Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Little Tent Hat

Little Tent Hat

I'm paying the piper with this pattern - and, by "the piper," I mean my eldest son, who has learned that he only needs to bat his sweet little eyes at the yarn store to get almost any fiber he wants (I draw the line at novelty). So, he picked the yarn, and then we picked the pattern together; something whimsical and fun, but that would suit both children and adults. Speaking of which, I've designed this hat in four sizes, which should cover everyone from about 18 months to adult (because - scarily enough - there really isn't that much of a difference in head size). If you need any additional guidance choosing a size, just let me know in the comments! :)

Sizes: Toddler (Child; Teen/Small Adult; Large Adult)

Yarn: Cascade Yarns 128 Superwash (100% Superwash Merino Wool; 128 yards [117 meters]/100 grams); #1952 Blaze - one skein plus a little scrap white for the pompom (oh, and if you're making the adult large hat, you may need 2 skeins to complete the pompom)

A closer view of the little tents
Needles: One 16" circular needle in size US 9, one 16" circular needle in size US 10, and one set of double pointed needles (dpns), also in size US 10

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch marker

Gauge: 14 stitches = 4 inches on size 10 needles 

And now that we know what we're working with, let's get started! Using your size 9 circular needle, then, cast on 60 (66; 72; 78) stitches, place marker, and join in round. Then we'll knit some ribbing to get started, as follows:

Ribbing Row: * k1, p1; rep from *

Knit ribbing row until piece measures 1.5" (1.5"; 2"; 2"). Transfer work to your size 10 circular needle. Then we'll knit one transition row, as follows:

Transition Row: knit

And once that bad boy is done, we'll move on to our main pattern, which is a variation on Little Tent Pattern from page 103 of Barbara G. Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns, and goes as follows. Also, while I've written out a description of the stitch used to create the little tents, I also made a video. You can find it below as well. :)



So we'll work like so:

Row 1: * k3, p3 *

Row 2: * slip 3 stitches with yarn in front (sl3 wyif), k3 *

Row 3: * k3, p3 *

Row 4: * k1, insert needle up behind loose strand and knit next stitch, pulling stitch to front out from under the strand, k4 *

Knit rows 1 - 4 until piece measures roughly 6.5" (7"; 8"; 9") and you've just finished row 3 of the pattern. Then, we'll begin our decrease rows, as follows. Before you begin, though, you'll want to transfer work to your dpns (all sizes) since this is a quick one! Oh, and I'm also including a bonus picture at this point. My other son is sporting the Double Pom Earflap Hat, in case you're dying to make that hat too. 


Anyway, we'll proceed as follows:

Decrease Row 1: * k1, insert needle up behind loose strand and knit next stitch, pulling stitch to front out from under the strand, k1, slip 2 stitches together knitwise-k1-pass 2 slipped stitches over (sl2-k1-p2sso) * (40 stitches (44 stitches; 48 stitches; 52 stitches))

Decrease Row 2: knit

Decrease Row 3: * sl2-k1-p2sso, k1 * (20 stitches (22 stitches; 24 stitches; 26 stitches))

Decrease Row 4: knit

Decrease Row 5: * ssk * (10 stitches (11 stitches; 12 stitches; 13 stitches))

Decrease Row 6 (sizes Toddler & Small Adult): * ssk * (5 stitches (--; 6 stitches; --))

Decrease Row 6 (sizes Child & Large Adult): k1, * ssk * (-- (6 stitches; --; 7 stitches))

Clip yarn tail, thread through remaining stitches, and pull tight. Thread to inside of hat, knot, and tuck in ends. Make pompom, if desired, and affix to top of hat.






26 comments:

  1. Gorgeous orange hat that I would love to make if only I was adept at dpn's....maybe someday. In the meantime, could this possibly be knitted flat without ruining that beautiful stitch? Thank you for any help.
    Alice

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    1. Hi Alice! You can find the modified pattern below. :) As always when I haven't made something myself, I may have some unanticipated conversion problem in there. Let me know if something seems weird, or if you have any questions!

      Using your size 9 straight needles, then, cast on 62 (68; 74; 80) stitches loosely. Then we'll knit some ribbing to get started, as follows:

      Ribbing Row 1(wrong side): p1, * k1, p1; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left in row, end p1
      Ribbing Row 2: k1, * k1, p1 * until you have one stitch left in row, end k1
      Knit ribbing rows 1 & 2 until piece measures 1.5" (1.5"; 2"; 2") and you’ve just finished row 1 of the ribbing. Transfer work to your size 10 needles. Then we'll knit one transition row, as follows:

      Transition Row (right side): knit

      And once that bad boy is done, we'll move on to our main pattern. So we'll work like so:

      Row 1 (wrong side): p1, * k3, p3 * until you have one stitch left in row, end p1

      Row 2: k1, * slip 3 stitches with yarn in front (sl3 wyif), k3 * until you have one stitch left in row, end k1

      Row 3: p1, * k3, p3 * until you have one stitch left in row, end p1

      Row 4: k1, * k1, insert needle up behind loose strand and knit next stitch, pulling stitch to front out from under the strand, k4 * until you have one stitch left in row, end k1

      Knit rows 1 - 4 until piece measures roughly 6.5" (7"; 8"; 9") and you've just finished row 3 of the pattern. Then, we'll begin our decrease rows, as follows.
      Anyway, we'll proceed as follows:

      Decrease Row 1 (right side): k1, * k1, insert needle up behind loose strand and knit next stitch, pulling stitch to front out from under the strand, k1, slip 2 stitches together-k1-pass 2 slipped stitches over (sl2-k1-p2sso) * until you have 1 stitch left in row, end k1 (42 stitches (46 stitches; 50 stitches; 55 stitches))

