Well, it is Friday again already! Actually, I am writing this Thursday afternoon but it is close enough to Friday to count, right?
I made this hat for craft sales and wrote the pattern some time ago as a paid pattern. It is now free for you to make your own if you like to have a cute and warm toque for your little one and, with a small adjustment of increasing by increments of six stitches, your not so little one. You need worsted weight yarn (I used an acrylic such as Red Heart, Bernat or Loops and Threads), a small amount of stuffing and know how to knit in the round or how to adapt the pattern to knit flat. If you don’t know how to knit in the round, this is a great opportunity for you to pick up those needles and give it a try. The hat can be knit on a short circular but you will need to pick up those DPN’s or magic loop the crown and the snowman’s head.
I have included instructions for crocheting the eyes and nose but, if you don’t crochet, they can be made with felt or buttons and sewn on.
Sizes: 6-12 mos, 1-2 yrs, 3-4 yrs.
Materials: Worsted yarn, 75 m white and 60 m contrast colour, Sport yarn 5 m. black and 2 m orange.
Needles: 5mm, US 8 16” circular, 5mm, US8 DPN’s, and 4 5mm, US 7 DPN’s for the head, 3mm, US D or 3 crochet hook.
Gauge: 5 stitches and 7 rows = 2.5 cm, 1” on 5mm, US 8 needles.
With contrast colour, cast on 72, (78, 84) stitches and join to knit in round.
In contrast colour, work k1, p1 ribbing for 20, (22, 24) rows.
Change to white and K 16, (18, 20) rows.
Decrease: K 10, (11, 12,) K2tog 6 times.
K 1 row.
Repeat these two rows, knitting one less st between K2tog each decrease row (if you are knitting on a circular you will have to divide st evenly onto 3 DPN’s) until 6 st remain on each needle.
Make head: Switch to 4.5mm DPN’s
K 2 rows.
Increase: (K1, M1) to end, K1 on each needle (11 st on each of 3 needles).
K 2 rows.
Increase: K2, M1, K4, M1, K4, M1, K1 on each needle (14 st on each of 3 needles).
K 4 rows.
Decrease: K 5, K2tog, K 5, K2tog on each needle.
K 1 row.
Repeat these two rows knitting one less st between K2tog on decrease rows until 2 st remain on each needle. Cut yarn 10 cm or 6” from work and thread through stitches removing needles as you go. Pull tight, thread to inside and fasten off. Weave in ends where joined and at the start.
Toque: Knit back and forth, not in the round. Cast on 34 st with contrast colour.
Work 4 rows K1, P1 rib then 6 rows stockinette (knit right side rows and purl wrong side rows) adding stripes or pattern to these rows if you like.
Decrease: K 4, K2tog to last 4 st which are K.
P 1 row.
Repeat these two rows, K 1 less st between K2tog. Include the last 4 st on third decrease row.
Continue K2tog again until 3 st rem. Cut yarn leaving a longish tail to sew hat closed and thread through remaining 3 st. Sew up Toque and weave in ends. Make a pompom and sew to top of hat.
Scarf: Knit back and forth, not in the round. Cast on 50 st. K 7 rows and cast off loosely. Weave in ends and add fringe if you like.
Eyes and Nose: With black yarn and 3mm hook, chain two, 4 sc into 1st ch, join to 2nd ch and pop out to make a round eye. Repeat. With orange yarn and 3mm hook, ch 6, slip st into 2nd ch from hook, sc into next three ch and fasten off. Use the ends to attach eyes and nose to face, tying the two yarn ends securely inside of head and trim them leaving a short end. If you don’t crochet, you could use felt for eyes and nose.
Finishing: Stuff head lightly. I used a crochet circle to cover the opening but you could use a circle of fabric. With white, ch4, 9 dc into 1st ch and join. Fasten off leaving a long end to sew circle into head opening. You could also use a felt circle if you don’t crochet.to cover the head opening:
Sew toque onto head and tack scarf around neck.
Abbreviations: K = knit
P = purl
K2tog = knit 2 stitches together
M = increase or make a stitch by lifting the bar between two stitches onto the left hand needle and knitting through the back of the stitch
Ch = chain
Sc = single crochet
Dc = double crochet
Copyright on all written material and photos held by Barb Padwicki.