Monday, September 22, 2008

Free pattern: simple lace baby beanie

Since you all asked so nicely, here's the pattern for that wee baby hat from a couple of weeks ago:

The original [pink] one was made in 4ply baby yarn [ fingering ] on 3mm needles, and to check the pattern I've just remade it in the variegated 8ply[ DK ] on 4mm needles. Either works. The finer yarn yields a large prem/ newborn size and the other yarn works out to about a 3 month size.

There is a minor difference between the two hats - mainly because I didn't actually LOOK at the first one before starting the second - but trust me it's not that important.

Okay, okay, if you look really closely, each band in the small hat has 3 sets of eyelets and the larger one has 4 sets. The row count is the same though because I did 2 rows of stocking / stockinette in each band on the small hat before starting the eyelets.
As written, these directions are for the version with four rows of eyelets.

Simple Lace Baby Beanie

to fit 3 months

yarn - 8 ply / DK approx 90 metres

gauge: 22 st to 4 inches over stocking/stockinette

needles 4mm

cast on 82 st
Rows 1-3: knit [ row 1 is wrong side ]
Row 4: k2*,y fwd, k2, k2tog, ssk, k2, y fwd,k2, repeat from * to end
Row 5: k1, p to last st, k1
Rows 6 - 11: repeat rows 4 and 5 [ 3 times ]
Row 12: repeat row 5
Row 13: knit

repeat rows 4 - 13 once
repeat rows 4 - 11 once

Row 32: k2tog, k to last 2 st, k2tog [ 80 st ]
Row 33: knit
Row 34:* k2tog, k8, repeat from* to end
Row 35 and alt rows: knit
Row 36:* k2tog, k7, repeat from * to end
Row 38:* k2tog, k6, repeat from * to end

continue decreasing in this manner until there are 8 stitches remaining
next row: k2 tog across row

cut yarn at least 16" long and thread through the 4 remaining stitches, pull up tight, fasten off and use remaining yarn to sew side seam.

for personal and charity use c. 2008 Susan Iacuone

32 comments:

Jack said...

They are lovely Susan. If only someone would yield a girl so I could make one. I might have to make one for the charity bag just to give it a go!

Sara said...

Oh, thank you so much - I was just going to sit down and find a pattern - cause I promised to knit a couple little hats for the premies at the hospital!!!

Sheepish Annie said...

Another amazing pattern! And you just give 'em away. You are really too good to us...

But we appreciate it! Thanks!!!

Sarah said...

those are precious! Can I link to them for the preemie contest?

catsmum said...

of course Sarah - go right ahead. That's what they're there for - to be used ]

Marg said...

My daughter is due to have her little girl in eight days. Your hat is just what I was looking for. Lovely. Thank you for sharing.

Anonymous said...

can anyone please tell me what ssk is in the knitting pattern
thanks
sandy

catsmum said...

Sandy ssk means slip slip knit and there are many explanations [ with pictures ] on the internet if you google it
but you can substitute ' slip 1, knit 1, pass slip stitch over' because it's almost the same.

sexy said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Barbara said...

These are lovely. Would susan or anyone else have an idea about how to make an adult-sized version of this beautiful beanie?

catsmum said...

Barbara - what thickness of yarn were you thinking of using?
If DK as per the pattern, I'd suggest casting on 102 stitches, maybe going up a needle size as well and doing two extra repeats of the lace pattern - mind you, that's just a guess at this stage.

Anonymous said...

I need help with this pattern - as I am gaining stitches on the pattern row #4

k2* y fwd, k2, k2tog, ssk k2, y fwd, k2

I see I am adding two stitches when I do the yarn over, but am only losing one stitch when I k2tog. That means I gain several stitches each time I do a pattern row. Can anyone else.

I know the ssk is slip slip knit which makes the wavy part

catsmum said...

You lose the other extra stitch when you do the ssk ... I think you are perhaps not executing the ssk correctly. A friend of mine recently had the same problem with a sock pattern and was quite frustrated as she is a very experienced knitter.
You slip two stitches knitwise then place the left needle through the front of the slipped stitches and knit them together.
You may want to try YouTube for a visual guide.
Good luck!

catsmum said...

if the ssk continues to be a problem you can always substitute 'knit 1, slip 1, pass slip stitch over' which is often used as a paired decrease with k2tog in older patterns.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the help. I was indeed doing the SLIP SLIP KNIT incorrectly. It makes perfect sense now. Many thanks for the help. I am looking forward to getting started on the hat.

Unknown said...

hi... thanks they are lovely and I want to make them. SInce I am new to knitting I dont know how to make for my 6 months old daughter.... can you help plz...

Unknown said...

hi... thanks they are lovely and I want to make them. SInce I am new to knitting I dont know how to make for my 6 months old daughter.... can you help plz...

Anonymous said...

I am making one with 4ply, 4mm needles.It looks a little big for a newborn....How do I make one smaller.
Pretty new with knitting

catsmum said...

dear anon - for 4 ply [ fingering ] you need to use about a 3mm needle and don't forget that babie's heads are bigger than you probably imagine
good luck with the new hobby ... or should I say potential obsession

Anonymous said...

Hello,
Just wondering if the needles are meant to be straight or circular.
This pettern will match a little pair of Booties I've made for my boss.

catsmum said...

It's designed for straights [ otherwise I would have specified dpns ] but you can easily modify it for dpns if you wish .
Have fun with it.

Anonymous said...

Can I knit some of these to donate to a church bazaar?

catsmum said...

Dear Noel - yes you can definitely

Anonymous said...

I had a question. I used d.k. yarn but the hat turned out very small. Is all d.k. the same? Mine does not look 8 ply. I used Plymouth Encore D.K. yarn What is a brand of 8 ply yarn that I could compare mine to?

Mummy Bee said...

Hi! I'm trying this pattern on 3mm needles for a newborn, but my eyelets aren't turning out as prominently as yours. I seem to be following the pattern and have done two of the full lace rows so far, but they cant be seen at all. My y fwds, k2tog, & ssk seem to turn correctly so I cant work out where I'm going wrong? Do I need to stretch the hat once complete? Please could you help? Thank you! Shruti

catsmum said...

without knowing your yarn it's a bit hard to say Mummybee but I would wet block your hat when finished to open up the lace ... soak gently in tepid water, roll in a towel to remove excess water then pat into shape and let dry.

Unknown said...

When I got to the decreases I did k2tog, k1. Finished the row and I have more than 8sts left. Where do I go from there?

catsmum said...

Courtney, I'd just do the last row as written and if you end up with 5 or 6 instead of 4, it will still work just fine.

Unknown said...

Hi Susan-I made this pretty hat last night and I LOVE it. I was wondering if you have or could recommend a pattern for a sweater and booties that would match or be close in looks.

lyn said...

Hi, I am just wondering how you decrease to 8 stitches after row 38, do you just continue k2tog knit 6? please could you let me know thankyou.

catsmum said...

Lynn, from row 34 onwards all even numbered rows have one less stitch between the decreases than the previous even numbered row, you just keep doing this until there are only 8 stitches left.
so row 40 would be *k2tog k5
row 42 would be *k2tog k4

and so on

catsmum said...

Lynn, from row 34 onwards all even numbered rows have one less stitch between the decreases than the previous even numbered row, you just keep doing this until there are only 8 stitches left.
so row 40 would be *k2tog k5
row 42 would be *k2tog k4

and so on