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One of my kids received a very simple fleece hat as a holiday gift last year. The hat looked pretty darn boring lying flat - it was plain navy blue and unbelievably boxy - but when it was on? Remarkably cute. I loved the Norwegian-ish shape, the floppy tassels, and the way it could be tied on to outsmart a recalcitrant, hat-hating toddler. This year, I decided to knit one for my daughter.

After exhaustive scientific research [okay, I looked around the park one day while knitting on a bench], I determined that girls under age 8 demand three things of their clothing: (1) it has to be pink; (2) it has to be purple; (3) it has to be shiny.

The hat is knit from the top down on two circular needles, beginning with a provisional cast-on to allow for the top seam. [Yes, you do have to graft it. Get over it.] The pink and purple come from handy-dandy self-striping yarn, while small amounts of novelty yarn provide the shine. Of course, you could knit it up in any color scheme that strikes your fancy. Even blue.

But don't blame me if your little fashion maven likes the pink one better.

models: Diana Myers [top] Eva Litke [bottom] photos: Lisa Myers

 
SIZE
6-12 mos.[1 yr., 2-3 yr., 4-5 yr.]
 
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Head circumference: 16 [17.25, 18.5, 19.75] inches
 

MATERIALS

[MC] Regia Crazy Colors [75% Wool/25% Polyamid; 137yd/125m per 50g skein]; color 402: Crazy Passion; 1 skein
[CC1] Rowan Lurex Shimmer [75% Viscose/25% Lurex; 103yd/95m per 25g skein]; color 338: Bedazzled; 1 skein
[CC2] Trendsetter Flora [76% Viscose/24% Polyamid; 70yd/64m per 20g skein];color 22: Passion Flower; 1 skein
[CC3]: Filatura de Crosa Zara [100% Wool; 137yd/125m per 50g skein]; color 1666 [fuschia]; 1 skein

2 sets 24-inch US #5/3.75mm circular needles
1 size F crochet hook
cotton waste yarn in a light color
stitch marker
tapestry needle
2 spare dpns, size US #5/3.75mm

 

GAUGE

26 sts/36 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch

 
abbreviation
M1: Increase 1 by knitting through front & back of loop, then slipping original st off left-hand needle.
 
DIRECTIONS

Earflap [make 2 alike]:

Using CC3 and one circular needle, CO 10 sts. Working back and forth, K 2 rows.
Increase row: K1, m1, k to last 2 sts, m1, k1. Next row: K.

Rep these 2 rows 3[4, 4, 5] more times. 18[20, 20, 22] sts

K 10 rows even, then work above 2 rows 4[4, 5, 5] more times. 26[28, 30, 32] sts. Cut yarn and transfer sts to spare dpn.

Hat:

Cut six 4-yard lengths of CC1 and fold each one in half to use double-stranded. Cut six pieces of CC2 in varying lengths; you will use CC2 as a carry-along. Set them aside for now.

Using crochet hook and waste yarn, work at least 60[65, 70, 75] chains. Using one circ needle and MC, k 1 st through 1 loop of each chain, beg at right end of work and ending at left. Rep until you have a total of 52[56, 60, 64] sts on the needle. Turn work upside down [working yarn will now be on the right end]. Using the second circ needle, k another st in a second loop of each ch. Rep for a total of 52[56, 60, 64] sts on the second needle [they will run parallel to the first set of sts]. 104[112, 120, 128] sts Join, being careful not to twist and placing marker to show beg of rnd.

Knit circularly using two-circular-needle method for 4.5[5, 5.5, 6] inches in MC, randomly adding the precut lengths of CC1 and CC2 as follows: When using CC1, drop MC and use double strand of CC1 for 1 rnd, then change back to MC and drop CC1, twisting yarns to avoid holes. When using CC2, carry a strand of CC2 along with MC until approximately 4 inches are left of CC2; then drop CC2 and continue with MC alone. [If the idea of randomness drives you crazy, assign each CC to a repeat color in the self-striping MC yarn. For example, using the colors shown in the sample, knit 1 rnd of CC1 (glittery purple) after every navy stripe. Begin carrying CC2 whenever you begin a medium-pink stripe.] When body of hat reaches desired length, cut yarn end of rnd. You may want to gently fluff the tufts of CC2 so that they show to optimal effect on the RS of work.

Sl 39[42, 45, 48] sts from left-hand needle to right-hand needle. Place marker to show beg of rnd. [This side is back of hat.] Using CC3, work circularly in garter st [K 1 rnd, p 1 rnd] for an additional inch, ending P row. Last row: sl 1 earflap onto spare dpn. Use 3-needle bind-off to attach earflap and BO next 26[28, 30, 32] sts. BO next 26[28, 30, 32] sts. Sl rem earflap onto spare dpn, and use 3-needle bind-off to attach earflap and BO next 26[28, 30, 32] sts in same manner. BO rem sts. Weave in ends.

 
FINISHING

Using Kitchener method, graft top seam of hat.

Using CC3, make 2 tassels and attach to upper corners of hat.

Using MC, make 2 I-cords, each approx. 14 inches long. Sew each I-cord to midpoint of each earflap bottom.

 

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Carol Sulcoski left the dog-eat-dog world of commercial litigation for the only slightly less stressful job of stay-at-home mom to three, count 'em, three children. She is also a staff member at Rosie's Yarn Cellar in Philadelphia.

She lives with her long-suffering husband, adorable children and increasingly incontinent cat in Villanova, Pennsylvania.