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08/29/25 • •

Pixel Pop Knit Hat – Free Mosaic Slip Stitch Knitting Pattern

A Colorful Stash-Busting Knit Hat You’ll Love

Got leftover yarn piling up in your bins, baskets, and tote bags? 🎨 The Pixel Pop Knit Hat is the perfect stash-busting knitting pattern to transform scraps into something fun, wearable, and oh-so-stylish.

Two photos of a smiling woman in glasses and a denim jacket holding a colorful knit hat with a white pom-pom. Text: "Pixel Pop" and "This or That Make-Along" highlight this free knitting pattern featuring mosaic slip stitch. Winter-themed decorations included. -Marly Bird

This free mosaic knit hat pattern uses slip-stitch colorwork—which means you only work with one color per round. No juggling multiple strands or stressing over floats like stranded colorwork.

Just knit, slip,
switch colors, and
watch the pixelated magic appear.

Whether you stick to three colors or go all in with seven (or more!), every version turns out unique. Plus, the folded double brim adds extra warmth and coziness—perfect for chilly days or holiday gifting.

👉 If you love quick, colorful, and customizable projects, this is one you’ll come back to again and again.

A woman in a blue denim jacket smiles joyfully while wearing a colorful knit beanie with a white pom-pom—perfect inspiration for stash-busting knit hat patterns. She stands in a cozy, well-lit room with books and plants in the background. -Marly Bird

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of these links and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support the content and free patterns I provide here on MarlyBird.com. Thank you for your support—it means the world to me! 💖

Why You’ll Love the Pixel Pop Knit Hat

✔️ Perfect stash-busting knitting pattern – use small amounts of leftover yarn
✔️ Advanced beginner friendly mosaic knitting pattern – no complicated floats
✔️ Nine sizes included – from baby to adult large
✔️ Cozy knit hat pattern with folded brim
✔️ Works beautifully in any worsted weight yarn
✔️ Optional pom pom + leather tag for a polished finish

A smiling person with curly hair and glasses holds a large bundle of colorful yarn balls, wearing a green top—ready for the This or That Make-Along 2025—while sitting indoors with blurred background furniture. -Marly Bird

What is Mosaic Knitting?

If you’ve never tried mosaic knitting before, this hat is a great place to start. Mosaic colorwork uses slipped stitches to create bold geometric patterns while only working with one color per round.

  • No tangling yarns behind your work
  • Crisp, pixel-like designs with minimal fuss
  • A fantastic way to explore color without the intimidation of stranded knitting

Want to see it in action? I’ve got a full step-by-step video tutorial: How to Knit the Pixel Pop Hat.

Two smiling women display a colorful knit hat with a pom-pom, showcasing a fun mosaic slip stitch design. Text reads: "How to Knit Pixel Pop - Free Knitting Pattern." Winter-themed graphics decorate the background. -Marly Bird

Yarn Choice & Substitutions

The sample uses KnitPicks Swish Worsted (a soft superwash merino), but this pattern works beautifully with almost any worsted weight yarn.

Try these stash-friendly and accessible alternatives:

💡 Pro Tip: Acrylic yarns are great for durability and easy care, while wool and blends add warmth and stretch.

Stash Yarn From Previous Events and Projects?

Did you participate in any of these recent Marly Bird Events?

If you answered YES to any of those, chances are you’ve got a little yarn left in your stash. Maybe a lot of yarn. 😅 Don’t worry—The Pixel Pop Knit Hat is the perfect way to put it to good use!

Sizing Details

This free baby to adult knit hat pattern comes in nine sizes:

  • 0–3 mo
  • 3–6 mo
  • 6–12 mo
  • 1–3 yr
  • 3–5 yr
  • 6–10 yr
  • Teen/Adult Small
  • Adult Medium
  • Adult Large

That makes it perfect for:
🎁 Holiday gifts
👨‍👩‍👧 Matching family hats
🛍 Market prep (unique, colorful hats are always crowd-pleasers!)

Smiling woman in a denim jacket holds the brim of a colorful, knitted beanie with a fluffy white pom-pom—perfect for stash-busting—standing in a cozy room with shelves of yarn in the background. -Marly Bird

🎁 Upgrade to the Ad-Free PDF Pattern

Want to skip the ads and enjoy a beautifully formatted pattern? The ad-free PDF includes:

  • Instructions for both Worsted + Sport weight yarn
  • Easy-to-follow written instructions
  • Exclusive Access to videos instructions in Vimeo (no more video ads!)
  • Charts (knit) & stitch diagrams (crochet)
  • Access inside the Marly Bird House with unlimited viewing

📌 Get the Pixel Pop Knit Hat PDF – Regular Price $10, Limited Time Only $5.50
📌 Get the Flicker and Flash Crochet Hat PDF – Regular Price $10, Limited Time Only $5.50

