Free Pattern! Garter Stitch Baby Hat

I still have a few ounces of some of my favorite yarn from The Fibre Company, called Road to China, and decided to knit up a baby hat and matching booties for my own wee babe. It's a beautiful blend of baby alpaca, silk, camel and cashmere and comes in so many wonderful colors. It's super soft and perfect for a baby's sensitive skin. I used my favorite booties pattern which is from Elizabeth Zimmerman's collection of newsletters from 1958 to 1968, titled "The Opinionated Knitter".

This pattern uses a single right-slanting decrease, called k2tog (knit two together), to shape the crown. To make the decrease, insert the tip of your right needle knitwise into the first two stitches on your left needle and knit them together.

Materials

Yarn: 1 skein each of The Fibre Company's Road to China, shown here in Riverstone (color A) and Peridot (color B); fiber content: 65% Baby alpaca, 15% Silk, 10% Camel, 10% Cashmere

Needles: Size US 6 double pointed needles or 16" circulars (change needle size to obtain correct gauge)

Notions: stitch marker, tapestry needle

Dimensions

5.5" tall x 6.25" wide when laid flat and not stretched.

Size appropriate for a newborn or 0-3 month old infant.

Gauge

24 sts = 4" in St st

Pattern

With color A, CO 80 sts.

Place marker and join for working in the round, taking care not to twist your sts.

Knit in garter stitch (alternating rounds of purl and knit stitches) for 1".

Knit in St st until piece measures 4" from CO edge.

Begin shaping the crown as follows:

Dec row 1: *k8, k2tog, rep from * till end of rnd (72 sts)

Dec row 2 and all alternate rnds: knit

Dec row 3: *k7, k2tog, rep from * till end of rnd (64 sts)

Dec row 5: *k6, k2tog, rep from * till end of rnd (56 sts)

Dec row 7: *k5, k2tog, rep from * till end of rnd (48 sts)

Dec row 9: *k4, k2tog, rep from * till end of rnd (40 sts)

Dec row 11: *k3, k2tog, rep from * till end of rnd (32 sts)

Dec row 12: *k2, k2tog, rep from * till end of rnd (24 sts)

Dec row 13: *k, k2tog, rep from * till end of rnd (16 sts)

Cut yarn leaving a tail of 12" and, using tapestry needle, thread tail through remaining live stitches. Cinch tightly and weave in ends. Block as desired.

Glossary

CO: cast on

dec: decrease

k2tog: knit two together

rep: repeat

rnd(s): round(s)