Malabrigo Baby Hat

I don't know if I ever mentioned the hat I knit for D. This was to be his Coming-home-from-the-hospital Hat. The pattern said to knit until the hat was 5" before starting decreases. I thought that would be too big for a newborn so I went ahead and only knit until 4". Two things happened. As it turns out, I was wrong (5" is not too big) and my son has an enormous head (like his mother). The hat didn't fit.  See below:

This weekend I decided to knit my son a new hat since the air is getting nippy. I was told that the average newborn has a 13.5" head so I went for a stretchy 12" brim (unstretched). I knit away, anticipating my new project then decided to measure D's head. Turns out this kid has a 15.5" noggin. Luckily this hat is super stretchy and fits, but with a head this size, it might only be for a short time.

And luckily for you, I wrote up the recipe for this cutesy hat.

I'll be sure to add a new picture when he's not so annoyed.

Finished Size:

Brim measures 12" unstretched. Will stretch to about 16".

Hat measures 8" in length.

Yarn: 

Malabrigo Worsted, approximately 100 yards.

Needles: 

US5 (3.75mm)

US9 (5.5mm)

   I used a 32" circular to magic loop but you could use dpns or whatever needles you use for your preffered in the round knitting method.

Gauge:

16sts=4" in Stockinette stitch with largest needle

20sts=4" in garter stitch with smaller needle

Pattern:

Using German Twisted Cast On, cast on 60 stitches. Join for knitting in the round, being careful not to twist stitches.

Purl one round. 

Knit one round

  Repeat these two rounds until brim measures 2" (approximately 10 repeats).

Purl one round.

Switching to larger needle, begin working in Stockinette stitch (knitting every round) until hat measures 6". 

Begin decrease rounds:

(k10, k2tog) repeat around.

(k9, k2tog)*

(k8, k2tog)*

(k7, k2tog)*

(k6, k2tog)*

(k5, k2tog)*

(k4, k2tog)*

(k3, k2tog)*

(k2, k2tog)*

(k1, k2tog)*

(k2tog)*

Cut yarn and thread tail through remaining 5 stitches. Weave in on wrong side.

Pleating on Back:
After finishing, weave a 12" scrap of yarn along joining seam, starting right above the garter brim. Weave this yarn in and out three or four times, starting from and ending into the wrong side. Tighten the yarn and tie inside the hat.

Make a pom pom and sew on! Woot!