Text on a blue background reads "TODAY'S PRICE = $5.50" with "TODAY'S PRICE =" in white and light blue, and "$5.50" in bold red font—perfect for This or That Make-Along 2025 deals!. -Marly Bird

✨ Go Bigger: The Full Stash-Busting Pattern Collection

For just $10, grab the Stash-Busting Pattern Collection Marly Bird House upgrade and get:

  • 5 BONUS stash-busting patterns hand-picked by Marly
  • ⭐️ BONUS ⭐️ Exclusive access to the Marly Bird Color Companion GPT — upload a photo of your yarn and get curated color palette suggestions with hex codes!
  • Everything in the Marly Bird House for your convenience.

💼 Upgrade only available with paid pattern purchase!

A promotional poster for "the stash busting pattern collection," featuring photos of a smiling woman wearing colorful knit items, a website screenshot, and text about a bonus Marly Bird Color Companion GPT and the This or That Make-Along 2025. -Marly Bird
A colorful flyer promotes a stash busting pattern collection upgrade for the This or That Make-Along 2025, featuring photos of a woman in vibrant knitted hats and scarves. A computer screen shows the Marly Bird Color Companion GPT bonus. Text is bright and playful. -Marly Bird

More Mosaic & Colorwork Hat Patterns

If you enjoy the Pixel Pop Knit Hat, you’ll also love these free patterns here on MarlyBird.com:

And if you’re in the mood for even more projects: Explore 100+ Free Knitting Patterns.

A knitted beanie, perfect for KNIT GAME DAY, features a grey and green textured pattern with a fluffy pom-pom on top. It has a ribbed brim adorned with a leather patch that reads "Marly Bird." The backdrop is a light wooden surface. -Marly Bird
Twilight Trails Knit Mosaic Hat Pattern – A Stylish & Textured DesignTwilight Trails
A person wearing glasses smiles while holding two knitted hats with pom-poms, showcasing a free pattern. One hat is blue and green, and the other is red and white. The cozy indoor setting adds warmth with its furnishings and decorations. -Marly Bird
Falling Leaves Mosaic Hat
A smiling woman wearing glasses and a colorful knit hat—made from a one-day colorwork knit hat pattern with a blue pom-pom—poses indoors. Shelves of vibrant yarn line the background. She touches her hat’s edge and wears a dark jacket. -Marly Bird
Northern Lights
A smiling person wearing glasses and a denim jacket holds up a colorful knit hat pattern with a pom-pom, standing indoors in a bright, cozy room. -Marly Bird
Roy G Biv
A smiling person wearing a denim jacket and a colorful knit hat with a blue pom-pom stands indoors, surrounded by shelves of yarn—a perfect setting to showcase their mosaic slip stitch knitting pattern. -Marly Bird
Harmony Hues

Pixel Pop Knit Hat – Free Pattern

Designed by: Marly Bird

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

Sizes: 0–3 mo (3–6 mo, 6–12 mo, 1–3 yr, 3–5 yr, 6–10 yr, Teen/Adult S, Adult M, Adult L)

Finished Measurements
Brim Circumference (stretchable):
12 (14¼, 16, 17½, 18½, 19, 20, 21, 22¼)”
[30.5 (36, 40.5, 44.5, 47, 48.5, 51, 53.5, 56.5) cm]

Gauge
20 sts = 4” [10 cm] in Mosaic Slip Stitch pattern

Materials

Yarn

Worsted weight yarn in 3, 5, or 7 colors, approximately 100–250 yds [91.5-228.5 m] depending on size and number of colors used

  • Colors A & B (Brim Colors): 50g each
  • Colors C, D, E, F, and G (Body Colors): 25g – 50g each 

Note: The pattern will still work with even more colors, but will lose the repeating effect. It can also work with an even rather than odd number of colors; this will make each color look more vertically stacked, rather than alternating and woven.

Yarn used on Sample:

KnitPicks Swish Worsted (100% Superwash Merino Wool, 110 yds / 100 m, 1 ¾ oz/ 50 g, CYCA# 4 worsted) – 1 ball each

  • Color A  #26070 Green Tea
  • Color B  #24094 Marine Heather
  • Color C  #C28646 Voyage Heather
  • Color D  #C28656 Arctic
  • Color E  #C24097 Indigo Heather
  • Color F  #C28647 Haze Heather
  • Color G #C28650 Karma Heather

Needles

U.S. 8 [5 mm] 16” circular needles and set of 5 double-pointed needles, or size to obtain gauge.

