Pattern - Mini Santa Hat

 
I offered to make Daddy a matching Santa hat as well but he declined, strange that, perhaps he just thought he couldn't pull it off like we do!  I made my own hat by adapting a pattern I designed a few years ago and wrote the little one especially for Jem.  Below you'll find instructions for the baby hat that should fit size approximately 6-12 months, I'm hoping to upload the adult size pattern to my Etsy shop soon, probably not in time for Christmas but it looks great all winter long in a plain colour.   

This pattern is knitted in the round on double pointed needles, try not the let that put you off if you've never tried it before, it feels really tricky to start off with but once you've mastered it you'll never want to go back - no annoying seams to sew up and a really neat finish.

Santa Hat – Age 6-12 Months

Materials

• King Cole Magnum Chunky – 1 Ball Red, 1 Ball White 
• Pom Pom maker (optional) 
• 6mm Double Pointed Needles 
• 8mm Double Pointed Needles
• Cable needle  
• Stitch marker
• Large needle for securing top of hat and attaching Pompom

Abbreviations

K = Knit
P = Pearl 
C4B = Cable 4 backwards; Slip the next 2 stitches onto a cable needle, leave at the back of the work, K2 then K2 from the cable needle 
C10B = Cable 10 backwards; Slip the next 5 stitches onto a cable needle, leave at the back of the work, K5, then K5 from the cable needle 
P2tog = pearl 2 together 
K2tog = Knit 2 together
K2togtbl = Knit 2 together through back of loop 
K3tog = Knit 3 together 
DVdec = Double Vertical Decrease; insert right needle knitwise into first 2 stitches on left needle and slip these 2 stitches together onto right needle, knit next stitch, then insert left needle through 2 slipped stitches and pass them over stitch just knitted and off right needle (this decrease is worked over 3 stitches and decreases by 2 stitches)

Pattern

Using white and 6mm double pointed needles:
Cast on 54 stitches in white and divide equally between 3 needles, place stitch marker to mark beginning of the row.
1-7. (K3, P3) x 9 
8. Knit 
Change to 8mm needles and change colour, continue in red:
1. Knit
2&3. (K10, P2, K4, P2) x 3
4. (K10, P2, C4B, P2) x 3 
5-7. As row 2
8. (C10B, P2, K4, P2) x 3
9. As row 2
10.  (K10, P2, C4B, P2) x 3
11-15. As row 2
16.   (K10, P2, C4B, P2) x 3
17. As row 2
Begin decrease:
18. (C10B, P2tog, K4, P2tog) x 3 (48)
19.  (K10, P1, K4, P1) x 3 (48)
20. (K1, DVdec, K2, DVdec, K1, P1, K4, P1) x 3 (36)
21. (K6, P1, K4, P1) x 3 (36)
22. (DVdec x 2, P1, C4B, P1) x 3 (24)
23. (K2, P1, K4, P1) x 3 (24)
24. (K2, P1, K2togtbl, K2tog, P1) x 3 (18)
25. (K2, P1) x 6 (18)
26. (K2tog, P1) x 6 (12)
27. (K1, P1) x 6 (12)
28. (K3tog) x 4 (4)  
Cut yarn leaving a tail approximately  30cm long, thread yarn through eye of needle and feed through eat of the remaining 4 stitches in order as you slip them off the needles, pull tight to secure the top of the hat. Secure the yarn and sew in end

Using white make the Pompom - I hope to post my own video on how to make pom poms to go with this but at the moment if you don't know how to make one there are loads of videos on youtube that can show you how.  Personally I like using the Clover pom pom maker as it's a lot easier and they come out a lot neater so it's worth investing in one if you're likely to make a few projects with pompoms.  See this video on how to use it.   Once you've made the pom pom leave the 2 tails made when you tie the pom pom together and use these to attach it securely to the top of the hat.

I hope you enjoy this pattern, any feedback please contact me, thanks.