The Design

This Free Churchmouse Pattern has been retired because the yarn we used for it was discontinued, or we no longer carry it.

Spring’s arrival planted a seed for baby knitting, so we revised our free Seed-Stitch Baby Beanie pattern for three gauges, with either a plain or rolled edge.

There’s something so rhythmic about seed stitch—and it's perfect for baby when combined with a soft, yummy yarn. The pattern’s three gauge options mean you’ll have a lot to choose from—in no time you’ll have an adorable topper for your favorite wee person!

For detailed information on yarns used in the samples, please go to the project pages (shown clockwise from top): Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in color 26 Duck Egg, Filatura Di Crosa Zara in color 1490 Dark Denim, Rowan Summerlite in color 419 Duck Egg, and Regia My First Regia in color 1815.

The Free Pattern

FINGERING-WEIGHT VERSION (7 sts = 1"/2.5cm)

FINISHED SIZE
Newborn: 13–14"/33–36cm circumference x 5¾"/15cm deep.
(Small Child: 15–16"/38–41cm circumference x 6¼"/16cm deep.)
Information given for Newborn size; Small Child size given in parentheses ( ).

YARN
Newborn size: 1 skein My First Regia (115 yds/105m).
Small Child size: 2 skeins My First Regia. Sample shown in color 1815.
Or approx. 110 (120) yds/100 (110)m of a fingering-weight yarn.

NEEDLES & NOTIONS
US 2 (2.75mm) 16"/40cm circular and double-point needles, or size to obtain gauge.
1 stitch marker.
Darning needle to finish.
For rolled-edge version only:
US 1½ (2.5mm) 16"/40cm circular, or one size smaller than gauge needle.

GAUGE
28 sts/48 rounds = 4"/10cm.

GLOSSARY: K = knit; Tog = together; P = purl; St(s) = stitch(es).

Plain-edge version: Using larger circular needles, cast on 95 (105) sts. Place marker and join in round, being careful not to twist. Proceed to Seed-stitch section.

Rolled-edge version: Using smaller circular needles, cast on 95 (105) sts. Place marker and join in round, being careful not to twist. Knit every round until work measures 1"/2.5cm from cast-on edge, unrolled. Proceed to Seed-stitch section and change to larger needles.

Seed-stitch section (both versions):
Round 1: *P1, K1*, repeat between * * to last stitch, P1.
Round 2: *K1, P1*, repeat to last stitch, K1.
Repeat Rounds 1 & 2 (knitting over purls and purling over knits) until work measures approx. 3¾"/9.5cm (4¼"/10.5cm) from cast-on edge for plain-edge version; or 4¾"/12cm (5¼"/13cm) from cast-on edge for rolled-edge version. End having worked a Round 2.

Decrease rounds: Note: On Decrease rounds, ‘work 3Tog’ will alternate between P3Tog and K3Tog; work the appropriate decrease to stay in pattern. Pull resulting stitch a little snug to avoid loose decreases. Note also that decreases do not ‘stack’; counting stitches between decreases in decrease rounds will ensure proper placement. Change to double-point needles when necessary.

Round 1 (Decrease round): Beginning with P1, *work 16 (18) sts in seed st as established, work 3Tog*; repeat between * * four more times. [85 (95) sts] Rounds 2–4: Work even in seed stitch (NO decreases).
Round 5 (Decrease round): Beginning with P1, *work 14 (16) sts in seed stitch, work 3Tog*; repeat between * * four more times. [75 (85) sts].

Repeat Rounds 2–5 two more times, working two fewer sts between ‘work 3Tog’ on each Decrease round. [55 (65) sts].
Now repeat Rounds 4 & 5 only until 5 sts remain.

I-cord top (optional): Knit all 5 sts onto one double-point needle; don’t turn. *Slide sts back to right end of needle, bring yarn across back firmly and knit 5 sts again.* Repeat between * * until cord is 1"/2.5cm or desired length (to tie a top knot, 2¼"/5.5cm is required).

Finishing: With darning needle, thread tail through all 5 sts; draw tail up tightly. Thread tail down into I-cord or center of plain top; weave in ends on wrong side. (Note: on rolled edge, weave in end on knit side, which is inside of roll). Wet block or steam gently as desired.

SPORT-WEIGHT VERSION (6 sts = 1"/2.5cm)

FINISHED SIZE
Newborn: 13–14"/33–36cm circumference x 5¾"/15cm deep.
(Small Child: 15–16"/38–41cm circumference x 6¼"/16cm deep).
Information given for Newborn size; Small Child size given in parentheses ( ).

YARN
For either size: 1 skein Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino (137 yds/125m), or
Approx. 100 (110) yds/92 (100)m of a sport-weight yarn.

NEEDLES & NOTIONS
US 4 (3.5mm) 16"/40cm circular and double-point needles, or size to obtain gauge.
For rolled-edge version only: US 3 (3.25mm) 16"/40cm circular, or one size smaller than gauge needle.
1 stitch marker. Darning needle to finish.

GAUGE
24 sts/44 rounds = 4"/10cm.

GLOSSARY: K = knit; Tog = together; P = purl; St(s) = stitch(es).

Plain-edge version: Using larger circular needles, cast on 85 (95) sts. Place marker and join in round, being careful not to twist. Proceed to Seed-stitch section.

Rolled-edge version: Using smaller circular needles, cast on 85 (95) sts. Place marker and join in round, being careful not to twist. Knit every round until work measures 1"/2.5cm from cast-on edge, unrolled. Proceed to Seed-stitch section and change to larger needles.