Notions

Faux Fur Pom (optional)

Removable stitch markers

Tapestry needle Leather tag (optional)

ABBREVIATIONS

  • K – Knit
  • KFB – Knit into the front and back of the same stitch (see Special Stitches)
  • P – Purl
  • Pm – Place Marker
  • RS – Right Side
  • Sl – Slip
  • Slm – Slip Marker
  • Ssk – Slip, Slip, Knit (see Special Stitches)
  • WS – Wrong Side
  • Wyib – With Yarn in Back
  • Wyif – With Yarn in Front

SPECIAL STITCHES

⭐️ Kfb (Knit Front & Back): Knit through front and back of next stitch – 1 stitch increased.

⭐️ Ssk (Slip, Slip, Knit): Slip 2 stitches, one at a time, as if to knit. Insert left hand needle into the front of these two stitches and knit them together from this position (1 stitch decreased)

PATTERN STITCHES

1 x 1 Rib

Worked circularly over an even number of sts.
Every Round: * K1, p1; repeat from * around.

Mosaic Slip Stitch Color pattern (circular)

Worked circularly over a multiple of 4 sts.Setup Round: Knit.

Change to next color.

Rounds 1–2: * K3, sl 1 wyib; repeat from * around.

Change to next color.

Rounds 3–4 (next color): * K1, sl 1 wyib, k2; repeat from * around. 

Repeat Rounds 1-4 for Mosaic Slip Stitch Color pattern, being sure ro change to the next color every 2 rounds.

Mosaic Slip Stitch Color pattern (flat)

Worked flat over a multiple of 4 sts plus 2.

Note: Hat is worked entirely in the round. The flat version of Mosaic Slip Stitch Color pattern is given here for purposes of measuring gauge.

Setup Row (WS): Purl.

Change to next color.

Row 1 (RS): K1, * k3, sl 1 wyib; repeat from * to last st, k1.

Row 2: P1, * sl 1 wyif, p3; repeat from * to last st, p1.

Change to next color.

Row 3: K1, * k1, sl 1 wyib, k2; repeat from * to last st, k1.

Row 4: P1, * p2, sl 1 wyif, p1; repeat from * to last st, p1.

Repeat Rows 1-4 for Mosaic Slip Stitch Color pattern, being sure ro change to the next color every 2 rows.

CHARTS

Mosaic Slip Stitch Color pattern, circular, 3 colors: https://www.stitchfiddle.com/en/c/sh9tcf-6n4a90

Mosaic Slip Stitch Color pattern, circular, 7 colors: https://www.stitchfiddle.com/en/c/sh9tgi-dydamq

Mosaic Slip Stitch Color pattern, flat, 3 colors: https://www.stitchfiddle.com/en/c/sh9tea-97wfuo

NOTES

  • Directions are for the smallest size; changes for larger sizes are in parentheses. When only one number is given then that number applies to all sizes.
  • Hat is worked in the round from the Brim up.
  • The Brim is worked in 1×1 Rib, then folded for a double layer.
  • A setup round increases the stitch count before the colorwork section begins.
  • Mosaic colorwork uses slip stitches, and only one color is used per round.
  • Crown shaping is fast and maintains visual rhythm.

VIDEO TUTORIALS

A woman excitedly holds colorful yarn balls on the left; on the right, a finished multicolored knit hat made with a mosaic knitting pattern. Text reads "Turn This Into This" with an arrow connecting the yarn to the hat. -Marly Bird

Pixel Pop Hat Pattern – Worsted Weight

BRIM

With Color A and circular needles, cast on 72 (84, 96, 104, 112, 116, 120, 128, 132) sts.

Place marker and join round, being careful to not twist cast-on edge.

Work in 1 x 1 Rib for 1¼ (1¼, 1½, 1½, 1½, 1¾, 2, 2, 2)” [3 (3, 4, 4, 4, 4.5, 5, 5, 5) cm].

Change to B.

Next Round: Knit.

Work in 1 x 1 Rib for the same number of rounds as in the first ribbed section, then work 2 additional rounds.

Choose which brim you want for your hat and follow those instructions

✨ Optional Single Brim

Change to A.

Next Round: Knit

Continue to the Body.

A smiling person with glasses and curly hair holds up a colorful knit hat, featuring a green brim and Mosaic Slip Stitch, wearing a denim jacket and showing off bright pink nail polish in a cozy, yarn-filled room. -Marly Bird

✨ Optional Double Brim

Fold Brim to the wrong side so the cast on row is next to the row on the needles, and join the cast on edge to the working round as follows:

Change to A.

Next Round: * Insert right needle into next st on left needle and into the corresponding cast-on st at the same time and knit these two sts together; repeat from * for each st around. 

Continue to the Body.

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I’m thrilled to share this amazing pattern with you, many patterns on my blog are absolutely free! I kindly request that you don’t copy and paste or distribute this pattern. Prefer an ad-free experience? Buy a digital PDF pattern for a small fee from one of my online stores for a seamless crafting journey. 

