Wednesday, April 2, 2014

A Lucky Christmas Hat

It's the most wonderful time of the year... because it is cold outside and you can make lots of winter accessories!  I knew that it would be odd if I didn't make little Lucky a hat for Christmas.  I searched around for the perfect elfish hat, and was thrilled when I came across the  Red, White, & Ewe Santa Hat


I decided to knit this hat in KnitPicks Wool of the Andes worsted weight wool on size 6 needles, similar to the pumpkin hat and turkey hat that I made Lucky.   I chose to use yarns in Jalepeno and White because I had these yarns in my stash.  (Hurrah for stashbusting!) 

This adorable striped hat comes calls for casting on 70 sts and then knitting in 2x2 ribbing.  This sizing should work great because the pumpkin newborn hat had 60 sts, and while it still fits 8 week old lucky it is getting a little short.  The turkey hat had 64 sts cast on.  However someone commented that this requires multiples of 4, so I cast on 68 stitches for my hat and then only decreased 8 sts on the first decrease round to get to 60 sts.

Unfortunately the pattern doesn't provide the cool uneven striping pattern they showed, so I'll share the striping pattern I used below.  I wanted to make my striping joggless (so you don't see where the rows began.)  I achieved this by using the traveling joggless stripe method


Lucky's Stripes
  • Ribbing - all white.  7 rows, just over 1" in length. 
  • 4 rows green (stockinette)
  • 2 rows white
  • 2 rows green
  • 1 white
  • 2 green
  • 3 white
  • 4 green
  • 4 white.  Measures a bit over 4".  Start decreases on the next green round.
  • 4 green.  *K6, K2tog, K7, K2tog.* across for 60 sts.  This is decrease round 1, follow the rest of the pattern as written.   
  • 3 white
  • 2 green
  • 1 white
  • 3 green
  • 4 white
  • 1 green
  • 2 white
  • 4 green 
  • 4 white
  • 3 green
  • 1 white
  • 2 green
  • 2 white
  • 1 green
  • 3 white
  • 2 green
The base of the hat is 10" long, tassels are 6.5" long.


 I have never used a pompom maker, I've always used cardboard or something that I cut out myself.  I purchased these pompom makers specifically for this hat, hoping that they would make the whole process easier. I chose the 1-5/8" diameter. 


I twisted the two i-cords around each other and then tied the ends together.  They will stay twisted because I wrapped them around each other rather than twisting them together.  I then tied the pompom onto the ends, and Voila, a lovely little elf hat for my little Lucky. 


Once again, I'm waiting for Lucky to wake up from his nap so I can try the hat on him. I wish that I had used a yarn with a bit more drape so it would flop over better.  I can always tack a side down if I need to...  


Shown on 2 month old Lucky (2 days shy of 2 month birthday!)

I'm not sure I'll be able to make Lucky a special hat for every holiday, but I know that I'll try as long as I can!  And what would you know, Google+ autoawesomed Lucky's picture!  Enjoy the sparkles!