Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Rainbow Maze Hat

 
Rainbow Maze Hat
Rainbow Maze Hat
Size Toddler

The story behind this hat is simple: I've been hat-shamed for not sending my youngest to his preschool with a proper head-covering, so I decided to make one for him (to be fair, he's a very stubborn child, and has only recently been willing to wear one). And not only did the Rainbow Maze Hat turn out quite well, but he's also even worn it once or twice. Small victories, you know!

Sizes: 12 Months (Toddler; Child Small; Child Large; Adult Small; Adult Large)

Yarn: Lang Yarns Merino 150 (100% Virgin Wool; 164 yards [150 meters]/50 grams); #197.0035 - one skein (one skein; one - two skeins; two skeins; two skeins; two skeins) (color A), & Lang Yarns Mille Colori Baby (100% Virgin Wool; 208 yards [190 meters]/50 grams); #845.0050 - one skein (all sizes) (color B)

Rainbow Maze Hat
The pattern, and the back
Plus the baby's new jacket
Needles: One 16" circular needle in size US 3, one 16" circular needle in size US 4, and one set of double pointed needles (dpns), also in size US 4

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch marker

Gauge: 27 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette on size US 4 needles

So let's make a hat! Using your size US 3 circular needle and your color A yarn, then, cast on 114 (120; 126; 132; 144; 156) stitches loosely, place marker, and join in round. Then we'll move to our ribbing, which goes as follows:

Ribbing Row: * k1, p1; rep from *

Knit this ribbing row until piece measures roughly 3.5" (3.5"; 3.5"; 4"; 4"; 4"). Transfer work to your size US 4 circular needle, and then we'll knit two transition rows as follows:

Transition Rows 1 & 2: using color A, knit

And once those are done, we'll go straight to the main pattern, which is an adaptation of Russian Stitch from page 62 of Barbara G. Walker's A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns, and goes as follows:

Rows 1 & 2: using color B, * k5, slip 1 with yarn in back (sl1 wyib) *

Row 3: using color A, * sl1 wyib, k5 *

Row 4: using color A, * sl1 wyib, p4, k1 * 

Rows 5 & 6: using color B, * k5, slip 1 with yarn in back (sl1 wyib) *

Row 7: using color A, * k4, sl1 wyib, k1 *

Row 8: using color A, * p4, sl1 wyib, k1 *

Knit rows 1 - 8 until piece measures roughly 6.75" (7.25"; 7.5"; 8"; 8.75"; 9.75") in total and you've just finished row 2 or row 6 of the pattern. Clip the tail of your color B yarn, since you're done with it. Then, we'll knit two transition rows, as follows, before beginning our decrease:

Transition Rows 1 & 2: using color A, knit

Knit these transition rows, and then we'll move to our decrease rows, as follows. As a note, you'll complete all of these rows with your color A yarn, and you'll need to transfer your work to your double pointed needles now if you're making the 12 month size, the toddler size, or the child small, and after decrease row 2 for all the larger sizes.

Decrease Row 1: * k4, k2tog * (95 (100; 105; 110; 120; 130) stitches remaining)

Decrease Row 2: knit

Decrease Row 3: * k3, k2tog * (76 (80; 84; 88; 96; 104) stitches remaining)

Decrease Row 4: knit

Decrease Row 5: * k2, k2tog * (57 (60; 63; 66; 72; 78) stitches remaining)

Decrease Row 6: knit

Decrease Row 7: * k1, k2tog * (38 (40; 42; 44; 48; 52) stitches remaining)

Decrease Row 8: knit

Decrease Row 9: * k2tog * (19 (20; 21; 22; 24; 26) stitches remaining)

Decrease Row 10 - sizes 12 months and child small: k1, * k2tog * (10 (--; 11; --; --; --) stitches remaining)

Decrease Row 10 - all other sizes: * k2tog * (-- (10; --; 11; 12; 13) stitches remaining

Complete decrease rows 1 - 10. Clip yarn tail, thread through remaining 10 (10; 11; 11; 12; 13) stitches, and pull tight. Make and affix pompom, tuck in ends and block, if desired.

Rainbow Maze Hat

Rainbow Maze Hat

Rainbow Maze Hat

Rainbow Maze Hat

Rainbow Maze Hat

Rainbow Maze Hat

32 comments:

  1. I love the pattern, especially in the colors you chose. Thank you for your continued, unselfish way of giving us your lovely patterns to use and enjoy.

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    1. Glad you like the hat! And you are very welcome - I love sharing my patterns, and am glad that others enjoy them as well!!! :)

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  2. This hat is so unique and I love the variegated yarn within the "maze"! It looks terrific on your adorable son, too! Thank you for so graciously sharing your creativity freely with us.

