

• Straight needles 6.5 mm (UK 3) for the crown
• Straight needles 6 mm (UK 4) for band and brim (firmer fabric)
• Spare 6 mm needle or stitch holder for the visor
• Tapestry needle
• 1 button, 2–2.5 cm, for the crown (optional)
• Blocking bowl or balloon

Tension (gauge)

14 sts and 20 rows = 10 cm in stocking stitch on 6.5 mm, measured after light blocking.

Band/brim on 6 mm should feel firmer. If your stocking stitch is looser than 14 sts/10 cm, go down a needle size — bulky hats slouch if the fabric is too open.

Abbreviations (UK knitting)

k knit; p purl; st(s) stitch(es); RS right side; WS wrong side; kfb knit into front and back (1 st increased); k2tog knit 2 together; ssk slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease); sl1 wyif slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front; w&t wrap and turn; rep repeat.

Notes

• The hat is a flat panel. The seam is centre back. The visor sits at the front, opposite the seam.
• 2×2 rib is worked with a multiple of 4 sts.
• Crown fullness is about 1.25× the band stitch count after the rib-to-stocking transition — enough for a baker-boy puff, not a full beret disc.
• Block over a bowl so the crown is gently domed, not a pancake.

Pattern

Band

With 6 mm needles, cast on 46 (54, 62, 70) sts.

Work 2×2 rib: Row 1 (RS): *k2, p2; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2. Row 2 (WS): *p2, k2; rep from * to last 2 sts, p2.

Rep Rows 1–2 until band measures 4 (4.5, 5, 5.5) cm / 1½ (1¾, 2, 2¼) in, ending with a WS row.

Place visor markers (RS): k2, p2, k2, p2, pm, work in rib as set to last 8 sts, pm, k2, p2, k2, p2.
(The 8 sts at each end are the back; the visor is worked on the centre stitches between markers.)

Centre visor sts: 30 (38, 46, 54) sts between markers ✓.

Visor brim (worked on centre sts only)

Keep the 8 sts at each end on the needle (or holders). Join yarn to the centre 30 (38, 46, 54) sts with 6 mm.

Work short-row visor in garter stitch (knit every row) for a firm peak:

Set-up (RS): k to last 3 centre sts, w&t. Next row: k to last 3 centre sts, w&t.

Short-row sequence: On each following pair of rows, work 2 fewer sts before wrapping:

• k to 2 sts before previous wrap, w&t; k to 2 sts before previous wrap, w&t.

Continue until 10 (12, 14, 16) sts remain unwrapped in the centre.

Close wraps: knit across all centre sts, picking up each wrap and knitting it together with its st so no holes show. Knit 1 WS row across all centre visor sts.

Visor facing (optional but recommended for bulky wool):
Knit 4 (4, 6, 6) rows garter across centre sts only. Fold visor in half to the WS and, on the next RS row, knit each live st together with the corresponding cast-on-edge or set-up st of the visor to enclose the fold. If you skip the facing, simply work 2 extra garter rows and leave the visor single-layer.

Break yarn. Return all 46 (54, 62, 70) sts to one 6 mm needle, visor sitting at the front of the band.

Work 2 rows 2×2 rib across all sts (this locks the visor join).

Change to 6.5 mm needles.

Crown — increase for fullness

Inc row (RS): k1, *kfb, k2; rep from * to last 0 (2, 1, 0) sts, knit remaining sts.

Stitch counts after increase:

• Baby 46: k1, (kfb, k2) × 15 = 1 + 15×3 = 46 wait — (kfb, k2) on 45 sts after k1 uses 45 sts → 15 kfb → 46 + 15 = 61 sts ✓
• Child 54: k1, (kfb, k2) × 17, last 2 k = 1 + 17 kfb + knit 2 → 54 + 17 = 71 sts ✓
• Adult S/M 62: k1, (kfb, k2) × 20, last 1 k → 62 + 20 = 82 sts ✓
• Adult L 70: k1, (kfb, k2) × 23 → 70 + 23 = 93 sts ✓

WS: purl.

Work stocking stitch (k RS, p WS) until piece measures 9 (10.5, 12, 12.5) cm / 3½ (4¼, 4¾, 5) in from top of rib band (not including visor), ending with a WS row.

