In the 1940s and 1950s, a baby hat called "Elf" was at the peak of fashion.

In this version, the hat is knitted in one piece, folded in half and sewn at the back, to which a narrow band is then sewn along the bottom edge, securely fastening the hat on the baby's head.

For the hat, choose soft blended yarn, for example, sock yarn is great for it.

Size 3-12 months and 1-2 years

You will need:

Baby Wool yarn, brand Alize (40% wool, 40% acrylic, 20% bamboo, 175 m/ 50 g) — 100 g peach (color code 449)

Needles No. 3.25-3.5

Buttons with a diameter of 1.5 cm

Thick needle

Ribbing 2/2 (number of stitches is a multiple of 4+2 for symmetry): 1st row (and all odd rows): 2 knit, *2 purl, 2 knit**, repeat from * to ** until the end of the row; 2nd row (and all even rows): knit knit over knit, purl over purl.

Ribbing 1/1 (number of stitches is a multiple of 2): 1st row (and all odd rows): *1 knit, 1 purl**, repeat from * to ** until the end of the row; 2nd row (and all even rows): knit knit over knit, purl over purl.

Knitting density (ribbing 2/2): 36 stitches x 36 rows = 10 x 10 cm

Work description

Cast on 96 (106) stitches. Knit 4 rows of ribbing 2/2.

Shaping the hat

1st row: 6 knit, knit ribbing 2/2 until there are 6 stitches left on the left needle, which knit knit.

2nd row: knit knit over knit, purl over purl.

3rd row: repeat 1st row.

4th row: 8 knit, knit ribbing 2/2 until there are 8 stitches left on the left needle, which knit knit.

5th row: repeat 2nd row.

6th row: repeat 4th row.

7th row: 10 knit, knit ribbing 2/2 until there are 10 stitches left on the left needle, which knit knit.

8th row: repeat 2nd row.

9th row: repeat 7th row.

10th row: 12 knit, knit ribbing 2/2 until there are 12 stitches left on the left needle, which knit knit.

11th row: repeat 2nd row.

12th row: repeat 10th row.

13th row: 14 knit, knit ribbing 2/2 until there are 14 stitches left on the left needle, which knit knit.

14th row: repeat 2nd row.

15th row: repeat 13th row.

16th row: 16 knit, knit ribbing 2/2 until there are 16 stitches left on the left needle, which knit knit.

17th row: repeat 2nd row.

18th row: repeat 16th row.

As a result, you will get crossed stripes of three rows of stockinette stitch, alternating with three rows of purl stitch at the beginning and end of the row (around the face) and ribbing 2/2 in the middle (at the back of the head).

19-64 (70) row: continue knitting until there are 2 stitches of ribbing 2/2 in the center of the row, increasing the number of knit stitches at the edges of the row by 2 stitches and decreasing the number of ribbing stitches. Cut and secure the working yarn.

Back seam: place the first 49 (53) stitches on a needle, with the working end directed towards the center of the work and perform a knit seam "stitch in stitch" on the open stitches.

Neckline band

Cast on 10 stitches and knit ribbing 1/1 until the piece reaches a length of 30.5 (32.5) cm. Then make a buttonhole.

1st row (knit): knit 4 stitches, make a knit stitch through the front and back wall of the stitch, 1 purl, pull the 2nd stitch on the right needle through the last stitch, make a knit stitch through the front and back wall of the stitch, pull the 3rd stitch on the right needle through the last 2 stitches, knit to the end of the row.

2nd row: knit 3 stitches, 2 stitches together purl, cast on 2 stitches, knit 2 stitches together purl, knit to the end of the row.

*Knit 7 rows, repeat the buttonhole, repeat from * once more. Continue knitting.

After 40 (42) cm from the start of work, bind off stitches.

Assembly:

Sew the side edge of the neckline band to the cast-on edge of the hat, starting from the cast-on edge of the band and the right edge of the hat. Sew the button to the band so that it comfortably fits against the neck when fastened.