Care Wear Patterns: Knit

Seamless Preemie and Newborn "Pumpkin" Hat

Materials:

  • 4-ply worsted weight yarn* (orange) and small about of bright green yarn for the stem
  • Double pointed needles #6 and #8

Directions**: (small preemie given; medium and large preemies and newborn in ( ))

  • With orange and larger needles, starting with a single loop, which counts as a knit st, double cast on 36 (42, 48, 54) sts in (K1, P1) rib pattern on 3 needles.
  • Being careful not to twist sts, join by knitting the single loop at the beginning with the tail end of the yarn. This eliminates a bump at the joining.
  • Change to smaller needles and work rib pattern for 1½" (2", 2½", 3").**
  • Change to larger needles and work hat pattern:
  • Rnd 1: [K5(6, 7, 8), P1] around. Repeat this rnd until total length is 3" (4", 5", 6") from beginning.
  • Decrease as follows:
  • Rnd 1: [(Slip the next st onto the tip of the right hand needle knit-wise and return it to the left hand needle, reversing the direction of the st on the left hand needle, then K2tog in back loop = SR2B). K to last 2 sts before P st, K2tog, P1] around 24 (30, 36, 42) sts.
  • Rnds 2 and 4: K all K, P all P around.

For small preemie only:
•  Rnd 3: (K2tog, P2tog) around - 12 sts.
•  Rnd 5: K2tog around - 6 sts. Leaving a 6" tail, cut orange and work stem.

For medium preemie only:
•  Rnds 3 and 4: Repeat rnds 1 and 2 - 18 sts.
•  Rnd 5: (K2tog, P1) around - 12 sts.
•  Rnd 6: as rnd 2. Leaving a 6" tail, cut orange and work stem.

For large preemie only:
•  Rnds 3 and 4: Repeat rnds 1 and 2 - 24 sts.
•  Rnd 5: (K2tog, P2tog) around - 12 sts.
•  Rnd 6: as rnd 2. Leaving a 6" tail, cut orange and work stem
•  For newborn only:
•  Rnds 3-6: Repeat rnds 1 and 2 twice - 18 sts.
•  Rnd 7: (K2tog, P1) around - 12 sts.
•  Rnd 8: as rnd 2. Leaving a 6" tail, cut orange and work stem.

Stem:

  • With green and smaller needles, knitting all sts onto one needle as you go along, K2tog around 3 (6, 6, 6) sts.
  • Next row: Slide sts to other end of needle. Bring the yarn around the back of the sts to the first st and knit all sts. Repeat for 5 (6, 7, 9) rows** or desired length of stem.
  • Next row: K2tog 0 (3, 3, 3) times.
  • Leaving a 6" tail, cut green, thread on yarn needle and pull through remaining sts, gathering them tightly. (Congratulations! You have just made an "I[diot] Cord." Very useful for bonnet and cap ties, purse handles, connecting mittens through coat sleeves, etc.)

Finishing:

  • Work needle through stem from top to bottom and pull on it gently, making the stem curve.
  • Secure end firmly.
  • Snug up orange and green ends tog where them meet on inside of hat to close any gap between the colors and knot them together.
  • Weave in ends.
  • Weave cuff end on the inside of the turn up.

Be on the look out for the Great Pumpkin and report any Charlie Brown sightings in nurseries!

* If anybody finds a source for reasonably priced sport weight yarns we can use (not wool), I could work up patterns for needle sizes #3, #5, #4 and #6.

**None of these measurements are carved in stone. Whatever looks "right" is OK.

Copyright 2003 by Cathy Gilroy. Permission given for Care Wear use only

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