It’s a Pattern!

August 17th, 2005

Months ago I made, oh 22 little hats for the local high schoolers in a production of Seussical. I had fun coming up with a pattern, and I’d always meant to post it, it just took a few more, um, months than I had anticipated to remember to write it up. So, just in case you were wanting to make gifts for the cast of a musical, or if you were wanting some instant gratification and mixed with some stash reduction, here’s the pattern.

Of course, you’re welcome to use this pattern for free. But please, if you make it, tell me about it–I’d love to hear if it ever gets used again!

Little Hats Pattern

Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Worsted in two colors
The hat is knitted from the top down. Your MC will be the top of the hat and three stripes, your CC will be two stripes and the brim.

Needles: 4 double pointed needles, size 5US/3.75mm

Gauge: not important, but tighter than you’d usually knit this yarn. About 51/2 stitches to the inch before washing.

Measurements: not quite 5 inches tall

Notes: M1 by knitting into the front and back of the stitch.

To make the Hat:
With MC, co 6 stitches.
Row 1: K1, m1, repeat until the end of row. You now have 12 stitches. Divide the stitches onto three dpns—4 stitches on each needle. Add a stitch marker to mark beginning of round. Join stitches in the round.
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: K1, m1, k1, repeat until the end of row. (end with 18 stitches)
Row 4: Knit
Row 5: K1, m1, k1, repeat until the end of row. (end with 27 stitches)
Row 6: Knit
Row 7: K1, m1, k2, repeat until the end of row. (36 stitches)
Row 8: Knit
Row 9: Purl
Row 10-16: Knit
Row 17-23: Switch to CC. Do not cut yarn, carry loosely inside of hat. Knit.
Row 24-30: Switch to MC, knit.
Row 31-37: Switch to CC, knit.
Row 38-44: Switch to MC, knit.
Row 45: Switch to CC. K1, m1, k3, repeat until the end of row. (45 stitches)
Row 46: Purl
Row 47: K1, m1, k4, repeat until the end of row. (54 stitches)
Row 48: Purl

To bind off, work an I-cord bind-off as follows:
Cast on 3 stitches at the beginning of the first needle. Beginning with the new stitches, *K2, K2tog. Slip the three worked stitches back onto the left needle. Repeat from * until all stitches are bound off. Use the tail to sew up the gap between the beginning and end of the I-cord bind off. Weave in ends, use the CO tail to sew up the small hole in the top of the hat.

Blocking:
To give the hat enough body and shape to stand upright, send it through the washing machine’s hot cycle. Since the gauge is already tight this will not felt the hat completely, but it will tighten the stitches. Block the wet hat over a beer bottle. (Convenient size, eh?) Let it dry completely before removing.

Entry Filed under: Seussical Hats