Seed-stitch section (both versions):
Round 1: *P1, K1*, repeat between * * to last stitch, P1.
Round 2: *K1, P1*, repeat to last stitch, K1.
Repeat Rounds 1 & 2 (knitting over purls and purling over knits) until work measures approx. 3¾"/9.5cm (4¼"/10.5cm) from cast-on edge for plain-edge version; or 4¾"/12cm (5¼"/13cm) from cast-on edge for rolled-edge version. End having worked a Round 2.

Decrease rounds: Note: On Decrease rounds, ‘work 3Tog’ will alternate between P3Tog and K3Tog; work the appropriate decrease to stay in pattern. Pull resulting stitch a little snug to avoid loose decreases. Note also that decreases do not ‘stack’; counting stitches between decreases in decrease rounds will ensure proper placement. Change to double-point needles when necessary.

Round 1 (Decrease round): Beginning with P1, *work 14 (16) sts in seed st as established, work 3Tog*; repeat between * * four more times. [75 (85) sts] Rounds 2–4: Work even in seed stitch (NO decreases).
Round 5 (Decrease round): Beginning with P1, *work 12 (14) sts in seed stitch, work 3Tog*; repeat between * * four more times. [65 (75) sts].

Repeat Rounds 2–5 two more times, working two fewer sts between ‘work 3Tog’ on each Decrease round. [45 (55) sts].
Now repeat Rounds 4 & 5 only until 5 sts remain.

I-cord top (optional): Knit all 5 sts onto one double-point needle; don’t turn. *Slide sts back to right end of needle, bring yarn across back firmly and knit 5 sts again.* Repeat between * * until cord is 1"/2.5cm or desired length (to tie a top knot, 2¼"/5.5cm is required).

Finishing: With darning needle, thread tail through all 5 sts; draw tail up tightly. Thread tail down into I-cord or center of plain top; weave in ends on wrong side. (Note: on rolled edge, weave in end on knit side, which is inside of roll). Wet block or steam gently as desired.

DK-WEIGHT VERSION (5½ sts = 1"/2.5cm)

FINISHED SIZE
Newborn: 13–14"/33–36cm circumference x 5¾"/15cm deep.
(Small Child: 15–16"/38–41cm circumference x 6¼"/16cm deep).
Information given for Newborn size; Small Child size given in parentheses ( ).

YARN
1 skein Filatura di Crosa Zara (137yd/125m). Shown in color 1490 Dark Denim.
Or approx. 100 (110) yds/92 (100)m of a DK-weight yarn.

NEEDLES & NOTIONS
US 6 (4mm) 16"/40cm circular and double-point needles, or size to obtain gauge.
1 stitch marker.
Darning needle to finish.
For rolled-edge version only: US 5 (3.75mm) 16"/40cm circular, or one size smaller than gauge needle.

GAUGE
22 sts/44 rounds = 4"/10cm.

GLOSSARY: K = knit; Tog = together; P = purl; St(s) = stitch(es).

Plain-edge version: Using larger circular needles, cast on 75 (85) sts. Place marker and join in round, being careful not to twist. Proceed to Seed-stitch section.

Rolled-edge version: Using smaller circular needles, cast on 75 (85) sts. Place marker and join in round, being careful not to twist. Knit every round until work measures 1"/2.5cm from cast-on edge, unrolled. Proceed to Seed-stitch section and change to larger needles.

Seed-stitch section (both versions):
Round 1: *P1, K1*, repeat between * * to last stitch, P1.
Round 2: *K1, P1*, repeat to last stitch, K1.
Repeat Rounds 1 & 2 (knitting over purls and purling over knits) until work measures approx. 3¾"/9.5cm (4¼"/10.5cm) from cast-on edge for plain-edge version; or 4¾"/12cm (5¼"/13cm) from cast-on edge for rolled-edge version. End having worked a Round 2.

Decrease rounds: Note: On Decrease rounds, ‘work 3Tog’ will alternate between P3Tog and K3Tog; work the appropriate decrease to stay in pattern. Pull resulting stitch a little snug to avoid loose decreases. Note also that decreases do not ‘stack’; counting stitches between decreases in decrease rounds will ensure proper placement. Change to double-point needles when necessary.

Round 1 (Decrease round): Beginning with P1, *work 12 (14) sts in seed st as established, work 3Tog*; repeat between * * four more times. [65 (75) sts] Rounds 2–4: Work even in seed stitch (NO decreases).
Round 5 (Decrease round): Beginning with P1, *work 10 (12) sts in seed stitch, work 3Tog*; repeat between * * four more times. [55 (65) sts].

Repeat Rounds 2–5 two more times, working two fewer sts between ‘work 3Tog’ on each Decrease round. [35 (45) sts].
Now repeat Rounds 4 & 5 only until 5 sts remain.

I-cord top (optional): Knit all 5 sts onto one double-point needle; don’t turn. *Slide sts back to right end of needle, bring yarn across back firmly and knit 5 sts again.* Repeat between * * until cord is 1"/2.5cm or desired length (to tie a top knot, 2¼"/5.5cm is required).

Finishing: With darning needle, thread tail through all 5 sts; draw tail up tightly. Thread tail down into I-cord or center of plain top; weave in ends on wrong side. (Note: on rolled edge, weave in end on knit side, which is inside of roll). Wet block or steam gently as desired.