"No Pinches" St. Pat's Day Baby Hat
Copyright 2015 by Glenna Anderson Muse
Based on the colors of the Irish national flag, a green, white, and orange hat with a little strand work and a commercially made shamrock girls' hair clip for fun, and topped with a puffy pom-pom.
Sizes: (Micro-Preemie, Med-Preemie, Large Preemie, Newborn)
Finished hat circumference measurements:
(8, 10, 11, 12) inches
Abbreviations:
CO = cast on
K2tog = knit two stitches together as one, to decrease
Materials:
Size# 8 double-pointed needles or needles needed to make gauge
Optional: Size #10 double pointed needles or 2 sizes larger than needles used to accomplish gauge. Note: Casting on using larger needles creates a stretchier, more comfortable hat opening.
Less than 1 skein of any "soft" worsted weight kelly green yarn that meets gauge
Less than 1 skein of any "soft" worsted weight bright orange yarn that meets gauge
Less than 1 skein of any "soft" worsted weight white yarn that meets gauge
Yarn needle
Optional: shamrock pin or girls' shamrock hair clip
Gauge: 16 stitches x 20 rows = 4 inches
Directions:
With green yarn and larger set of needles, CO (32, 40, 44, 48).
Change to smaller needles.
Row 1: *K1, P1*, repeat from * to * across row. Join to knit in the round, placing a marker between last stitch of first row and first stitch of second row. Rows 2-4: *K1, P1*, repeat from * to * across row.
Change to white yarn.
Rows 5-6: Knit all stitches
Change to orange yarn.
Row 7: Knit all sttiches
Row 8: *K2(orange), K2(green)*. Repeat * to * around row.
Note: Be sure to cross yarns at each color change throughout the row and keep your tension loose so the fabric will lay smoothly.
Row 9: *K2(green), K2(orange)*. Repeat * to * around row.
Change to green yarn
Row 10: Knit all stitches.
Change to white yarn
Knit all stitches until piece measures (2, 3, 3.5, 4) inches from CO edge.
Change to orange yarn.
Knit all stitches x 3 rows.
Decrease:
Row A: *K2, K2tog*. Repeat * to * around row. (24, 30, 33, 36 stitches remain)
Row B: *K1, K2tog*. Repeat * to * around row. (16, 20, 22, 24 stitches remain)
Row C: K2tog around row. (8, 10, 11, 12) stitches remain.
Row D: K2tog around row. Large preemie size will have one stitch at the end of the row to knit singly. (4, 5, 6, 6) stitches remain.
Cut long tail and thread onto yarn needle. Draw yarn through remaining stitches, pull tightly, and secure. Weave loose end in to underside of hat.
Finishing: Weave in all loose ends and place (optional) shamrock pin or clip on hat.
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Thank you for using this pattern. If you have any questions, please email me at [email protected]. If you would like to be featured on my blog, Knitting for the NICU, please send pics of your little Little to the same email address.
