Big Wool Little Hat

Big Wool Little Hat By Sarah Shepherd Version 05 Jan 2009 A quick cute knit. The big chunky merino wool from Rowan provides a soft and warm hat for a wee one. With ear flaps and dangly bits for added warmth and cuteness.

Fit (Baby, Toddler) Child Head circumference: (35.5, 40.5) 45.5 cm

Finished Measurements (30, 37) 42 cm Head circumference (unstretched). (19, 22) 24 cm Forehead edge to top of hat (excluding dangly bit on top).

Yarn Rowan, Big Wool, shade 26, 80m/100g, 1 ball. Approx (40, 60) 70g of ball

Needles 10mm straight needles.

Gauge 8 stitches to 12 rows, 10cm square, knitted in stocking stitch on 10mm needles.

Pattern Notes Ear flaps Baby size: Cast on 2 sts. Row 1: K1, Incr1, K1 (3sts). Row 2: P1, Incr1, P1, Incr1, P1 (5sts). Row 3: *K1, P1 repeat from * to last st, K1. Row 4: P1, *K1, P1 repeat from * to last st. Rows 5 & 6: Repeat last two rows. Transfer stitches to a holder and make a second ear flap the same way.

Ear flaps Toddler and child sizes: Cast on 2 sts Row 1: K1, Incr1, K1 (3sts). Row 2: P1, Incr1, K1, Incr1, P1 (5sts). Row 3: K1, Incr1, K1, P1, K1, Incr1, K1 (7sts). Row 4: P1, *K1, P1 repeat from * to last st. Row 5: *K1, P1 repeat from * to last st, K1. Row 6 & 7: Repeat last two rows. Row 8: P1, *K1, P1 repeat from * to last st. Transfer stitches to a holder and make a second ear flap the same way.

Main body of hat On one single row: Cast on (2, 2) 3 sts. Moss st the stitches of one ear flap onto needle next to these stitches. Cast on (8, 8) 10 sts. Moss st the stitches of the second ear flap onto the

needle. Cast on (2, 2) 3 sts. Creating a total of (22, 26) 30 sts. Next 5 rows: Continue in moss st. Next row: Baby size: K2, incr 1, *K6, incr 1, repeat from * until 2 sts remain, K2 (26sts). Next row: Toddler size: K1, *K6, incr 1, repeat from * until 7 st remains, K7. (29sts). Next row: Child size: K3, Incr1, *K6, incr1, repeat from * until 3 sts remain, K3. (35sts). Continue in stst until hat measures (8, 11) 13cm from forehead edge, finishing with a purl row. Next row: *K3, K2 tog, repeat from * until last (1, 4) 0 sts, knit (1, 4) 0 sts. (21, 24) 28sts. Next row: Purl. Next row: Knit. Next row: Purl. Next row: *K2, K2 tog, repeat from * until last (1, 0) 0 sts, knit (1, 0) 0 sts. (16, 18) 21sts. Next row: Purl. Next row: *K1, K2 tog, repeat from * until last (1, 0) 0 sts, knit (1, 0) 0 sts. (11, 12) 14 sts. Next row: Purl. Next row: *K2 tog, repeat from * until last (1, 0) 0 sts, knit (1, 0) 0 sts. (6, 6) 7 sts. Next row: Purl. Next row: *K2 tog, repeat from * until last (0, 0) 1 sts, knit (0, 0) 1 sts. (3, 3) 4 sts. Remove sts from needle, pull yarn through sts to secure.

Finishing Sew up center back seam. Sew in any yarn ends. Attach dangly bits: Either use a regular plait to create these or for a thicker three sided braid try the following: Thread a long piece of wool through the middle of the lower two rows of the ear flaps or last row at top of hat, to create 4 loops. Tie once so knot is at the fingers end. These loops should measure your desired finished length plus an extra 10cm (ie. For a finished length of 11cm, ensure loops are 21cm long). Insert your fingers into these loops as shown.

Place the hat between your knees to keep the tension on your yarn loops firm. Movement 1: Thread your R3 finger through the L2 loop and pick the L1 loop up, drawing back through L2 loop. Movement 2: Pick the L2 loop up with your L1 finger. Movement 3: Thread your L2 finger through the R3 and R2 loops and pick up the R1 loop up, drawing back through R3 and R2 loops.

The fingers will be referred to as L1, L2, L3, L4 (left fingers from index to little finger) and R1, R2, R3, R4 (Right fingers from index to little finger).

Movement 4: Pick the R2 loop up with you R1 finger. Pick the R3 loop up with your R2 finger. Repeat movements 1 to 4 to create braid. Remove fingers from loops, tie knot on the end, trim ends of loops.

Abbreviations and notes Incr 1 Moss St K2tog

Increase 1 st. Suggest backward loop increases for ear flaps and bar increases for body of hat. Alternating K1,P1 stitches between rows so that a bobbled texture appears rather than a rib. Knit two stitches together.