Layla Baby Hat

In my expanding baby hat project, here is the Layla Hat.

My nephew’s baby girl is just the sweetest little doll, so I had to make a hat for her. What is great that you use less than a skein of yarn, and from my calculations, can also make at least two hats from one full skein. Once you make one of these, you will want to make more and more, using variegated yarn, striped yarns, and bright colors.

The other cool thing is that this is a cable stitch without needing a cable needle. If you have a fear of trying the cable stitch, this is a baby step with a baby hat!

Materials:

1 skein DK (double knit) yarn

Size 6 (4,0 mm) 16” circular needle
Size 6 (4.0 mm) double pointed needles
Stitch marker
Yarn needle

Abbreviations:
K: Knit
P: Purl
Mock cable (over two stitches): Knit two stitches together but do not remove from your left needle. Insert right needle into the first stitch and pull up a stitch. Remove from left needle.

Cast on 64 stitches. Join being careful not to twist the stitches and place marker.

Round 1-3: Work in 2x2 ribbing (K2, P2).
Round 4: *Mock cable, P2; rep from * to marker.
Work these 4 rounds until piece measures 5 ½”.

Crown:
Switch to double pointed needles when necessary.
Round 1: *K2, P2tog, K2, P2; rep from * to marker
Round 2: *K2, P1, K2, P2; repeat from * to marker.
Round 3:  *K2, P1, K2, p2tog. Repeat from * to marker.
Round 4:  *Mock cable, p1; repeat from * to marker.
Round 5:  *K2, P1 * repeat from * to marker.
Round 6:  *K2tog, P1, K2, P1; repeat from * to marker.
Round 7:  *K1, P1, K2, P1; repeat from * to marker.
Round 8:  *K2tog, P1, K2, P1; repeat from * to marker.
Round 9:  *K1, P1, repeat from * to marker.
Round 10-11: K2tog until there are six stitches left.

Cut yarn, leaving an 8” tail. Cut yarn, thread through the remaining stitches and secure tightly.  Weave in ends.

You can alter the pattern easily to make hats bigger or smaller. Just make the number of stitches a number divisible by 4, or use a larger or smaller needle. 

Thermal Hat

I have made a couple of Thermal hats in between my baby hats. The link for this hat is at the bottom. I used Loops and Threads Woolike (85% Acrylic; 15% Nylon, 620m/678yds). This is one of my favorite yarns because it is acrylic and very soft, especially for those allergic to wool. I also used slightly bigger needles for the upper part, and made it longer so it would be more of a slouchy hat. 




The other thing I like about this hat is that it is very easy to take with me when I leave the house. My husband and I have been going to sports bars lately so he can watch the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs. (We don't have cable or satellite) I don't know what all those sports fanatics think of a woman knitting in a sports bar, but they seem to be okay with it. I get a lot of questions about what I am making and admiring it. I am more likely to get a comment from some that they will bring their knitting next time.

Some ask me how I can drink and knit at the same time. I tell them that my limit is one or two beers because one time I was knitting a mitten at a bar and ended up with a sock. Some laugh; some just don't get it.

I am currently working on another Thermal cap using Red Heart Unforgettable in Pearly (100% Acrylic; 246m/270yds). It is a much thicker yard than the Woolike but it is working out well -- and I love the colors.

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/thermal-cap

Into the Delightful Rut of Knitting

I have been knitting baby hats since the beginning of the year, and I have noticed a pattern. Once I find a pattern I like, I knit it. And I am not talking about just knitting a hat or two -- I'll knit several and do the pattern over and over again until I get tired of it. Actually I never really get tired of it; I just am ready to do another pattern.  I often use an adult hat pattern and make it into a baby hat.

 

I first made the 'square' hat because I had yarn that 'phased' from color to color. Then I purposefully changed colors manually to make the stripes and of course had to add a variety of pom poms to accent the edges. The pattern for these hats are posted on 1/23/19.

Of course, I only had to make some "normal' hats with brim, body and crown.














Then I made some berets, which is not only of my designs. You can get this pattern from Ravelry at https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/stripey-baby-beret.

One of my favorite patterns for adult hat is the Regina hat, so I made some baby hats using that pattern. You can read more about this pattern and get the link by going to the 3/28/19 post here on my blog.














Then I was reminded of a bobble hat and yes, I went a little overboard.

I posted this pattern on 4/18/19.

So what am I going now? I am making some adult hats with a couple of other baby hats on the other needles.  I will be posting my Thermal hats tomorrow with the links, and another set of baby hats the next day. So stay tuned.