Knit HeartStrings Learn-and-Knit-Alongs

our yearly focus on charity knitting

For the charity-focus KAL as part of this year’s Beyond BOBBOL 2015, everyone gets the project pattern for free! Come join us to knit Flowered Crown Preemie Hat. 

This pretty baby hat is knit in the round for the most part in a simple k1, p1 ribbing. And then its plainness is topped off with a “flower” design incorporated in the decreases for the crown shaping. I hope you will enjoy knitting this project for your favorite baby charities and baby-gifting occasions.

Flowered Crown Baby Hat

Note: Flowered Crown Preemie Hat is sized for premature babies, but you can easily upsize it for newborns (or larger) by adding pattern repeats or making with thicker yarn on larger size needles.

Construction: Knitted in one piece in-the-round beginning at the hat brim. No seams to sew.

Skills needed: casting on, knitting in-the-round, knit, purl, ssk, k2tog

Learn-Then-Do featured techniques: Twist 2 right; Twist 2 left. These are 1-over-1 cables made without using a cable needle. See the Abbreviations section for step-by-step instructions. Of course, you can substitute a simple 1-over-1 cable using a cable needle if you prefer.

Yarn and Needles

Tip: If you already have a favorite number of stitches to use for making charity baby hats with your preferred yarn weight and needle size, adjust the pattern to the closest multiple of 6 stitches. You may need more (or less yarn) if adjusting size and yarn weight.

Abbreviations

eor – end of round

k – knit

k2tog – knit 2 stitches together (makes a right-slanting decrease)

p – purl

rep from * – repeat all instructions from the previous asterisk through to the semi-colon

rnd – round

ssk – slip 1 stitch as if to knit, and then slip another stitch as if to knit; insert left-hand needle into the 2 slipped stitches from left to right and knit these 2 stitches together (makes a left-slanting decrease)

st(s) – stitch(es)

tw2L – twist 2 stitches left: with yarn in back and skipping behind the first st, k 2nd st through back loop leaving both the first and 2nd sts on the left-hand needle; then k the first stitch (i.e. the st that was skipped); now remove both sts from left-hand needle (this results in one st crossing to the left in front of the other st)

tw2R – twist 2 stitches right: k2tog leaving both the first and 2nd sts on the left-hand needle; then insert right-hand needle between the 2 sts just knitted together and k the first stitch again; now remove both sts from left-hand needle (this results in one st crossing to the right in front of the other st)

Instructions

Cast on 60 sts loosely. (Tips for casting on loosely.)

Join into a round, being careful not to twist sts. Mark the join as the end of round.

Work 1.5″ of ribbing as follows: * k1, p1; rep from * to eor.

Turn-back ridge for the brim: k to eor.

Continue in k1, p1 ribbing until 3.5″ from turn-back ridge of brim.

Decrease for crown –

Rnd 1: * k2, tw2L, k2; rep from * to eor.

Rnd 2: k to eor.

Rnd 3: * k1, tw2R, tw2L, k1; rep from * to eor.

Rnd 4: * k2, p2, k2; rep from * to eor.

Rnd 5: * tw2R, p2, tw2L; rep from * to eor.

Rnd 6: * k1, p4, k1; rep from * to eor.

Rnd 7: * k1 p4, k1; rep from * to eor.

Rnd 8: * ssk, p2, k2tog; rep from * to eor. (40 sts)

Rnd 9: * k1, p2, k1; rep from * to eor.

Rnd 10: * ssk, k2tog; rep from * to eor. (20 sts)

Rnd 11: k to eor.

Rnd 12: * k2tog; rep from * to eor. (10 sts)

Cut yarn and thread through remaining sts. Pull snuggly, then bring yarn to inside and fasten off. Finish off cast on yarn tail, weaving end into wrong side of turned up outer brim.

Tip: For a tidy, snug closing at the top of the hat, you might like to try out the Gathered Woven Closure technique

Other On-site Charity Knitting Resources

Where Can I Donate Handmade Baby Items

2014: Elegantly Simple Baby Blanket

2013: Seemingly Seamless 2-Needle Preemie Hat

2012: Quick Lace-Edged Baby Socks