Pumpkin Pixie Hat

Dress up your little one for autumn using this festive Pumpkin Pixie Hat! What I love most about free knitting patterns for hats, beside how easy they are, is that they're great projects to take with you on-the-go.

Intermediate

Knitting Needle Size8 or 5 mm, Circular Knitting Needles, Double-Pointed Knitting Needles (DPNs)

Yarn Weight(4) Medium Weight/Worsted Weight and Aran (16-20 stitches to 4 inches)

SIZES
Infant (Toddler, Child)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Circumference: 16 (18 1/4, 20)"
Note: Hat will stretch up to 2" in circumference.

MATERIALS

Stitch.Rock.Love. Sheep(ish) from Caron (70% Acrylic/30% Wool; 3oz/85g, 167yds/153m)
- #0014 Coral(ish) (A): 1 skein
- #0020 Chartreuse(is) (B): 1 skein
One size U.S. 8 (5mm) circular needle, 16”/40.5cm long
One set of five size U.S. 8 (5mm) double-pointed needles (dpns)
Stitch marker
Yarn needle

GAUGE
In Stockinette stitch, 18 sts and 24 rows = 4"/10cm

STITCHES USED
Garter Stitch: Knit 1 rnd, purl 1 rnd when working in the rnd; knit all rows when working back and forth.

SPECIAL TECHNIQUE
I-cord: Using a double-pointed needle, cast on the number of sts indicated in instructions; DO NOT TURN. *Slide sts to the opposite end of the needle and knit them, pulling yarn firmly behind sts; rep from * to desired length. After a few rows, you will see that you are knitting a tiny tube; give it a gentle tug now and then to adjust any loose sts. Bind off all sts, leaving a 2"/5cm tail for finishing.

STRIPE PATTERN
Working in St st (knit every rnd), [work 4 rnds B, 2 rnds A] twice, *work 2 rnds B, 2 rnds A; rep from * for Stripe Pattern.

HAT
With circ needle and A, CO 72 (82, 90) sts. Join to work in the rnd, taking care not to twist sts; place marker at beginning of rnd.

Work in Garter st for 6 rnds.

Change to St st and Stripe Pattern; work even for 19 (19, 23) rnds.

Shape Crown

Note: Change to dpns when necessary for number of sts on needle.

Dec Rnd 1: Continuing in Stripe Pattern, *k2tog, k4; rep from * to last 6 (4, 6) sts, k2tog, k4 (2, 4)–60 (68, 75) sts. Knit 2 rnds.

Dec Rnd 2: *K3, k2tog; rep from * to last 0 (3, 0) sts, k0 (3, 0)–48 (55, 60) sts. Knit 1 rnd.

Dec Rnd 3: *K2tog, k2; rep from * to last 0 (3, 0) sts, k0 (3, 0)–36 (41, 45) sts. Knit 1 rnd.

Dec Rnd 4: *K2tog, k1; rep from * to last 0 (2, 0) sts, k0 (2, 0)–24 (28, 30) sts. Knit 1 rnd.

Dec Rnd 5: *K2tog; rep from * to end–12 (14, 15) sts. Discontinuing Stripe Pattern and continuing in B, knit 3 rnds.

Dec Rnd 6: *K2tog; rep from * to last 0 (0, 1) st(s), k0 (0, 1)–6 (7, 8) sts. Knit 3 rnds.

Change to A; knit 3 rnds.

Break yarn, weave through remaining sts, cinch shut on WS.

EARFLAPS (make 2)
Fold Hat in half widthwise, with beginning of rnd at fold line. Mark center of each side of Hat for center of Earflap. With RS facing, dpns and A, pick up and knit 5 sts on either side of one center marker–10 sts. Knit 5 rows.

Dec Row: Ssk, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog–8 sts. Knit 3 rows.

Rep Dec Row every other row 3 times–2 sts. Continuing with remaining sts, make a 11"/28cm length of I-cord. BO all sts. Trim tail.

FINISHING
Using yarn needle, weave in ends.