A Sun Hat

A Sun Hat

This hat was whipped up in one night when I needed something a bit more picture worthy for a trip to the zoo. My son’s head was small and I had nothing to fit him or protect him from the bright sun. Plus, I always have the need to put the poor kid in something handmade.

*This pattern was not tested by knitters. I only have worked on the two smaller sizes to decide on stitches and fabric density. I would LOVE to have your links, notes, or ideas to your hats so other knitters can have more inspiration. This pattern is very basic and would be really fun and easy to bling it up!

You need to be able to:
-knit in the round
-use double pointed needles
-perform a three needle bind-off
-weave in ends
-knit an icord/crochet chain Abbreviations:
* repeat until end/change in pattern
sts - stitch(es)dpn - double pointed needle M1F-make one front -with the left needle, lift the loop between the sts through the front; knit into the back of the loop
tog - together 
nb - newborn


Sizes will be listed as a circumference for a newborn (14”) , small (16”) , med (18”), large (20”). Please use judgment for positive ease with your measurements. Natural materials will tend to “grow” so you may need to work a few less sts. to get a good snug fit.

Materials:
US 5 16” needles
US 7 16” needles
US 5 or 7 dpn (either size will work for top of hat)
darning needle, place marker

Wool: up to 4 oz. skein worsted wool 120, (140, 160,180) yards **always plan for more
Worsted weight superwash wool is what this pattern is based off of. I personally would not do a heavier weight wool for summer time use. DK would work with a gauge change as would a double stranded sock yarn. Please keep in mind that knit is “porous” and would not protect 100% against the sun’s harmful rays.

Gauge: 5 sts per inch. on size US 7 needles.

Construction

Brim-

CO 85 (92, 99, 113) with US 7 16” circular needles using the long tail cast on. Do this a bit more loose than you normally do as you will use your edge for the three needle bind off.

Once you are ready to join the round, knit one sts and immediately cast it off and place your marker. You have now sealed your round and are ready to knit.

-Knit for 1 3/4”(2”, 2.5”, 2.5”) or whatever length you want the brim to be

-Knit one row of purl for turning

-Continue to knit the same amount of rows/inches 1 3/4”(2”, 2.5”, 2.5”) as you did the first half of your brim. It helps to make a tally as you go so you have the same number of rows on each side.

-To seal your brim, perform a three needle bind off (but keeping stitches live)
Looking at the cast on edge, you will see a row or sts that look like a chain; they run horizontally and are in the “middle” of the two loops. You will pick up each chain loop, one sts at a time using a dpn ( a size 4 works great). Holding that needle with the picked sts parallel and to the back of the live sts on the left circular needle, use the right circular needle to knit both the sts on the left circular needle and the picked up sts on the dpn together. Continue around until all the sts from the cast on edge are knitted together with the sts from the circular needle.
(This has been confusing in the past as I use the term Three Needle Bind Off.  After looking for more examples, it seems the community has different names for the same technique.  You are simply taking live stitches from two needles and knitting them together to form one new row of stitches on one needle)
For a pictorial demonstration, see my Flickr page or look on you-tube :)

Turning the hat: Switch to a size US5 needle
Row 1: decrease:
- nb knit 6, knit 2tog, *knit 5 knit 2tog* to the last 8 sts, knit 6 knit 2tog
- all other sizes *knit 5, knit 2tog*

-Row 2: Purl 2tog*

-Row 3: *knit 1, M1F*

-Row 4 to top of hat:
knit rib pattern *2 sts knit, 2 sts purl* until hat measures from “Row 3”
nb -2” of rib pattern
small -2.5” rib pattern
medium -3” rib pattern
large -3-3.5” rib pattern

-When you have reached your desired height work one row of purl. If you had to adjust your hat’s circumference, use the last row of ribbing to make your total number of sts divisible by 7. You are working your hat for 7 decreases evenly spaced across your row.

Top of hat:
-Begin knitting the hat at even spaced decreases of 7. (i.e. knit 11, knit 2tog around)
-Knit one row around
Repeat these two rounds until there are 49 sts remaining on the needles. You will have changed to dpn sometime during this decrease.

-Continue working every round in the decrease row pattern until there are 7 sts left on your needles. Cut the yarn with a 12” tail. Use a darning needle and run the yarn through the remaining live sts and pull tight. Secure and weave in ends.

Drawstring: (optional)

Cast on 3 sts and knit an icord until you have reached the length you would like to use to attach the hat to the child. For example, 28” is sufficient for a newborn sized hat.
If you prefer to crochet a simple chain, I would recommend to double up the yarn or do a double chain icord.

Run the icord through the holes created in the MIF row.

Please use judgment when using strings to attach hats on small children.

Wash and block and you are done!

**you are more than welcome to knit for a profit using this pattern. Just be kind and recognize me as the author of it! Happy knitting! **

Additional Ideas:
do intarsia on the body of the hat (but decrease the size to make up for the ribbing)
embroider flowers or other shapes
add knitted 3D flowers or stars to hat brim
use decorative ribbon instead of the optional icord string
use scraps up!
textured stitches
knit through the back of the ribbing stitches to give it a new dimension