I appreciate your support and readership. You are the reason I can keep doing what I love and sharing it with others. So, thank you from the bottom of my yarn-loving heart! Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links at no cost to you.

BODY

Place 11 increase markers spaced as evenly as possible around needle, being sure to distinguish them from beginning-of-round marker. 

Set-Up Round: With A, * k to marker, kfb, slip marker, repeat from * to last st before beginning-of-round marker, kfb. 

Count: ​​84 (96, 108, 116, 124, 128, 132, 140, 144) sts.

Remove increase markers.

Change to next color and work in Mosaic Slip-Stitch Colorwork pattern starting with Round 1, until Hat measures 5¼ (5¾, 6¼, 7¼, 7¾, 8¼, 8¼, 8¾, 8¾)” [13.5 (14.5, 16, 18.5, 19.5, 21, 21, 22, 22) cm] from fold of Brim.

End after a Mosaic Slip-Stitch Colorwork pattern Round 4.

A colorful knit hat featuring a mosaic slip stitch geometric pattern is displayed on a woven mat, surrounded by skeins of yarn in purple, teal, green, blue, and white. -Marly Bird

CROWN SHAPING

Note: Change to double pointed needles when sts become too snug to fit around the circular.

Change to next color.

Round 1: * K3, sl 1 wyib; repeat from * around.

Round 2: * K1, ssk, sl 1 wyib; repeat from * around.

Count: 21 (24, 27, 29, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36) sts decreased

Count: 63 (72, 81, 87, 93, 96, 99, 105, 108) sts remain

Change to next color.

Round 3: * K1, sl 1 wyib, K1; repeat from * around.

Shift Marker: Remove start-of-round marker, slip 1 st, replace marker.

Round 4 (decrease round): * Sl 1 wyib, ssk; repeat from * around.

Count: 21 (24, 27, 29, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36) sts decreased

Count: 42 (48, 54, 58, 62, 64, 66, 70, 72) sts remain

Change to next color.

Round 5: * K1, sl 1 wyib; repeat from * around.

Round 6 (decrease round): * Ssk; repeat from * around.

Count: 21 (24, 27, 29, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36) sts decreased

Count: 21 (24, 27, 29, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36) sts remain

Change to next color.

Round 7: Knit.

Round 8 (decrease round): * Ssk; repeat from * to last 1 (0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0) sts, k1 (0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0).

Count:  10 (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 16, 17, 18) sts decreased

Count: 11 (12, 14, 15, 16, 16, 17, 18, 18) sts remain

FINISHING

Break yarn, thread tail on tapestry needle, and draw through all remaining sts knitwise.

Pull tight like a drawstring to close.

Weave in all loose ends on WS.

Sew on optional pom pom and/or tag.

A person wearing a colorful knit hat with a blue brim and mosaic slip stitch pattern touches the side of the hat. The person has pink nail polish and is dressed in a denim jacket. Shelves are visible in the blurred background. -Marly Bird

Are You BiCrafty? 🧶✨

If you’re both a knitter and a crocheter (what I like to call BiCrafty), you’ll be excited to know there’s also a crochet version of this hat! The Flicker and Flash Crochet Hat uses the same playful, stash-busting idea but is designed with easy crochet colorwork. So whether you knit, crochet, or do both, you can make a Pixel Pop for every head in the family.

A smiling person with glasses and curly hair holds up two colorful stash-busting knit hats with pom-poms, one green and pastel, the other blue and multicolored, each showcasing a "Marly Bird" tag. -Marly Bird

The Pixel Pop Knit Hat is proof that a little yarn can go a long way. Whether you’re pulling from your leftovers to create a one-of-a-kind stash-busting knitting project, or planning a perfectly coordinated color palette, this hat is equal parts practical and playful. With its folded brim, bold mosaic design, and easy slip-stitch technique, it’s the kind of project that looks advanced but is totally achievable—even if this is your first colorwork hat.

I can’t wait to see the color combos you choose! Be sure to share your Pixel Pop Knit Hat on social media and tag me @themarlybird with hashtags #MarlyBird and #MMMDI (Marly Made Me Do It) so we can cheer each other on.

And don’t stop here—if you loved this design, be sure to check out my other free knitting patterns for even more stash-busting inspiration. After all, the best projects are the ones that bring joy to your needles, your wardrobe, and your yarn shelves. 💕

❤️ Your BiCrafty Bestie,
Marly Bird

A cartoon avatar of a person with glasses and a brown bun smiles warmly. Their green shirt and black jacket add a stylish touch, while colorful hearts surround them like loving temperature blankets, stitching together an aura of love and positivity. -Marly Bird

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Marly Bird

The One and Only, Marly

Marly is a knitwear and crochet designer (and yarn addict) that is here to help you learn how to knit and crochet in a way that's fun and approachable.

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