Have you ever put a hat on your head in the winter and hated the feeling of your hair stuffed up inside it or disliked the way your ponytail makes a lump in the back or the top? Well, we’re pleased to tell you that there’s a DIY way to solve that problem that puts your knitting skills to good use! We’ve been completely obsessed with the idea of ponytail and messy bun hats lately, so we’ve been keeping our eyes peeled for as many differently styled patterns as we can find!
Just in case you’re as enamoured with the idea of making messy bun and ponytail hats this fall as we were, if not more, here are the coolest and most unique looking patterns we’ve come across so far.
1. Simple garter and stockinette bun hat
Would you actually still classify yourself as a beginner knitter but you’re ready to handle making hats and knitting in the round? Then we have a feeling you’ll get along very well indeed with this fantastically simple garter iteration of the classic bun hat featured step by step on Ivy and Orchid.
2. Striping messy bun hat
Perhaps you’re very interested indeed in the idea of keeping your bun hat quite simple but you think you’d rather swap colours than stitching types in the making of your hat’s stripes? Then check out this alternative pattern from Red Heart that guides you through the process of colour striping instead!
3. Trellis ponytail hat
Are you more likely to wear a high ponytail than anything else but you like to keep the style quite sleek so you’re still concerned about the idea of pulling a toque on? In that case, we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how Soft Yarn Designs made this beautifully trellis patterned hat that completely buttons up the back underneath where your ponytail sits.
4. Knikki messy bun hat
Would you prefer to add a simple bit of detail rather than stitching complicated patterns all the way around like the pattern right before this? Then perhaps you’d prefer to make a single cable hat with a lovely twist that contrast well with the ribbing and stockinette in the rest of the pattern! Take a look at how it’s done on Knikki Knits.
5. Criss Cross messy bun hat
Perhaps you actually loved the criss-crossing patterns of the trellis patterned hat but you’re just not sure you need to add the buttons because you don’t mind pulling the hat down over your head once your ponytail has popped out the top? In that case, we’d suggest taking a look at Knits and Pieces‘s version because it might be a little more up your alley.
6. Atlanta bun beanie
Are you actually so in love with the idea of making a cabled messy bun or ponytail hat that you’d rather include cables across the whole surface of the piece, rather than just twisting a few stitches? In that case, we have a feeling this adorable pattern featured step by step on Amalthea Knits might be a little more up your alley!
7. Cabled bun hat with a drawstring
Perhaps you’ve being toying with the concept of cables but you thin you’d rather change the direction your cables travel in? Well, between the horizontal construction and the adorable drawstring at the top of this hat, we think you just might be the perfect person to try your hand at this pattern from Lion Brand!
8. Chealse bun hat
Knitting cables into your hat isn’t by any means the only way you can add fun, twisting stitch patterns to its surface! Just in case you’d rather try something a little different, here’s an awesome alternative that will have you creating columns that almost spiral around your head. Get the full details for making one of your own on Cascade Yarns.
9. Doll’s messy bun hat
Have you made all kinds of adorable messy bun hats for your kids by this point but you know they’re usually the kinds of fashion conscious kids who love having matching pieces for them and their dolls? Then we’ve definitely found the pattern for you! Check out how Craft Coalition made this fantastic miniature messy bun hat that’s perfectly sized for the average dolly.
10. Hearts bun hat
We’ve always loved the look of colour working projects, but doing the very complicated Fair Isle kind has never been our favourite thing. That’s why this much simpler version that you add simple contrasting stitches in another colour so they look like little hearts. See how easily this bun hat is made on Tinker Creek Hand Knits.
11. Basketweave buttoned ponytail hat
Are you actually still thinking about how much you loved the hat that buttons all the way up the back leading to your ponytail, but you’ve been holding out hoping to find a stitching pattern that’s a little simpler than the crossing trellises you saw before? In that case, we’d like to present to you with this basket weave designed hat instead! Take a look at how it’s made on Soft Yarn Designs.
12. Faux cable messy bun hat
Are you actually still kind of a learner and you’ve never tried cables before because you just don’t feel quite up to the challenge yet, but you’re intent on adding some kind of fun stitch detail? Then perhaps you’d prefer to try your hand at “faking” those cables with a simple stitch swap instead! See how it’s done in more detail on The Knit Guru.
13. Abbey ponytail hat
Have you actually been thinking about making fun ponytail hats for your kids but they have very thin hair and their ponytails don’t tend to stay as high up as other kids with thicket tresses? In that case, we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how Muki Crafts made these hats with ponytail holes put right in the back at a more comfortable height, leaving room for a pom pom at the top.
14. Cat hat with ponytail opening
If you’re going to make a little ponytail hat with a hole in the back, would you rather give the hat a little more novelty character than just a regular stitching pattern? In that case, we’d absolutely suggest taking a look at how Monique Rae Designs made their ponytail hat look like a set of adorable cat ears.
15. Ombre Kaia bun hat
Have you actually had some beautifully ombre dyed yarn sitting around and you’ve been waiting on using it because you want to make sure you pick a project that really does the colour gradient justice? Well, we certainly think that this lovely bubble patterned bun hat by Muki Crafts does their subtle ombre a stunning solid, so we’d recommend that enthusiastically!
