As mentioned, earlier today, I’m knitting purple baby caps (to see why look here). So, to add some variety, I came up with a pattern 🙂
I love the twin rib stitch pattern because it is very stretchy, yet looks wonderful even if the stretch isn’t needed. The top crown is decreased to create a ribbed star pattern on the top but I’m still playing around with it to have it decrease ‘in pattern’ since I prefer a universal look to a hat, rather than a slanted or plain crown.
I’m likely going to update the pattern with child sizes (skull caps)
NOTE: Aug 25, 2012 – edited to add Gauge/Finished size – oops! Sorry about forgetting that…
Yarn: Loops & Threads Snuggly Wuggly Baby Sport
Needles: size 3mm dpns
GAUGE: 30st to 4″ in pattern flat – ie unstretched
Size for newborn
Finished size: 5″ wide flat – ie unstretched by 5+” high
Twin Rib Pattern:
row 1: k3, p3 to end of row
row 2: k1, p1 to end of row
Abbreviations:
K = knit
p = purl
Sl2k = slip two stitches as if to knit together
Sl2p = slip two stitches purlwise
psso = pass slipped stitches over stitch just worked
Pattern:
Cast on 72 stitches
Join in round (careful not to twist!!)
K3, P3 for 6 rows
Follow Twin Rib Pattern for 4″ (27 rows) ending with a row 1
Decreases for Crown:row 1: (K3, sl2p, p1, psso) repeat to end of round
row 2: k1, p1 to end of round
row 3: k3, p1 to end of round
row 4: (sl2k, k1, psso, p1) repeat to end of round
row 5: k1, p1 to end of round
row 6: (sl2k, k1, psso) to end of round
Break off yarn, thread through remaining stitches, draw to a close & weave in ends.
For sizing – will work for preemie up to newborn – finished length of hat should be about 5.5" for newborns, but larger babies and 3-6month olds would need a hat up to 7" long…so if you worry about it being too small, add an extra few rows of ribbing before the decrease ending with a row 1 – obviously they'll grow into it if its too big 🙂