Crown decreases (6 sections)

Adjust to a multiple of 6 plus a seam pair:

Set-up (RS):

• Baby 61 sts: k2tog, k to last 3, ssk, k1 → 59 sts. Next RS will not use this; instead decrease as below from 60-ish. Simpler even split:

Work decreases as follows (seam 1 st each edge, 6 decrease lines):

Baby (61 sts)
Dec row 1 (RS): k1, [k8, k2tog] 6 times, k0.
8+2 = 10; 6×10 = 60 plus k1 = 61. Last group: k8, k2tog six times uses 60 sts + k1 = 61. 6 sts decreased → 55 sts ✓
WS and all WS: purl.
Dec row 2: k1, [k7, k2tog] 6 times → 49 sts ✓
Next WS: purl.
Dec row 3: k1, [k6, k2tog] 6 times → 43 sts ✓
WS: purl.
Dec row 4: k1, [k5, k2tog] 6 times → 37 sts ✓
WS: purl.
Then every RS row: continue [k4, k2tog] → 31; [k3, k2tog] → 25; [k2, k2tog] → 19; [k1, k2tog] → 13; [k2tog] 6 times with k1 at start: k1, [k2tog] 6 times → 7 sts ✓
Next row: p1, [p2tog] 3 times → 4 sts.

Child (71 sts)
Dec row 1 (RS): k1, [k9, k2tog] 6 times, k4.
6×11 = 66 + k1 + k4 = 71; decreases 6 → 65 sts ✓
Work WS purl.
Redistribute next RS: k1, [k8, k2tog] 6 times, k4 → 59 sts ✓
Continue every other row: k1, [k7, k2tog] ×6, knit rem 4, until the remainder is absorbed: after two more such rows you will have 47 then 41. Then work k1, [k5, k2tog] 6 times, k4 etc., decreasing 6 sts every RS row until 11 sts remain, then k1, [k2tog] 5 times → 6 sts.

Clean child sequence (every RS, purl WS):

• k2tog at 6 points keeping 1 selvedge: from 71, k1, *k9, k2tog; rep from * to last 4, k4 → 65
• k1, *k8, k2tog; rep from * to last 4, k4 → 59
• k1, *k7, k2tog; rep from * to last 4, k4 → 53
• k1, *k6, k2tog; rep from * to last 4, k4 → 47
• k1, *k5, k2tog; rep from * to last 4, k4 → 41
• k1, *k4, k2tog; rep from * to last 4, k4 → 35
• k1, *k3, k2tog; rep from * to last 4, k4 → 29
• k1, *k2, k2tog; rep from * to last 4, k4 → 23
• k1, *k1, k2tog; rep from * to last 4, k4 → 17
• k1, *k2tog; rep from * to last 4, k2tog, k2 → 10 sts, then next RS k2tog across → 5 sts.

Adult S/M (82 sts)
Dec row 1 (RS): k1, [k11, k2tog] 6 times, k3.
6×13 = 78 + 1 + 3 = 82; −6 → 76 sts ✓
Then every RS: k1, [k10, k2tog] ×6, k3 → 70; continue subtracting 1 knit from each section every RS row (purl WS) until 10 sts remain, then k2tog across to 5 sts.

Sequence (RS, −6 each time): 82 → 76 → 70 → 64 → 58 → 52 → 46 → 40 → 34 → 28 → 22 → 16 → 10 → 5.

Adult L (93 sts)
Dec row 1 (RS): k1, [k13, k2tog] 6 times, k2.
6×15 = 90 + 1 + 2 = 93; −6 → 87 sts ✓
Then every RS −6: 87 → 81 → 75 → 69 → 63 → 57 → 51 → 45 → 39 → 33 → 27 → 21 → 15 → 9.
Next RS: k1, [k2tog] 4 times → 5 sts ✓

When 4–6 sts remain, break yarn leaving a 40 cm tail. Thread through remaining sts, pull up firmly, and secure. This is the crown point for the button.

Finishing

1. Back seam: With RS together, mattress-stitch the centre-back edges from crown to cast-on, matching rib to rib. Keep the visor opposite the seam.
2. Weave in ends. Steam the visor lightly so it sits flat and slightly downward.
3. Block: Dampen and dry over a bowl or balloon so the crown is a shallow dome. Do not flatten like a beret plate.
4. Sew the button over the gathered crown.
5. Optional: a short length of 6 mm i-cord (8 cm) as a stay inside the visor fold.

Schematic (approx.)

        ● button
       /   \
      /     \   crown 14–19 cm
     |       |
     | band  |  4–5.5 cm rib
      \_____/ 
        visor 4.5–5.5 cm

Designer / technical notes: Work the visor firmly; bulky wool visors collapse if tension matches the crown. If the band is too loose, go to 5.5 mm for the rib only. The back seam should never run through the visor.