The Ashton Hat

My cousin is pregnant with her second child, a little boy this time.  I am very happy for her. Watching her prepare, via blog, for the new little guy has been fun. She is a very creative and talented woman and I am very proud of her.

My own kids are now past the baby stage so knitting tiny clothes is no longer something I can do for them. I just love knitting baby things though, so I try to do gifts for friends. My cousin's new baby has given me an excuse to test knit my Bottle Cozy pattern; a chance to begin experimenting with knitted bibs; and a reason to design a new baby hat pattern.

I elected to make this one 100% cotton because my cousin lives in Texas and it just doesn't get cold enough for wool there. I used a Peaches & Cream blue ombre that I already had sitting in my stash and I love how the color pooling created a striped effect through the seed stitch portion of the pattern. I will have to make a second hat with this yarn to see if it will pool that way again or if I just got lucky. Regardless, I love how this hat turned out! It's very cute and fast to knit and the textures are great.

Note:  I have not had a second set of eyes or hands review or test knit this pattern yet. So if you find an error or if something is not clear in the instructions, please let me know so that I correct and/or improve the pattern.

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The Ashton Hat                            

You will need:

• 12-in circular needles US #6 (or two sizes smaller than size to obtain gauge)
• 12-inch circular needles US #8 (or size to obtain gauge)
• Set of 4 DPNs US #8 (or size to obtain gauge)
• Yarn needle
• Stitch marker
• Worsted weight yarn (I made the one shown here with Peaches & Creme #133 Shaded Denim Ombre by Pisgah Yarn & Dyeing Co., Inc. - 100% cotton)

Gauge: 4 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch on US#8 needles

Size: 0-6 months (I have yet to pattern test for larger sizes)

Pattern:

Beginning and Rib Cuff:

Cast on 64 stitchs using the small circular needles.

Mark the beginning of the round with the stitch marker and join the ends of the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.

For the first 1 1/2 inches, knit using K2, P2 pattern (2X2 Rib).

Seed Stitch Section:

Switch to larger circular needles and begin Seed Stitch pattern as follows:

• Rnd 1 - K2tog, *P1, K1, repeat from * until 1 stitch remains, K1 (63 stitches remain
• Rnd 2 - *P1, K1, repeat from * until 1 stitch remains, P1
• Rnd 3 - *K1, P1, repeat from * until 1 stitch remains, K1

Continue in Seed Stitch pattern by repeating Rnd 1 and Rnd 2 until piece measures 4 1/2 inches from cast on edge.

Stockinette Section:

Begin Stockinette Stitch pattern as follows:

• Rnd 1 - Increase in the first stitch by knitting in front and back of the same stitch, knit to the end of the round (64 stitches)
• Rnd 2 - Knit to end of the round

Continue Stockinette Stitch pattern by repeating PatRnd 2 until the piece measures 5 1/2 inches from cast on edge.

Decrease Sequence:

Begin decreasing as follows:

• Rnd 1- K6, K2tog, repeat to end of the round (56 stitches remaining)
• Rnd 2 - K5, K2tog, repeat to end of the round (48 stitches remaining)
• Rnd 3 - Knit
• Rnd 4 - Switch to DPNs. K4, K2tog, repeat to end of the round (15 stitches on 1st needle, 15 stitches on secnd needle, and 10 stitches on third needle - 40 stitches total remaining)
• Rnd 5 - Knit
• Rnd 6 - K3, K2tog, repeat to end of the round (32 stitches remaining)
• Rnd 7 - Knit
• Rnd 8 - Knit
• Rnd 9 - K2, K2tog, repeat to end of the round (24 stitches remaining)
• Rnd 10 - Knit
• Rnd 11 - K1, K2tog, repeat to end of the round (16 stitches remaining)
• Rnd 12 - K2tog, repeat to end of the round (8 stitches remaining)

Finishing:

Cut the yarn leaving a 5 inch tail. Thread tail onto yarn needle and pull it through the remaining eight stitches. Pull tightly to completely close the ring. Thread tail to inside of hat and weave end. Weave end at cast on edge.

Hat can be worn with ribbed cuff up or down.