Big Wool Little Hat

By Sarah Shepherd

Version 05 Jan 2009

A quick cute knit. The big chunky merino wool from Rowan provides a soft and warm hat for a wee one.
With ear flaps and dangly bits for added warmth and cuteness.

Fit
(Baby, Toddler) Child
Head circumference:
(35.5, 40.5) 45.5 cm

Finished Measurements
(30, 37) 42 cm Head circumference
(unstretched).
(19, 22) 24 cm Forehead edge to top of hat
(excluding dangly bit on top).

Yarn
Rowan, Big Wool, shade 26, 80m/100g, 1
ball.
Approx (40, 60) 70g of ball

Needles
10mm straight needles.

Gauge
8 stitches to 12 rows, 10cm square, knitted
in stocking stitch on 10mm needles.

Pattern Notes needle. Cast on (2, 2) 3 sts. Creating a total of

Ear flaps
Baby size:
Cast on 2 sts.
Row 1: K1, Incr1, K1 (3sts).
Row 2: P1, Incr1, P1, Incr1, P1 (5sts).
Row 3: *K1, P1 repeat from * to last st, K1.
Row 4: P1, *K1, P1 repeat from * to last st.
Rows 5 & 6: Repeat last two rows.
Transfer stitches to a holder and make a
second ear flap the same way.
Ear flaps
Toddler and child sizes:
Cast on 2 sts
Row 1: K1, Incr1, K1 (3sts).
Row 2: P1, Incr1, K1, Incr1, P1 (5sts).
Row 3: K1, Incr1, K1, P1, K1, Incr1, K1 (7sts).
Row 4: P1, *K1, P1 repeat from * to last st.
Row 5: *K1, P1 repeat from * to last st, K1.
Row 6 & 7: Repeat last two rows.
Row 8: P1, *K1, P1 repeat from * to last st.
Transfer stitches to a holder and make a
second ear flap the same way.
Main body of hat
On one single row: Cast on (2, 2) 3 sts. Moss st
the stitches of one ear flap onto needle next to
these stitches. Cast on (8, 8) 10 sts. Moss st
the stitches of the second ear flap onto the
(22, 26) 30 sts.
Next 5 rows: Continue in moss st.
Next row: Baby size: K2, incr 1, *K6, incr 1,
repeat from * until 2 sts remain, K2 (26sts).
Next row: Toddler size: K1, *K6, incr 1, repeat
from * until 7 st remains, K7. (29sts).
Next row: Child size: K3, Incr1, *K6, incr1,
repeat from * until 3 sts remain, K3. (35sts).
Continue in stst until hat measures (8, 11)
13cm from forehead edge, finishing with a purl
row.
Next row: *K3, K2 tog, repeat from * until last
(1, 4) 0 sts, knit (1, 4) 0 sts. (21, 24) 28sts.
Next row: Purl.
Next row: Knit.
Next row: Purl.
Next row: *K2, K2 tog, repeat from * until last
(1, 0) 0 sts, knit (1, 0) 0 sts. (16, 18) 21sts.
Next row: Purl.
Next row: *K1, K2 tog, repeat from * until last
(1, 0) 0 sts, knit (1, 0) 0 sts. (11, 12) 14 sts.
Next row: Purl.
Next row: *K2 tog, repeat from * until last (1, 0)
0 sts, knit (1, 0) 0 sts. (6, 6) 7 sts.
Next row: Purl.
Next row: *K2 tog, repeat from * until last (0, 0)
1 sts, knit (0, 0) 1 sts. (3, 3) 4 sts.
Remove sts from needle, pull yarn through sts
to secure.
Finishing

Sew up center back seam. Sew in any yarn ends.

Attach dangly bits:

Either use a regular plait to create these or for a thicker three sided braid try the following:

Thread a long piece of wool through the middle

of the lower two rows of the ear flaps or last
row at top of hat, to create 4 loops. Tie once
so knot is at the fingers end.

These loops should measure your desired

finished length plus an extra 10cm (ie. For a
finished length of 11cm, ensure loops are 21cm
long). Insert your fingers into these loops as
shown.

Place the hat between your knees to keep the

tension on your yarn loops firm.

Movement 1: Thread your R3 finger through

the L2 loop and pick the L1 loop up, drawing
back through L2 loop.

Movement 2: Pick the L2 loop up with your L1

finger.

Movement 3: Thread your L2 finger through the

R3 and R2 loops and pick up the R1 loop up,
drawing back through R3 and R2 loops.

Movement 4: Pick the R2 loop up with you R1

The fingers will be referred to as L1, L2, L3, L4
(left fingers from index to little finger) and R1,
R2, R3, R4 (Right fingers from index to little
finger).
finger. Pick the R3 loop up with your R2 finger.
Repeat movements 1 to 4 to create braid.
Remove fingers from loops, tie knot on the end,
trim ends of loops.

Abbreviations and notes

Incr 1 Increase 1 st. Suggest backward loop increases for ear flaps and bar increases for body
of hat.
Moss St Alternating K1,P1 stitches between rows so that a bobbled texture appears rather than a
rib.
K2tog Knit two stitches together.