Patterns: April 2010 Archives
I have several friends and family members who will be having babies this fall, so I'm on a baby knits kick. I've also been enthralled with crochet for the last few weeks, so technically, I'm on a baby crochet kick. I wanted to crochet a little beanie that a baby could wear home from the hospital and, because all things for newborns are sort of ridiculous, I wanted to use the hand-washable DK Silky Cashmere.
I was unable to find a pattern for a newborn hat that was sufficiently gender neutral and worked with our DK Silky Cashmere, so I decided to figure out a pattern myself. This is my first crochet pattern I've ever made up, and probably only the fourth or fifth thing I've ever crocheted, so bear with me, as I'm not totally sure what I'm doing.
New Baby Beanie
1/2 skein Sundara Yarn DK Silky Cashmere, color shown is "Spring Fresh" (which is no longer available.)
3.5mm crochet hook
gauge: 22 stitches per 4 inches and 18 rows per 4 inches
Mark the beginning of each round with a stitch marker, moving the marker each round.
HDC = Half Double Crochet
Chain 4 stitches, join into a circle with a slip stitch.
Round 1) HDC in each chain stitch. (4 stitches)
Round 2) 2 HDC in each stitch. (8 stitches)
Round 3) 2 HDC in each stitch. (16 stitches)
Round 4) 2 HDC in first stitch, [HDC in next stitch, 2 HDC in following stitch]. (24 stitches)
Round 5) 2 HDC in first stitch, [HDC in next 2 stitches, 2 HDC in following stitch]. (32 stitches)
Round 6) 2 HDC in first stitch, [HDC in next 3 stitches, 2 HDC in following stitch]. (40 stitches)
Round 7) 2 HDC in first stitch, [HDC in next 4 stitches, 2 HDC in following stitch]. (48 stitches)
Round 8) 2 HDC in first stitch, [HDC in next 5 stitches, 2 HDC in following stitch]. (56 stitches)
Round 9) 2 HDC in first stitch, [HDC in next 6 stitches, 2 HDC in following stitch]. (64 stitches)
Round 10) 2 HDC in first stitch, [HDC in next 7 stitches, 2 HDC in following stitch]. (72 stitches)
For all subsequent rounds, HDC in each stitch. Continue until hat measures 5 inches from top to bottom edge.
Join first and last stitch in final round with a slip stitch. Weave in ends.
I did not wash or block my hat.
Then, a month or two ago, I was looking for fun little hand-made objects for us to add to Sundara Yarn and I found these flower pins, which we now have available.
For whatever reason, I thought they would look fabulous on a hat with a bit of a cloche-like shape and knit out of my longed-for corrugated ribbing. And so this little hat pattern was born.
The pattern has sizes to fit anybody and the hat is pretty stretchy, so the fit is very forgiving. Perfect if you are knitting a gift hat and don't want to give away the surprise by measuring the intended head. And all four sizes can be knit out of 1 skein of Sport Merino or 1 skein of DK Silky Cashmere. I figured the sport merino would be better for babies, kids and adults who might get the hat dirty so it can be easily thrown into the wash and the DK Silky Cashmere will work for those of us who enjoy a softer, cushier hat.
I had the most fun knitting the two-colored version and I love how the inner stripes are a bit hidden when the hat is off, but really pop when the hat is on. Once I find an infant I can photograph, I'll post a photo of the hat on an actual cute child.
In the mean time, here is Alana wearing the bigger version out of DK Silky Cashmere and featuring the fantastic flower pins.
