Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Cloudy Rainbow Hat Pattern


I wanted to make a chunky handspun hat for my baby for a long time.  I considered making one for when Rowdy was a newborn, but knew he would outgrow it fast so hoped to have one that would last more than a week or two.  I am thrilled to present you with the Chunky "Cloudy Rainbow" hat!  This is a simple design that would work well with many different chunky but lends itself especially well to hand dyed yarns.


Materials

  • 34 yards Super Bulky Yarn (The sample used 22 yards 4.5 WPI Super Bulky handspun, 12 yards of KnitPicks White Tuff Puff. One 100g ball of Tuff Puff would be enough to create this hat.)
  • 22 yards worsted weight yarn (The sample is handspun 11 WPI worsted weight yarn. This yardage includes yarn used in the pompoms.)
  • Size 15 (10 mm) double pointed knitting needles or circular needles with a cable long enough for the magic loop.  
  • Pompom maker (optional)
  • Gauge: 7 sts/4" stockinette
  • Finished Size: 9 month

My HANDSPUN YARNS - I dyed one fiber, sprinkled with dry KoolAid, and then spun it in two different ways.  

Abbreviations used in this pattern

  • K - Knit
  • P - Purl
  • St/Sts - Stitch/Stitches

The Cloudy Rainbow Hat Pattern - Simplified version for a single super bulky yarn (Size 9 months)

  • Cast on 28 stitches with the backwards loop cast on.  
  • Knit 24 rows or until the hat measures 7.5" from the cast on edge.
  • Divide stitches onto two needles (The first 14 stitches on one needle and the second 14 stitches on a second) and graft closed with the Kitchener stitch.  
  • Weave in any loose ends
  • Create two pompoms out of the remaining worsted weight yarn (or whatever yarn desired) and sew them to the corners of the square shaped hat.  

The Cloudy Rainbow Hat Pattern - As shown in the sample (Size 9 months)

  • Cast on 28 stitches with the backwards loop cast on.  
  • Knit 17 rounds in handspun chunky rainbow yarn (Or really until you run out of your handspun yarn.)
  • Next round: Holding the worsted handpun yarn together with the white Chunky Yarn, knit 7 rounds.
    The hat before grafting
  • Divide stitches onto two needles (The first 14 stitches on one needle and the second 14 stitches on a second) and graft closed with the Kitchener stitch.
    The stitches are divided in half before I grafted the top edge together.
  • Weave in any loose ends

  • Create two pompoms out of the remaining worsted weight yarn and sew them to the corners of the square shaped hat.  



Modify this pattern for other head sizes - Cloudy rainbow is a really simple design.  You knit a tube and then graft the top together with the kitchener stitch. Here are some tips on how you can resize the pattern to make one for any age.  

  1. Measure your head (ex - 20") or determine the desired circumfrence measurement of your hat (Find a knit hat size chart here.)  
  2. Check your gauge.  (ex - 7 sts/4") 
  3. Multiply your head size by your gauge (ex - 20" * 7 sts/4" = 35 sts).  This is the number of stitches you should cast on.  For easy grafting at the end, add a stitch to cast on an even number.  
  4. Knit until the hat is long enough and graft closed as written in the directions.  How do you know the hat is long enough?  You should be able to divide the stitches onto two needles and hold them closed while the hat is on your head.  This length ends up being at least the length from the crown  of a head to the base of the ear as measured on many size charts.  


I really like designs that make people smile, and I cannot help but grin whenever I see Rowdy rocking this hat.  I hope that you enjoy it, too!


These knitting pattern was created by ChemKnits for your personal or charity use. You are not to sell, distribute or reprint this pattern without the permission of ChemKnits. © 2016 ChemKnits