Tiger Hat Free!

Okay, again, I am back at the crafting stuff. DH had a big set back but is on the mend now thank goodness.

Winter is coming and most kids need a new hat this time of the year. I love to knit for the grands and they are at an age still where they will wear a fun hat without worrying about the cool factor.

I published a pattern for a Tiger Hat that has been featured in a pattern round up for little’s hats and has had lots of downloads and positive comments.

This Tiger Hat is easy to knit and fun to wear. I have used the basic pattern and changed it to a cat, dog, teddy, etc. by simply modifying the ears and colour of yarn. Have fun with it! Here is direct link to the Ravelry download (free) for the pattern.

More next week on getting ready for the Big Freeze here in the Great White North. Ah, Bob and Doug, remember them?

Size: The hat in second size measures 43cm or 17” upstretched and 50cm or 20” stretched to fit. It will fit age 2 to 6 depending on the child’s head size.

Materials: I used pipsqueak like and eyelash yarn held together. You will need 70m or 78 yds of main colour (MC), 20m or 23 yds of contrast yarn (CC) for stripes and 10m or 12 yds of contrast yarn (CB) for muzzle and inner ears. You will also need about 4m or 5 yds of scraps of sport weight to make the nose and eyes. Small amount of stuffing for muzzle.
Tools: 6mm or US 10 (40cm or 16”) circular needle or DPNs and 3.5mm or US 4 needles for nose and eyes, a marker, a tapestry needle. You will need a second circular (magic loop) or DPNs for decreasing the crown of the hat.

Gauge: 13 stitches x 23 rows = 10cm or 4” in stocking stitch.

Abbreviations: k = knit k2tog = knit two stitches together

p = purl           kfb = knit into the front and back of the same stitch

Hat:
With MC, cast on 54 (60, 66, 72) stitches and join for knitting in the round placing a marker at the join to mark your row end.
Rnds 1 to 10: Work 10 rounds of 1×1 rib in main colour.
Rnds 11 and 12: Change to CC and knit rounds.
Rnds 13 to 15: Change to MC and knit these rounds.
Repeat Rnds 11 to 15 three more times for a total of twenty rounds in stripe pattern.
Rnds 31 and 32: Change to CC and work these rounds in stocking stitch.
Rnds 33 and 34: Change to MC and work these rounds in stocking stitch.
Rnd 35: Continue in MC and begin decreasing. (k 7 (8, 9, 10) k2tog) 6 times.
Rnd 36: Change to CC and knit 1 round.
Rnd 37: Continue in CC and continue decreasing. (k 6 (7, 8, 9) k2tog) 6 times.
Rnd 38: Change to MC and knit 1 round.
Rnd 39: Continue in MC and continue decreasing. (k 5 (6, 7, 8) k2tog) 6 times.
Rnd 40: Continue in MC and knit 1 round.
Rnd 41: Change to CC and continue decreasing. (k 4 (5, 6, 7) k2tog) 6 times.
Rnd 42: Continue in CC and knit 1 round.
Rnd 43: Change in MC and continue decreasing. (k 3 (4, 5, 6) k2tog) 6 times.
Rnd 44: Continue in MC and knit 1 round.
Rnd 45: Continue in MC and continue decreasing. (k 2 (3, 4, 5) k2tog) 6 times.
Rnd 46: Change to CC (for smallest size do not change colour) and knit 1 round.
Rnd 47: Continue in CC for larger sizes and MC for the smallest size and continue decreasing. (k 1 (2, 3, 4) k2tog) 6 times. This will be the last round for the smallest size. Cut a 20cm or 8” end and take off all stitches with a tapestry needle. Gather up tight and, slipping the needle to the inside, fasten off.
Continue decreasing in the stripe pattern for the next sizes, keep to MC for last rows so that the crown is in MC and stop after k1, k2tog round when there are 12 stitches left on the needles. Take the stitches off as described for the smallest size.
You are now ready for the face pieces.

Muzzle: Using contrast yarn CB and leaving a long tail, cast on 5 stitches.
Row 1: purl.
Row 2: kfb, k 3, kfb = 7 st.
Row 3: purl.
Row 4: kfb, k 5, kfb = 9 st.
Start with a purl row and work 15 rows of stocking stitch.
Row 20: k2tog, k 5, k2tog = 7 st.
Row 21: purl.
Row 22: k2tog, k 3, k2tog = 5 st.
Row 23: purl.
Cut a long tail and take off stitches with a tapestry needle. Gather up and secure but leave the end for sewing the muzzle to the hat.

Ears: Make 2, using MC and leaving a long tail, cast on 8 stitches.
Row 1: purl
Row 2: k 1, (kfb x 6) k 1 = 14 st.
Start with a purl row and stocking stitch 7 rows.
Row 10: Change to CC and knit.
Change to CB and starting with a purl row, work 5 rows of stocking stitch.
Row 16: k1, (k2tog x 6), k 1 = 8 st.
Cast off leaving a long tail for sewing on the ear.

Nose: Leaving a long tail for sewing and using beige or pink sport weight yarn and 3.5mm US 4 needles, cast on 11 stitches.
Start with a knit row and work 4 rows of stocking stitch.
Row 5: k2tog, k 7, k2tog = 9 st.
Row 6: purl.
Row 7: k2tog, k 5, k2tog = 7 st.
Row 8: purl.
Row 9: k2tog, k 3, k2tog = 5 st.
Row 10: purl.
Row 11: k2tog, k 1, k2tog = 3 st.
Cut a long tail (you will use this to make the separate cheeks) and take off the remaining 3 stitches with a tapestry needle.

Eyes: Make 2, using black or your chosen eye colour sport weight yarn and 3.5mm or US 4 needles, cast on 5 stitches,
Row 1: purl
Row 2: kfb, k 3, kfb = 7st.
Row 3: purl.
Row 4: kfb, k 5, kfb = 9 st.
Row 5: purl
Row 6: k2tog, k 5, k2tog = 7st.
Row 7: purl.
Row 8: k2tog, k 3, k2tog = 5 st.
Cast off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Thank you for reading and I wish you a lovely week.  Be kind and remember that we all see through different eyes and interpret through different experiences.