A Patterned Helmet to Match Baby’s Mittens

This cap, with a button at the chin and ear flaps, is based on a little Danish helmet belonging to my children. It can be made in Fox and Geese or any of the other double-knit patterns in this section. The helmet can either have a smooth crown or be topped with a little knot of I-cord as a cute finishing touch. (However, this does make the helmet less convenient under a hood.)

Although the numbers below may look scary, this is a simple pattern with no increases or decreases in the color-patterned portion. The seeming excess of numbers makes it possible to knit the helmet with any color pattern in this book.

The examples shown are in Chipman’s Check and Fox and Geese.

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This cap can be made in any of the patterns in this section. There are no increases or decreases in the patterned portion, so the trick is to get the correct multiple for the pattern you wish to use. The examples shown here are in Chipman’s Check and two-colored Fox and Geese.

A Patterned Helmet to Match Baby’s Mittens

Yarn MC 1.5 oz (42.75g) sport weight yarn

• CC .75 oz (21.5g) sport weight yarn

• CCa (for 3-colored Fox and Geese only) about 6 yards.

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Equipment 1 set Size 2 (2.75mm, Can. Size 12) double-pointed needles for ribbing • For Fox and Geese, Salt and Pepper, and Sawtooth: 1 set Size 4 (3.5mm, Can. Size 9 or 10) double-pointed needles, or size you need to knit in pattern at correct tension • For Stripes, Spruce, or Checkerboard: 1 set Size 5 (3.75mm, Can. Size 9) double-pointed needles, or size you need to knit in pattern at correct tension

Size E or F crochet hook • 12 ” (30cm) contrasting waste yarn • Small, blunt-tipped yarn needle • One ⅜” (9.5mm) button

Tension 8.5 sts = 1 ” (2.5cm) in pattern

ABBREVIATIONS beg: beginning • CC: contrast color • dec(s): decrease(s) • inc(s): increase(s) • k: knit • k2tog: knit 2 together • MI: make 1 stitch • MIL: make 1 stitch left • MIR: make 1 stitch right • MC: main color • p: purl • rep: repeat • rnd(s): round(s) • SSK2tog: slip, slip, knit 2 sts together • st(s): stitch(es) • twisted MI: twisted make 1 cast-on

Measurements—inches and centimeters

0–6 months 6 months–1 year 2–4 years
Head circumference 14 16 18
35.5 40.5 45.75

Pattern

See the mitten directions for the pattern you wish to use and read the accompanying pattern notes. This cap is knit from the top down.

Top of crown For a smooth crown, cast on Distribute sts evenly on 3 smaller double-pointed needles. K 1 rnd even. For an I-cord on top, cast on 5 sts. K even around until work measures 1½” (3.75cm). Inc: K1, M1 (p. 20) on all needles. Total 10 sts. Work 1 rnd even. Inc: K2, M1 on all needles. Total: 15 sts. Work 1 rnd even. Work 1 rnd and inc, evenly spaced Body of cap Both versions: Rnd 2: Inc by k1, M1 to end of rnd. Rnds 3 through 5: K1, p1 ribbing. Rnd 6: Inc in every st. Rnds 7 through 11: K1, p1 ribbing. Rnd 12: Inc in every st until there are or the closest number that works for the rep of the pattern you have chosen. (Divide pattern rep into number of sts and add or subtract sts as necessary to come out even.) For patterns based on a multiple of 6 sts, add 2 more sts in the next rnd for Size 6 months – 1 year only. Rnds 13 and 14: K1, p1 even. Change to larger needles and stockinette. K 1 rnd MC (or CCb for Fox and Geese pattern). Start pattern, reading chart from lower right. Work pattern for or as near as possible while completing a band of pattern. Finish with 1 rnd MC (or CCa for Fox and Geese pattern). Change back to smaller needles and k1, p1 for 6 rnds (the edge of the cap). Total: Total: Total: (inches) (cm) 0–6 months 15 sts — 15 sts 30 sts 60 sts 120 sts 2⅝ 6.75 6 months–1 year 2–4 years 17 sts 20 sts 2 sts 5 sts 17 sts 20 sts 34 sts 40 sts 68 sts 80 sts 136 sts 156 sts 3 3½ 7.5 9
Bind off for face and back of cap Think of the cap as divided in 7 equal pie slices, 2 for the face, 1 for the back and 2 for each ear flap. You will bind off all but the 4 parts for the ear flaps. At beg of rnd, bind off for the back For first ear flap, k1, p1 for For front, bind off For second ear flap, k1, p1 for Note: For Fox and Geese pattern, add 1 more st to each ear tab in Size 6 months – 1 year only. On second ear flap, continue ribbing back and forth, decreasing 1 st at beg of every row until the flap, below the bound-off edge, measures Dec 1 st both ends every row until remain. Continue to rib back and forth an additional Bind off, leaving a 6 ” (15cm) tail. Rep on the other ear flap, but do NOT break yarn after binding off. Button loop and edging Using tail left over from knitting, crochet a button loop on the end of the second ear flap. Single crochet around the edge of the entire cap. When you reach the button loop, single crochet around this too, making it stronger. Sew button on the other ear flap. Finishing the cap Turn cap inside out and darn all ends into the back of the fabric. Using the tail from casting on and a yarn needle, catch up all the cast-on sts and draw them up firmly so there’s no hole in the top of the cap. Darn invisibly and smoothly back and forth over the top. If you started with an I-cord, sew its end closed and hide the cast-on tail inside. Tie the I-cord in an overhand knot. Trim ends closely. (inches) (cm) (inches) (cm) 0–6 months 6 months–1 year 2–4 years 17 sts 19 sts 22 sts 34 sts 39 sts 45 sts 35 sts 39 sts 44 sts 34 sts 39 sts 45 sts 2 2¼ 2½ 5 5.5 6.5 8 sts 10 sts 10 sts 1½ 1¾ 2 3.75 4.5 5