Been there, done hats

Well, it's pretty much hats off for the coming summer. … But not for babies!

Needle-knit sun hat by my friend, Donna, for lil miss CB. Sorry girly, you still gotta wear a hat to protect your barely-hairy head.

Baby hats are quick and little projects for that summer knitting. So let's share loom-knit head toppers! First two were for newly borns in March.

Haven stripe hat

• 31-peg large-gauge loom (red Knifty Knitter)
• 3 colors of double-stranded worsted yarn

Crochet cast on 31 pegs.

Brim: With Color A, K2 P2 stitches for 8 rows (about 1 inch).

Stockinette stripe: With Color B, K all stitches for 8 rows.

Seed stripe: Change to Color C.

Row 1: K1 P1 all stitches

Row 2: P1 K1 all stitches

Repeat 2 rows three more times for 8 rows total.

Stockinette stripe: With Color A, K all stitches for 8 rows.

Seed stripe: Change to Color B and repeat seed-stitch pattern for 8 rows.

Stockinette stripe: With Color C, K all stitches for 8 rows.

Rib stripe: With Color A, K2 P2 stitches for 8 rows or until the hat measures about 7 inches in depth.

Do a gathered bind-off. Add a pompon. 

Carmen skull hat

• 31-peg large-gauge loom (red Knifty Knitter)
• Main color was a double-stranded worsted; second color was a bulky

Crochet cast-on 31 pegs in Main Color.

Brim: K2 P2 for about 1 inch.

Knit all for 2 rows.

For 15 rows, follow the skull pattern by Polar Knit with a couple adjustments to the diagram. (PDF link now works in case it didn't on your previous visit!)

1. I added a white stitch at Row 15, Stitch 10. This helped me carry the white yarn through. You might want to do the same in the skull area of Row 13 but I did not and just made sure to tighten and knot the main color yarn across that colorwork once I was done.

2. I repeat Stitch 10 on Peg 31.

After finishing the skull section, K all rows until hat measures about 7 inches. Go a little shorter for newborns. Add a pompon if you want.

CB's winter flower hat

I did not knit this hat. My creative sister, Tracy, loom-knit it herself and has given me permission to share her secrets. She used the e-wrap knit and double-layered the hat. It probably was loose enough to last a 6-month-old CB another winter but the length would be a little short. So if you like the idea, knit just a bit longer!

• 36-peg large-gauge loom (green Knifty Knitter)
• Two color-coordinated worsted yarns

E-wrap cast on 31 pegs with 2 strands.

E-wrap knit for almost 7 inches. Drop 1 strand of yarn. 

Knit 7 more inches to double the length.

Bring the loops of the first row back up to their corresponding pegs. Knit over.

Gathered bind off. The hat is now double-layered!

Flower: My sister winged it with the flower. Here is what she has to say: "For the flower I think I just knit 3 small sections and fashioned them into petals with stitching. I kind of free-formed it so I don't remember exactly what I did now." She cast on 4 stitches and purled the outside stitches for each row (P K K P) for about 3 inches each.

Basic bunny hat

Let's hop along to Easter, when I turned CB into a quick-knit bunny. This is an alternate version to my Bunny Baby Hat pattern. Simpler hat, almost double the work for the ears.

• 36-peg large-gauge loom (green Knifty Knitter)
• Bulky cotton yarn for main color; furry bulky yarn for inner bunny ears

HAT

With main color, do a gathered cast-on for 36 stitches. (PDF directions for cast-on created by Brenda Myers)

Knit about 6 inches in stockinette.

Brim: K2 P2 for about 1 inch.

Yarn-over bindoff.

EARS

You will be making 4 ear parts. Two outer and two slightly smaller inner ears. Inner ear numbers are in () and use the furry bulky yarn.

E-wrap cast on 8 (6) inches.

Knit all for 20 (18) rows, increasing both sides every 10 (9) rows.

Knit 20 (18) rows. Decrease both sides on Row 20 (18).

Decrease both sides every 3 rows until just 1 stitch remains. Bind off. Sew the smaller ears onto the large ears with yarn of your choice.

Wow, typing up these patterns from months past was far beyond a hat trick. I hope they inspire you like the dino hats inspired a group of knitters (Knitting Rays of Hope) who donate to cancer centers.

Now it's time to hit the road ... to bed. 

Hats all, folks!