Saturday, August 21, 2010

Pumpkin Baby Hats


Since I forgot the pattern for the sweater I am working on, I have been knitting up baby hats like there's no tomorrow while we're out here in Washington state.  I had brought along the yarn to make these pumpkin hats and have had fun playing around with the design and coming up with a pattern that I like.  The first version is on the left above and has a K6 P2 rib and the second version, which I like better, is on the right and has a K7 P1 rib.  You can't really see what they look like when they are not on a baby and so I borrowed a doll from my mother in law to try them on. 

I made both hats out of one skein of orange swish DK and one skein of green, and had some orange yarn left over (and tons of green - I knit another all green hat and have plenty to make stems for other fruit and veggie hats in the future).  I used long size 5 circular needles and knit both hats using the magic loop technique, but if you prefer you could use DPNs.  The patterns are below - you can always mix and match different elements between the two, and I have put in a few notes to indicate how.  

I love seeing the hats that have been made with this pattern on Ravelry; if you are on Flickr you can also share a photo in the Needle and Spatula Flickr group




Pumpkin Hat 1:
This hat has a smaller rolled edge, deeper spaces between the ribs, and a longer stem (you could sew it in place with the twist, but I didn't). 

NOTE: the pattern as written makes a preemie/newborn size hat - see notes on sizing below for other options. (added 10/18)

CO 80 stitches in orange, join in the round being careful not to twist.  Using tail to indicate beginning of round, knit four rounds and purl one round (this makes a smaller rolled rim - add more rounds of knitting for a larger rolled rim).  For ribbing pattern: *K6, P2, repeat from * until end of round.  Continue in pattern until hat measures 3".

Decrease round 1: *K2tog, K4, P2, repeat from *
2 rounds of: *K5, P2, repeat from *
Decrease round 2: *K5 P2tog, rep from *
1 round of: *K5 P1, rep from *
Decrease round 3: *K3, ssk, P1, rep from *
1 round of: *K4, P1, rep from *
Decrease round 4: *K2tog, K2, P1, rep from *
1 round of: *K3, P1, rep from *
Decrease round 5: *K1, ssk, P1, rep from *
1 round of: *K2, P1, rep from *
Decrease round 6: *K2tog, P1, rep from *
1 round of: *K1 P1 (orange), K1 (green), P1(orange), rep from *
1 round of: *K1(orange), K2tog K1 (green), rep from *
1 round of: *K2tog (green), rep from *
Then K2, K2tog until 6 st remain (may be more than 1 round)
Knit 6 stitches either as I-cord or using magic loop for about 1 1/2", then decrease to 5 stitches and continue until measures desired length (about 2 1/2" - 3") and bind off by threading yarn through remaining stiches and pulling tight.  Weave in ends.  (This makes a longer, thinner stem - for a shorter, thicker stem don't decrease as many stitches and make it shorter).




Pumpkin Hat 2:
This hat has a larger rolled edge, less deep spaces between the ribs, and a shorter stem.  I think the base of the stem where it joins the hat looks better on this version and overall I am happier with this one.  It could easily be adapted to have a longer and skinnier stem if you like that look better.

NOTE: the pattern as written makes a preemie/newborn size hat - see notes on sizing below for other options. (added 10/18)

CO 80 stitches in orange, join in the round being careful not to twist. Using tail to indicate beginning of round, knit 7 rounds and purl one round (this makes a larger rolled rim). For ribbing pattern: *K7, P1, repeat from * until end of round. Continue in pattern until hat measures 3".

Decrease round 1: *K2tog, K5, P1, rep from *
1 round: *K6, P1, rep from *
Decrease round 2: *K4, ssk, P1, rep from *
1 round: *K5, P1, rep from *
Decrease round 3: *K2tog, K3, P1, rep from *
1 round: *K4, P1, rep from *
Decrease round 4: *K2, ssk, P1, rep from *
1 round: *K3, P1, rep from *
Decrease round 5: *K2tog, K1, P1, rep from *
1 round: *K2, P1, rep from *
Decrease round 6: *K2tog P1 (orange), K2tog (green), P1(orange), rep from *
1 round: * K1 (orange), K3 (green)
Decrease round 7: * K2, K2tog (all green from now on), rep from *
1 round - Knit all stitches
Decrease round 8: *K1, k2tog, rep from *
Decrease round 9: decrease 2 more stitches (evenly spaced) - 8 stitches remain

Continue knitting until stem is ~1" or whatever length you prefer.  Knit one round K2tog to decrease to 4 stitches, then bind off by threading yarn through remaining stitches and weaving in ends.  You can adapt this hat to have a longer thinner stem by following the pattern as written until decrease round 9, decrease to 5 or 6 stitches and follow directions as for first hat.

NOTE ON SIZING:
Now that I have seen the hat on a baby, I realized that the pattern as written is more of a preemie/newborn size.  To make a hat that will fit newborn to three months (or maybe 6 months), it should work to follow the pattern as written, but make it 4 - 4 1/2" long before you start decreases.  For a larger hat, (6-9 months or so), CO 88 stitches, and make it 5" long or so before you start decreases (the stem pattern doesn't exactly work as written in this case, but you should be able to fudge it to make it work).  I really apologize if anyone who used this pattern ended up with a hat that was too small, but hopefully this information will be helpful to folks moving forward. [UPDATED AGAIN (slightly) FEB. 2011]

4 comments:

  1. I LOVE your pumpkin hat patterns. Wanted one for my grandbabies for the Fall. Thank you for sharing.
    They're adorable.

    Susan

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very cute hats! I want to knit one for me baby and my baby nephew. Do you know size hat this makes?

    ReplyDelete
  3. It makes a pretty stretchy hat, I designed it to be about 15" around, so it should fit most babies from newborn to at least 6 months I think... hope that helps!

    ReplyDelete
  4. See the revised info on sizing above - hope that helps.

    ReplyDelete

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