Stay-On Toddler Hat

Size: 18 months – 3 years, 3 – 4 years

Materials: 150 yards of heavy worsted yarn

Needles: Set of 4 or 5 double pointed needles (or needles for circular
knitting method of your choice) to give you gauge and needles for
straight knitting

Gauge: 4.5 stitches to 1 inch

Instructions
Loosely cast on 62 (64) stitches.
Join into round taking care not to twist your stitches.
Knit 18 (20) rounds of knit one, purl one (k1, p1) rib.
Slip last 16 (18) stitches of last round onto a length of yarn to hold your stitches.
At this point you will be working the hat back and forth (not in the round).
Next row: Increase 8 (10) stitches evenly across the row.
Beginning with a purl row, knit 47 (53) rows in stockinette stitch (knit 1 row, purl 1 row).
Shaping for the top of head: K 33 (34) stitches, knit two together through back loop (k2 tog tbl), turn.
Next row: slip one (sl1), p12, purl two together (p2tog), turn.
Next row: sl1, k12, k2tog tbl, turn.
Continue in this manner until 14 stitches remain.
Slip stitches onto a spare needle and break yarn.

Rejoin yarn to hat immediately to the left of the chin stitches that you earlier placed on the length of yarn (slip these stitches onto a spare needle at this point).
Pick up and knit 28 (30) stitches along side of hat, knit across 14 stitches on needle, pick up and knit 28 (30) stitches along other side of hat, rib across 16 (18) stitches on the spare needle.
Work in k1 p1 rib for 5 rows.
Cast off in ribbing loosely (it helps to use a larger size needle).
Weave in ends.

all patterns and images © Amy Drucker and are shared here for individual personal use only