Knit Mushroom Hats for the Whole Family

Last week I told you I was bringing some more whimsy to our knitting pattern experience here at Craft Gossip, and this pattern is the exact pattern that got me thinking about the need to share more fun stuff. Yes, we all love to knit sweaters, socks and hats to keep us warm, but can’t they be a little fun and silly too?

Of course they can.

So I bring you So Mush Room by Ainur Berkimbayeva, which is, in fact, a mushroom hat. Better yet, it’s a mushroom hat that comes in four sizes, so you ca make them for the whole family. (I urge you to click through and see folks in all different sizes and colors of hats, though admittedly one model looks less than thrilled.)

The hat is worked in worsted weight yarn and is inspired by Amanita muscaria, a mushroom that is both poisonous and adorable. The hats are worked in two colors for the base and the top, and bobbles are added to the top of the mushroom as well. The mushroom cap is stuffed to allow it to hold its shape, and there’s cardboard involved for extra support as well.

The sizes are to fit babies, kids and small and larger adults. I envision mushroom family Halloween costumes, or put baby in a onesie and make them a mushroom for Halloween.

My daughter who loves all things fairies and mystical vibes would probably love to have one of these hats, too. Stitch one up for your nature loving friend or for your kid to wear on the inevitable silly hat day. There are so many uses.

You can find the pattern on Ravelry, and there are pay what you can tiers if you need them.

I hope you will believe me that seeing this hat made my whole day, and I hope it does the same for you.

[Photo: Ainur Berkimbayeva]

Read These Next

If you like repeating cross stitch designs, borders you can use on other projects or as bookmarks, florals and Japanese-inspired designs, you’ll want to check out 200 Japanese Cross Stitch Designs by Saeko Endo. This collection of 200 cross stitch charts is low on instruction but big on inspiration for those who are comfortable taking a chart and running with it.

The book includes a brief introduction to the needed supplies and basics of stitching, but mostly is just photographs of finished designs and the charts that go with them. The charts vary widely in size and there can be anywhere from one to six charts printed on a single page.

Many of the designs are repeating patterns, but the chart shows a larger version so you can see how the repeats go together. Each chart has marked what portion is repeating and how many stitches and rows it includes. Other than that the charts are not numbered, but there are darker lines every five rows to help you count.

The patterns all range from one to three colors, and some include half cross stitches or back stitching, but most are full stitches.

The book is arranged into categories of motifs: geometric patterns, retro patterns, traditional Japanese patterns, floral and fauna and borders and pictorial motifs.

My favorites are the Japanese designs, many of which are recognizable from woodcuts, kimono designs and traditional shashiko embroidery. You’ll find cherry blossoms, suns, knots, and simple line designs that would be lots of fun to stitch.

There are a few pages devoted to different ways to modify charts such as changing colors, changing the way to design is repeated, flipping and rotating designs.

Other than that you’re on your own for how you actually want to use these designs. Of course they can just be stitched and framed but it might have been nice to see some of the projects stitched and staged in a way you might use them in everyday life (repeating motifs as coasters, or a bigger design turned into a pillow, for example).

Sometimes it helps to see designs used in different ways to get you thinking about how you might use them yourself. If you don’t need that creative push, this is a fine book full of patterns you’ll have fun playing with in different ways.

About the book: 112 pages, paperback, 200 patterns. Published 2025 by David & Charles. Suggested retail price $24.99.

Read These Next

Have you read?