Cap for the little one

Diagram 1 (for 6–12 months)

Diagram 2 (for 1–1.5 years / 2–3 years)

The hat is designed for ages 6–12 months (1–1.5 years, 2–3 years), or for a head circumference of 42 (46, 55) cm.

Yarn (for example, Cascade Cherub DK: 55% nylon / 45% acrylic, 50 g / 160 m) - 1 skein of the main color and 1 of the contrasting color

• Circular needles ? 3.5 mm, 40 cm long, or a set of double-pointed needles ? 3.5 mm
• Wool needle
• Stitch markers
• Auxiliary needle

Knitting density: 22 sts = 10 cm stockinette stitch

Abbreviations

• sts = stitch/stitches
• knit = knit stitch 
• purl = purl stitch 
• 2 together knit = knit 2 sts together 
• from 1 st 2 purls = knit the st as purl; without slipping it off the left needle, knit again through the back loop
• increase 1 knit = increase 1 st by knitting from the yarn over: lift the yarn over onto the left needle towards yourself, knit the st through the back loop
• repeat = repeat

Work Description

Knitting direction - from bottom to top. First, knit the ear pieces, leave them on the auxiliary needle, then include the sts in the main knitting in the round.

Ears (2 pieces)

Cast on 8 (10, 12) sts with the main color. Knit in stockinette stitch.

Row 1 (knit): 1 knit, increase 1 knit, then knit until 1 st remains on the needle, increase 1 knit, 1 knit = 10 (12, 14) sts.

Row 2 (purl): knit all sts purl.

Row 3: knit as row 1 = 12 (14, 16) sts.

Row 4: knit 2 purls from 1 st, then purl until 1 st remains on the needle, knit 2 purls from 1 st = 14 (16, 18) sts.

Row 5: knit as row 1 = 16 (18, 20) sts.

Row 6: knit all sts purl.

Row 7: knit as row 1 = 18 (20, 22) sts.

Row 8: knit all sts purl.

Knit 6 (8, 10) more rows in stockinette stitch, finish with a purl row. Transfer all 18 (20, 22) sts to the auxiliary needle.

Main Knitting

Cast on 11 (12, 16) sts with the main color, knit from the auxiliary needle 18 (20, 22) sts of one ear, cast on another 31 (35, 43) sts, knit from the auxiliary needle 18 (20, 22) sts of the second ear, cast on another 12 (13, 17) sts, place a marker at the beginning of the round, join the sts into a ring = 90 (100, 120) sts.

Rows 1-3: knit in stockinette stitch with the main color.

Rows 4-20: knit in the main (background) and contrasting (hearts) color in a fair isle pattern according to diagram 1 or 2 according to size, carrying the non-working yarn loosely along the back. Row 4 of knitting = row 1 of the diagram.

Continue knitting in the main color, knit 6 (8, 10) more rows in stockinette stitch.

Decreases

Row 1: * 8 knit, 2 together knit,* repeat 9 (10, 12) times = 81 (90, 108) sts.

Rows 2-3: knit knit.

Row 4: * 7 knit, 2 together knit,* repeat 9 (10, 12) times = 72 (80, 96) sts.

Rows 5-7: knit knit.

Row 8: * 6 knit, 2 together knit,* repeat 9 (10, 12) times = 63 (70, 84) sts.

Rows 9-10: knit knit.

Row 11: * 5 knit, 2 together knit,* repeat 9 (10, 12) times = 54 (60, 72) sts.

Row 12: knit knit.

Row 13: * 4 knit, 2 together knit,* repeat 9 (10, 12) times = 45 (50, 60) sts.

Row 14: * 3 knit, 2 together knit,* repeat 9 (10, 12) times = 36 (40, 48) sts.

Row 15: * 2 knit, 2 together knit,* repeat 9 (10, 12) times = 27 (30, 36) sts.

Row 16: * 1 knit, 2 together knit,* repeat 9 (10, 12) times = 18 (20, 24) sts.

Row 17: * 2 together knit,* repeat 9 (10, 12) times = 9 (10, 12) sts.

Only for size for 2–3 years.

Row 18: * 2 together knit,* repeat 6 times = 6 sts.

Cut the yarn, pull it through the remaining sts, tighten, hide the end.

Edge Finishing

With contrasting color, cast on as in knit 32 (36, 44) sts along the back edge of the hat, 31 (37, 43) sts along the edge of the right ear, 32 (36, 44) along the front edge of the hat, 31 (37, 43) sts along the edge of the left ear = 118 (136, 164) sts.

Continue knitting in the round. Knit all sts knit while simultaneously binding them off. At the end of the row, secure the yarn, hide the end.

Ties

3 pieces of contrasting yarn approximately 70 cm long, thread through the loop at the end of the ear, align the ends, braid into a braid. Tie a knot at the end of the braid and trim the end. Make the same tie on the second ear.

Hide all yarn ends, steam the hat to shape it. Optionally, make a tassel or pom-pom, sew it to the top of the hat.