EASY, EASY, EASY CHILD’S HAT

MATERIALS:

Size 13 circular needles (9-inch wire) or set of 4-5 size 13 double pointed needles

About 60 yards of (equivalent to) bulky weight (# 6) yarn for 44 stitch hat; about 70 yards of (equivalent to) bulky weight (# 6) yarn for 48 stitch hat.  If you do not have # 6 yarn, you can combine lighter weight yarns to make a yarn equivalent to #6.

DIRECTIONS:

Cast on*** 44 or 48 stitches, depending on weight of your yarn and size of head you want your hat to fit.  Join stitches, being careful not to twist stitches.  Begin pattern:  *Knit 2, purl 2* to end.

Follow this pattern on every row until your hat measures 8 ¼ inches (44 stitches) or 9 ¼ (48 stitches) inches from the beginning.

Last row:  *knit 2 together, purl 2 together” all around (22 stitches remain or 24 stitches remain).  Cut yarn, leaving a long tail.

To finish:  Bring tail through remaining stitches, pull very tightly, and close the top.  Weave in the ends.

Variations:

1.  Use solid colored yarn throughout

 2.  Knit a 4-inch brim of one color and then alternate rows with another color.  Finish with the color of the brim.

3.  Use scraps in a single- or multi- color range to give the hat interest.  Change yarns randomly and not in the same place each time as you knit the hat.

4.  Make your own # 6 weight yarn by combining 2 lighter weight yarns and treating them as one yarn.

When you finish, please sign the Handmade gift tag with your first name.  Use a piece of scrap yarn to attach it to your hat.

***Many knitters find that the cable cast on works particularly well for hats.  It is very firm and still very flexible.   This video shows how to do it:  www.ehow.com/video_4429587_cable-cast-knitting-stitches.html

Questions?  Check the website www.handmadeespecially.org or call Leslye (310) 547-3673.