My Friends in Print

My online knit buddy, Del wrote an awesome 2-part article over at Meylah

The Benefits of Hooking Up with an Online Craft Community

Check out Part 1 & Part 2 (you may see a familiar face in here) :-)

Zach Attack Hat (free pattern)

Zach Attack Hat

 

 

 

I wanted to make a hat for my great-nephew, Zach, for his 3^rd birthday, but couldn’t find the exact thing I had in mind.  So I headed to The Knitter’s Book of Handy Patterns, by Ann Budd, to find the basic sizing for a three-year old, as well as an idea of how much knitting to do, etc. 

 

In the end, I had exactly what was in my brain!  And it was apparently a big hit when he opened it – he wanted to wear it everywhere.

 

I’m offering this as a free pattern, since it’s not necessarily anything new, or anything that doesn’t exist someplace else.  It’s my version, sized for the average three-year-old, according to the book referenced above, where it is listed as the size for 18 months to 4 years. 

 

You will need:

 

Worsted weight yarn –single color for base of hat (I used Brown Sheep Nature Spun, color Scarlet, less than 1 skein); additional colors (B and C) for stripes and/or tassels, less than 1 skein.

 

Gauge: 4.5 - 5 sts to the inch

 

16-in. US size 7 circular needles.

8-in. US size 7 double pointed needles (for finishing the hat, though you may be able to use the circular needle).

1 stitch marker, to mark beginning of round.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To begin:

 

Cast on 90 sts; join to work in the round; place marker.

 

Work k1, p1 ribbing for 8 rows (approximately 1 inch).

 

Switch to stockinette stitch for remainder of hat.  Continue until the hat measure 7 ½ inches from cast-on edge.

 

Continue until the hat measures 7 ½ inches from cast-on edge.

 

Finish:

 

Turn hat inside out; transfer stitches to double pointed needles if necessary, placing half on each needle; bind off stitches, using three needle bind off, pulling thread through last stitches to close.

 

Make two tassels or pom-poms using your preferred method, and attach to each corner of hat, with approximately 1 inch of yarn remaining on outside of hat (as pictured, so they move when the wearer does).  Weave in all ends.

 

Making tassels:

 

I checked various books, and though they had the basic idea, I ended up just winging it for the ones I used.  I wanted ones that were longer, looking less like pom-poms on the ends of the hat. 

 

Copyright 2009 by Bridget Arthur Clancy.  Available at The Ravell’d Sleave (http://the-ravelld-sleave.blogspot.com).  Not to be reproduced, sold, or taught for profit.  Questions or pattern support available at: thekittyknitter@gmail.com.