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    1. Glad to hear you like the pattern! Variegated yarns are always a bit mysterious, and I was very happy with the way this one worked up. :)

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    2. I love the colors to make the rainbow maze! Your son's jacket has a hood, so the shamers are out of line!

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    3. I agree, but it seems to be par for the course in Switzerland. :) I've told people that my son doesn't like to wear hats and they all just look at me and say, "Don't worry, his teachers will make him!"

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  3. Hi Gretchen,

    Please help me.

    I am knitting the Double Pom Earflap Hat for a toddler and did a provisional cast on of 90 stitches as per instructions so when I came to do the flaps etc the instructions add up to more than 90 stitches (12 for 4 x 3, K18, 51 for 17 x 3, K18 and then do rib to end of row which does not even come into the 90 stitches). What am I doing wrong please?

    Trudy

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    1. Hi Trudy!

      I think you're including more stitches than need to be repeated in the repeats - let me see if I can explain below, where I've copied the row. If you continue to have questions just let me know!!! :)

      Marker Placement Row - Toddler Size: p1 through back loop (p1-tbl), (k1-tbl, p1-tbl) 4 times (above, you said 4 x 3 - you won't actually be repeating all three of these stitches, just the (k1-tbl, p1-tbl), so really you should have 1 + 2 x 4, or 9), place first extra marker, k18, place marker, p1-tbl, (k1-tbl, p1-tbl) 17 times (again, you're only repeating the (k1-tbl, p1-tbl), so this should be 1 + 17 x 2, or 35), place marker, k18, place marker, * p1-tbl, k1-tbl; rep from * until end of round

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  4. He looks a little grumpy though.

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    1. That's because I woke him up from a nap to take the pictures!!!

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  5. Hey there! I really like your blog and your samples. I just got into knitting so I am having a hard time sometimes. I would really like to see the process also. You share only the finished versions and I sometimes have a difficulty to imagine steps in between. If I won't cause you any trouble please put some in progress photos also. Thanks in advence :)

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    1. Hi there!

      I completely understand that sometimes the middle parts are a bit more difficult to comprehend - I have been trying to incorporate more videos for this reason. Even on patterns where I don't have additional instructions, though, I am around to help, answer questions, and point you to other online resources that might help out! :)

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  6. Hi - I am knitting Rainbow Maze & it is working out beautifully (I have used the yarn & colours that you did) - but I do have one question .... when you say "repeat rows 1-8 until piece measures 8" ", is that from cast on or the beginning of the pattern? I enjoy knitting your designs - thank you ...... Helen

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    1. Hi Helen!

      That's from the cast on! Glad to hear you're enjoying the project and let me know if you have any other questions!!! :)

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    2. Hi Gretchen
      Thank you for answering so quickly. I love the stitch with the combination of colours ...... hopefully I will manage to get my 4 year old grandson to stand still long enough to take a photograph. Thank you again.

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    3. That's always the challenge, isn't it! :)

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  7. Hi Gretchen
    I'm not a confident knitter of hats, so figure this hat would be a challenge for me. I'll have to grab it though as I love the pattern. And thank you for including adult sizes. One question though; wouldn't women also like to wear this hat? I know I would :) And you don't mention them at the start. Anyway, thank you for sharing your talent. It's wonderful.

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    1. Yes, I think this hat is beautiful for both men and women (I would wear it too, if I could get my son's on my head!!!). Anyway I'm glad to hear that you're excited to take on a new challenge and please let me know if you have any questions!!! :)

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  8. Hi Gretchen, if I was to use another combination of colours/would it be 4ply yarn? I love the pattern however I really need to use some yarn in my stash. Your son is beautiful!.

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    1. Hello and thank you! He needs to be cute because he can be a bit of a pain!!! :) Anyway four plys can be different gauges but this particular pattern can be made with a sock weight yarn.

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    2. Ok, thank you, if Idont have stocken guage I'll have to get some with the colours you used.

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    3. Sounds good, let me know if you have any other questions!

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  9. Can this be done on two needles instead of the circular one

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    1. Yes, as long as you convert the pattern for flat knitting. :) Let me know if you need any help with that!

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  10. Hi Gretchen,
    I just started knitting and I absolutely love your patterns. I really would like to make this one for my 2 year old. His head circumference is 19 in. The smallest needles I have is us 6 and us 7. Could I adjust this pattern to still make it with the larger sizes?

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    1. Yes, of course! As long as you cast on a multiple of 6 stitches the pattern will work - you can calculate a cast on number based on that, and then follow length instructions for the correct size. :) And if you need any extra help with a cast on number, let me know your exact gauge and I'll make a recommendation.

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