Little boy blue
Keep a premature baby warm with Sirdar’s pompom hat, complete with secure-under-the- chin ear flaps.
Knit this baby blue hat on straight needles and not in the round (a seam is worked along the back after all the knitting is done). Start with a 2x2 rib worked on the tips of the super cosy ear flaps and top off your hat with a majestic pompom.
LEFT EAR FLAP
Cast on 6 sts using 2¾mm needles and the thumb method. Row 1 K2, P2, K2. Row 2 P2, K2, P2. Rows 1 & 2 set 2x2 rib. Row 3 (Buttonhole row) K2, yfwd, yrn, p2tog, K2. Cont in 2x2 rib until strap measures 2(2: 3: 3: 4: 4) cm, ending with a WS row. Keeping continuity of 2x2 rib proceed as follows: Next row K2, M1, P2, M1, K2. [8 sts] Next row P3, K2, P3. Next row K2, M1, K1, P2, K1, M1, K2. [10 sts] Next row P4, K2, P4. Next row K2, M1, K2, P2, K2, M1, K2. [12 sts] Next row P2, K1, P2, K2, P2, K1, P2. Next row K2, M1, P1, K2, P2, K2, P1, M1, K2. [14 sts] Next row (P2, K2) 3 times, P2. Work 8 ( 8:8: 8: 12: 12) rows, inc 1 st at each end as before in next and every foll alt row. [22 ( 22: 22: 22: 26: 26) sts] Next row (K2, P2) 5 ( 5:5: 5: 6: 6) times, K2. Next row P2, (K2, P2) 5 ( 5:5: 5: 6: 6) times. Rep last 2 rows until ear flap measures 3(3: 4: 4: 5: 5) cm from last inc row, ending with a WS row. Break off yarn and leave these 22 ( 22: 22: 22: 26: 26) sts on a stitch holder.
RIGHT EAR FLAP
Work as given for Left Ear Flap, omitting buttonhole.
Cast on 12 ( 12: 12: 16: 16: 16) sts using 2¾mm needle and thumb method. With RS facing, rib across 22 ( 22: 22: 26: 26: 26) sts left on stitch holder for Left Ear Flap. Cast on 22 ( 26: 34: 34: 34: 38) sts, with RS facing, rib across 22 ( 22: 22: 22: 26: 26) sts left on stitch holder for Right Ear Flap and cast on 12 ( 12: 12: 16: 16: 16) sts. [90 ( 94: 102: 110: 118: 122) sts] Row 1 *P2, K2, rep from * to last 2 sts, P2. Row 2 K2, *P2, K2, rep from * to end. Work 4 rows more in 2x2 rib. Rows 7-10 Knit. Row 11 Knitting throughout, dec 0 ( 0: 0: 2:4: 2) sts evenly across row for 4th, 5th and 6th sizes only and inc 0 ( 2:0: 0: 0: 0) sts for 2nd size only. [90 ( 96: 102: 108: 114: 120) sts] Row 12 *K3, P3, rep from * to end. Repeat Row 12 3 more times. Row 16 Purl. Row 17 *P3, K3, rep from * to end. Repeat Row 17 3 more times. Work 3 rows in garter st. Row 24 K4 ( 7:8: 5: 8: 9), k2tog, (K18 ( 18: 12: 14: 10: 23), k2tog) 4 ( 4:6: 6: 8: 4) times, K4 ( 7:8: 5: 8: 9). [85 ( 91: 95: 101: 105: 115) sts] Change to 3¼mm needles and proceed as follows: Row 1 *K1, P1, rep from * to last st, K1. Row 2 P1, *K1, P1, rep from * to end. Row 3 P1, *K1, P1, rep from * to end. Row 4 *K1, P1, rep from * to last st, K1. Last 4 rows set Irish moss st. Work in Irish moss st as set, cont until helmet measures approximately 7 ( 8: 10: 11: 12: 12) cm, ending with a Row 4 of Irish moss st.
SHAPE CROWN
Next row (Moss st 7, p3tog) 8 ( 9: 9: 10: 10: 11) times, moss st 5 ( 1:5: 1: 5: 5). [69 ( 73: 77: 81: 85: 93) sts] Work 5 rows without shaping.
Next row (Moss st 5, k3tog) 8 ( 9: 9: 10: 10: 11) times, moss st 5 ( 1:5: 1: 5: 5). [53 ( 55: 59: 61: 65: 71) sts] Work 5 rows without shaping.
Next row (Moss st 3, p3tog) 8 ( 9: 9: 10: 10: 11) times, moss st 5 ( 1:5: 1: 5: 5).
[37 ( 37: 41: 41: 45: 49) sts] Work 3 ( 3:5: 5: 5: 5) rows without shaping. Next row (Moss st 1, k3tog) 8 ( 9: 9: 10: 10: 11) times, moss st 5 ( 1:5: 1: 5: 5). [21 ( 19: 23: 21: 25: 27) sts] Work 2 rows without shaping.
Next row (P2tog) 10 ( 9: 11: 10: 12: 13) times, P1. [11 ( 10: 12: 11: 13: 14) sts] Break off yarn, run yarn through rem 11 ( 10: 12: 11: 13: 14) sts, draw up and fasten off.
MAKING UP
Join back seam. Sew on button. Make a large pompom as shown in image. Sew pompom to top of helmet. Cover with a damp cloth and leave until dry. For more gorgeous Sirdar baby patterns visit www.sirdar.co.uk.