Baby’s mom was kind enough to let him model the hat for me.
When I first made this adorable cozy Baby Cocoon, I thought it needed a matching hat. After some experimenting, I worked out the pattern, and I’m very happy with the results. The Peapod hat is knit with bulky weight yarn on large needles, is knit in the round, and can be completed in just a few hours.
The first hat I made turned out a bit large for a newborn, so I made another with eight fewer stitches, and it’s just right.
Conveniently, I have the perfect accompaniment, sweet peas, blooming in my garden right now.
Knit Baby Peapod Hat
Yarn
1 skein Lion Brand Homespun in Vintage, or another bulky weight yarn of your choice
(Alternative yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky)
Needles
1 set US size 9 double pointed knitting needles
Method
Cast on 40 stitches for newborn size, (48 stitches for 6-12 month size).
Divide stitches evenly among needles. Being careful not to twist, join work and knit in the round for 4 ½ inches.
Begin decrease rounds:
(K6, K2tog), repeat around.
Knit 2 rounds.
(K5, K2tog), repeat around.
Knit 2 rounds.
(K4, K2tog), repeat around.
Knit 2 rounds.
(K3, K2tog), repeat around.
Knit 2 rounds.
(K2, K2tog), repeat around.
Knit 2 rounds.
(K1 K2tog), repeat around.
Knit 2 rounds.
K2tog all the way around = 5 (6) stitches.
K2tog 2x, K1 (K2tog 3x) = 3 stitches.
Knit these 3 remaining stitches in an i-cord for 2 inches. Tie off remaining stitches. Weave in ends.
To knit an I-cord (which is simply and easy knitted tube): Slide remaining 3 stitches onto a double-pointed needle. (You will knit every row, always with the knit side facing you.) Knit one row; do not turn your work. Slide the stitches to the other end of the needle and knit a second row by bringing the yarn from behind the work and starting the new row. Continue until cord is 2 inches long. Bind off by threading yarn end through a large-eyed needle and pull it through all three stitches, then weave in end down through the cord.
This is a good i-cord tutorial: http://www.wikihow.com/Knit-an-I-Cord
Divide the stitches evenly among 3 or 4 double-pointed needles.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I have never used double pointed needles. To knit in the round with them, do you just knit around from one needle to the other or to you join the stitches in the round the same as on circular needles? I did just learn to do that.
Thanks for your input. This hat looks very cute with the cord on the top!
Yes, double-pointed needles work just like a circular needle, except there are breaks in the work where it transfers from needle to needle. You knit in the round from needle to needle. The newborn sized hat is a bit too small to be worked on a 16-inch circular needle so DP are best for this project. Here are a couple of tutorials that might be helpful
http://www.knitpicks.com/tutorials/Double_Pointed_Needles__D118.html
http://www.wikihow.com/Knit-With-Double-Pointed-Needles
Good luck, and have fun!