Our chunky rainbow stocking cap hat pattern is the perfect newborn photography prop. This free knitting pattern will give you all the details to make this hat in sizes newborn and baby.
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Although our patterns are always free on our blog, many prefer our premium ad-free, printer friendly, PDF versions. These are available to purchase HERE.
Supplies:
Yarn – Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick (Super Bulky 6). One ball of each color. Colors: Cranberry, Pumpkin, Mustard, Grass, Sky Blue (or Air Force), Cobalt (or Denim), Fig.
Order online: (Lion Brand) (Amazon USA) (Amazon Canada) (Michaels) (Love Crafts)
Needles – US 13/9mm or whichever size needed to obtain gauge. Size US 13/9mm circular needles, 16” long and US 13/9mm double pointed needles for the decrease
Darning needle, stitch marker, measuring tape and scissors.
Gauge:
4” x 4” = 9 stitches and 12 rows in stocking stitch (same as pattern). I recommend using US 13 needles, but if you are a loose knitter you may need to drop down to US 11 or go up to US 15 for tighter knitters.
Be sure to check your gauge to ensure the hat will fit your little one properly.
Abbreviations:
K = Knit
P = Purl
K2tog = Knit two together
Sizes:
Newborn, 0-3 Months.
Colors:
Cast on with Cranberry. Switch to pumpkin when you finish the ribbing and start the K all rows. Continue switching colors every 5 rows as you work up the hat in the following order: Cranberry (ribbing), Pumpkin, Mustard, Grass, Sky Blue, Cobalt, Fig.
Tip – When I knit my hats using stripes or color changes I like to use the Jogless Stripes method to switch colors. If this is unfamiliar to you, there are some great tutorials on YouTube and Pinterest that you may want to check out to see if you’d like to include it in your work.
Directions:
Newborn:
Cast on 24 stitches on your circular needle.
Join.
Begin by working *K1 P1; repeat from * to the end of the round – for 4 rounds.
K all for 6 rounds.
Decrease: *K2, K2together; repeat from * to end.
K all two rows.
Repeat the last three rows (1 decrease row, 2 K all rows) until you have 6 stitches left. Depending on the number of stitches, on some decrease rows you will not have enough stitches to complete the last full set of *K2, K2together; repeat from * to end. That is ok! Work through the decrease with the number of stitches you have until you come to the last stitch and then move on to the K all 2 rows.
Once you have 6 stitches remaining – K all until you have finished the 5 rows of each color in the rainbow design.
Cut yarn and weave through the remaining stitches. Insert the tail into the hat through the middle opening and pull to close up the top. Secure the tail tightly on the inside and weave in the end. Make pompom using a pompom maker and attach to the top of the hat or tie the end of the hat. To make the pompom as shown, take the end piece of each 7 colors of yarn. Wrap these 7 colors around the pompom maker as a group. If you do one piece at a time the colors will not be spread out evenly throughout the pompom. Cut and trim your pompom and attach to the end of the hat.
0-3 Months
Cast on 26 stitches on your circular needle.
Join.
Begin by working *K1 P1; repeat from * to the end of the round – for 4 rounds.
K all for 7 rounds.
Decrease: *K2, K2together; repeat from * to last 2 stitches.
K all two rows.
Repeat the last three rows (1 decrease row, 2 K all rows) until you have 6 stitches left. Depending on the number of stitches, on some decrease rows you will not have enough stitches to complete the last full set of *K2, K2together; repeat from * to end. That is ok! Work through the decrease with the number of stitches you have until you come to the last stitch and then move on to the K all 2 rows.
Once you have 6 stitches remaining – K all until you finish using the 7 colors in the pattern.
Cut yarn and weave through the remaining stitches. Insert the tail into the hat through the middle opening and pull to close up the top. Secure the tail tightly on the inside and weave in the end. Make pompom using a pompom maker and attach to the top of the hat or tie the end of the hat. To make the pompom as shown, take the end piece of each 7 colors of yarn. Wrap these 7 colors around the pompom maker as a group. If you do one piece at a time the colors will not be spread out evenly throughout the pompom. Cut and trim your pompom and attach to the end of the hat.
Although our patterns are always free on our blog, many prefer our premium ad-free, printer friendly, PDF versions. These are available to purchase HERE.
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You have permission to sell items made with this pattern but credit must be given to the designer in any online listings/websites:
Pattern Credit: www.foxandpinestitches.com
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