Thursday, May 28, 2009

Cabled Baby Hat and Mittens Pattern

Here is the pattern for a hat and mittens set I made for a friend's new baby. The mittens are thumbless. I ended up using approximately 150m of yarn.

Size: 6-12 months; hat stretches to a circumference of 38-40cm (15-16 in).

Yarn: 1 skein Wool Gatto by Lana Gatto (50g, 165m per skein) or other DK weight yarn.

Gauge: 24 stitches and 32 rows over 10cm (4in) square using larger needles. One cable pattern repeat (over 10 stitches) is approximately 2.5cm (1in) unstretched and 3cm (1.25 in) stretched.

Needles: 3 and 3.75mm (set of 4 double-pointed needles or 2 circular needles) or size to achieve gauge. 1 cable needle.

Abbreviations:
K: knit
P: purl
C4: Make cable over 4 stitches by holding first two stitches on cable needle at front. Knit two stitches from back and then knit the 2 stitches on the cable needle.
M1: Make one additional stitch by working into the previous row before next stitch.
Pat4: Follow the cable pattern for 4 stitches (either K4 or C4 depending on row).
K2tog: Knit 2 together.
SSK: Slip, slip, knit to decrease a stitch.

Instructions for Hat:

With smaller needles, cast on 96 stitches. Join in a round, making sure the row is not twisted and do 10 rounds of 2x2 rib (K2, P2 around).

Change to larger needles.
First round: (M1, K2, M1, P2, K2, P2) 12 times. (120 stitches)
Next 5 rounds: (K4, P2, K2, P2) 12 times.

Start cable pattern:
Round 1: (C4, P2, K2, P2) 12 times
Rounds 2 to 8: (K4, P2, K2, P2) 12 times.
Repeat rounds 1 to 8 until hat measures 14cm (5.5 in) from cast-on row.

Start decreasing for crown, keeping pattern until you start decreases on the 4-stitch cable.
First round: (Pat4, P2tog, K2, P2tog) 12 times. (96 stitches)
Next round: (Pat4, P1, K2, P1) 12 times.
Next round: (SSK, K2tog, P1, K2, P1) 12 times. (72 stitches)
Next round: (K2, P1, K2, P1) 12 times.
Next round: (K2tog, P1) to end of row. (48 stitches)
Next round: K2tog to end of row. (24 stitches)
Next round: K2tog to end of row. (12 stitches)

Draw yarn through all 12 remaining stitches and close tight. Secure yarn in a knot. Weave in ends.

Instructions for Thumbless Mittens (make 2 identical)

With smaller needles, cast on 28 stitches. Join in a round, making sure the row is not twisted. Starting with P2, do 12 rounds of 2x2 rib (P2, K2).

Change to larger needles.
First round: K4, P2, M1, K2, M1, P2, K4, K14. (30 stitches)
Next round: K4, P2, K4, P2, K4, K14.
Next round: K2, M1, K2, P2, K4, P2, K2, M1, K2, K2, M1, K10, M1, K2. (34 stitches)
Next 3 rounds: K5, P2, K4, P2, K5, K16.

Start cable pattern:
Round 1: K5, P2, C4, P2, K5, K16.
Rounds 2 to 8: K5, P2, K4, P2, K5, K16.
Repeat rounds 1 to 8 until mitten measures 7.5cm (3in) from cuff (not including ribbing).

Start shaping top of mitten, keeping pattern until you start decreases on the 4-stitch cable.
Next round: K1, SSK, K2, P2, Pat4, P2, K2, K2tog, K1, K1, SSK, K10, K2tog, K1. (30 stitches)
Next round: K4, P2, Pat4, P2, K4, K14.
Next round: K1, SSK, K1, P2, Pat4, P2, K1, K2tog, K1, K1, SSK, K8, K2tog, K1. (26 stitches)
Next round: K1, SSK, P2, SSK, K2tog, P2, K2tog, K1, K1, SSK, K6, K2tog, K1. (20 stitches)

Divide stitches so there are 10 stitches on each of two needles. Graft stitches together to close the top of the mitten. Weave in ends.

14 comments:

Crafty Craken said...

Very nice!!

melusine_tricote said...

Lovely !

Anonymous said...

thanks! i have a baby shower coming up and i thinki will try these!
Lisa

Sarah G said...

This is a beautiful pattern! Thanks for being so generous and sharing. I just finished making some baby booties with Lorna's Laces dk swirl yarn and was looking for a cabled baby hat to match. I came across this pattern and it looks perfect! I'll let you know how it looks once I'm finished. Thanks again!

Sindar said...

this is really great pattern :D i made one for my friend and she likes it so much. Thank you for sharing this :D
I'm new in Knitting World

Barbara said...

I love this hat and mitten set! However, I wish you had a baby bootie pattern to match. It woudl make a lovely set for a baby shower gift.

Paulina said...

Good idea, Barbara! I will keep this in mind, though I don't think I can promise anything right away. Life is busy right now. :)

Judy said...

Such a cute pattern. Planning to try in in a light worsted instead of a DK in order you use some stash yarn...

Bethany said...

Love this pattern! My son is wearing his from last year and I get compliments on it all the time. It's getting a little small though, so I'm making a new one tonight. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Just made this pattern after finding the link on Ravelry. Thank you for the clear instructions! Can't wait to gift this in a few months to a friend who is expecting!

Karen said...

I cant wait to make this pattern for my 1st grandchild arriving in September. Thanks for sharing!!

Shannon said...

Just made this for a baby shower. So cute!! Thanks for sharing!!

Anonymous said...

Great pattern but is it possible to knit this on 2 needles instead of in the round please

Paulina said...

You probably could do this one with two needles, as the cabling is done on the odd rows, so you'll just have to reverse the knits and the purls. You'll lose a stitch of width when you do the seaming.