      Decrease Row 2: purl

      Decrease Row 3: k1, * sl2-k1-p2sso, k1 * until you have 1 stitch left in row, end k1 (22 stitches (24 stitches; 26 stitches; 28 stitches))

      Decrease Row 4: purl

      Decrease Row 5: k1, * ssk * until you have 1 stitch left in row, end k1 (12 stitches (13 stitches; 14 stitches; 15 stitches))

      Decrease Row 6 (sizes Toddler & Small Adult): p1, * p2tog * until you have 1 stitch left in row, end p1 (7 stitches (--; 8 stitches; --))

      Decrease Row 6 (sizes Child & Large Adult): p2, * p2tog * until you have 1 stitch left in row, end p1 (-- (8 stitches; --; 9 stitches))

      Clip yarn tail, and thread remaining stitches to scrap of yarn to hold for later. Seam hat from bottom ribbing, threading your seaming thread through remaining crown stitches when you reach them. Pull tight, thread to inside of hat, knot, and tuck in ends. Make pompom, if desired, and affix to top of hat.

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  2. Love the hat - love the color - love that he gets excited over you making him knitted items! Too sweet... Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

    Linda in VA

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    1. Yeah, he's convinced I can make anything! I enjoy it while I can. :) And Happy Thanksgiving to you as well!!!

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  3. Thank you for the straight needles modification. I will give it a try soon!

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    1. You're very welcome! Let me know if you have any questions. :)

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  4. I love this hat. Your video for the tents was super helpful. Thank you. I have knitted one hat so far but I'm not sure I started the decrease correctly. I don't understand what you are discribing in row one "insert needle up behind loose strand and knit next stitch, pulling stitch to front out from under the strand, ". I'm new to knitting so I don't understand what you mean by "loose strand" .

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    1. Hi there!

      I'm just describing another tent! :) Since you should have stopped the regular pattern right after row 3, you have your long slipped stitch from row 2 that still needs to be tentified. That's all I'm instructing you to do with that language in the first row of the decrease. Anyway, let me know if you have any other questions! I'm always happy to help, and I understand that everyone has to start somewhere. :)

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    2. Oh, haha that makes sense to me now. Wow, that went right over my head. Thank you for the quick reply :)

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    3. No worries, just let me know if you have any other questions!

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  5. Have you ever put out a list of yarn substitutions for your patterns. Where I live Hobby Lobby is the only place to buy yarn, and they don't carry the brands you are using, plus I have'nt seen a DK yarn .Since most of my hats are given away to charity I don't pay attention to gauge, but occasionally I want a perfect. Thank you

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    1. Hi there! No, I've never done a substitution list, in part because there's simply so much different stuff available! However, I am happy to answer questions about any of my patterns. For this one most chunky/bulky weight yarns should do - the biggest thing to look for is a yarn that is at least part wool, and not 100% acrylic. It's the natural fiber that allows the hat to retain its shape, after all, instead of getting stretched out with wear. And if you have any specific yarn you're wondering about, let me know! I can look anything up as well. :)

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  6. Which size do you recommend for a 3 yr old, toddler or child? Thank you for sharing this pattern and video.
    Karen

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    1. Hi Karen!

      Age 3 is kind of on the cusp between the two sizes, so here's my recommendation. If the child has a larger-than-average head (like my giant-headed children), just go with child size! If not, cast on for the toddler hat but then knit the length instructions for the child sized hat - that way they won't outgrow it too soon!!! :)

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    2. Thanks for the great suggestion! By the way, I absolutely love the Rainbow Maze hat. Sadly the yarn that you used is unavailable where I live. Do you think that hat could be made using two solid colors? Also, I just wanted to thank you for sharing your amazing patterns!
      Karen

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    3. I'm always happy to help! :) And I still love the Rainbow Maze hat too (especially if I can get my little one to wear it). Anyway, yes, it would definitely look good in two solid colors as well, just not so stripey horizontally! :)

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    4. Thanks! Can't wait to make both of these hats!
      Karen

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    5. Wonderful! Let me know if you have any more questions!!! :)

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  7. In the decrease rows, should stitches be slipped knit-wise or purl-wise?

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    1. Hi! If you're talking about the sl2-k1-p2sso, they should be slipped together knitwise. I'll update the pattern to reflect that, and let me know if that's not what you meant! :)

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  8. Hi there. I can't wait to knit this hat for my boys. Just wondering about gauge recommendation - should the swatch be knitted in pattern? Thanks, Bonnie

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    1. Hi Bonnie!

      Glad you like the pattern! :) And stockinette is fine!

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  9. Hi Gretchen,

    Just finished knitting a red version of the hat for my 3 year old. He looooves it! Thanks again for the lovely pattern; I had fun knitting it.

    Bonnie

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    1. Yay!!! So glad everything worked out well. Hope he continues to enjoy the hat! :)

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  10. Hi. My 2nd grader has a big noggin - 21 in usually puts him on the cusp of child/teen. I'm thinking I should go ahead and make him the teen size - but I'm unsire since teen is combined with small adult. What do you think?

    My 2yo also measures 19.5 inches so I was thinking of making him the child size. We love in the south so I like hats to last more than a year, since we only wear them a few times.

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    1. Hi there!

      In my opinion, hat sizing is pretty flexible, since there isn't *that* big of a difference between a child's head size and an adult's, and knitting, even when 100% perfectly gauged, tends to grow/change a bit. Long story short, I would go ahead with the teen size for your son, but maybe make it 1/2" to 1" shorter if you're worried about it being too big.

      I also agree with your decision on your 2yo - I always make too-big hats for my kids, and they've never complained! :)

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