Purl Stripes Infant Hat by Lynne Lounsbury This is a very simple pattern that uses rounds of purl stitches to create dimension and texture in stripes against a ribbed cuff and stockinette crown. Size: Newborn Yarns: (CC) Bernat Satin (for stripes, shown in green), approx. 12 grams (approx. 20 yards/18 meters); (MC) Lion Baby Soft (for cuff and crown between stripes, shown in white, approx. 18 grams (approx. 60 yards/55 meters) Gauge: 6 stitches and 9 rows per inch in stockinette stitch using MC Needles: US size 5 (3.25mm), one 16” circular and one set of doublepointed needles (DPNs) Other: Tapestry needle, stitch marker Cuff: Using MC yarn, cast on 70 stitches. Place marker to indicate beginning/end of round and join, being careful not to twist stitches. Round 1: *K3, P2* repeat between * to end of round Repeat round 1 ten more times until cuff measures approx. 1.5” (or to desired length). Crown: Stripe: Round 1: Switch to CC yarn and knit all stitches for one round (this is so that you don’t get “dots” created by purl stitches when the colors are switched). Round 2: Slip first stitch purlwise. Purl all remaining stitches of this round. (Slipping the first stitch prevents a “jog” in stripe.) Round 3: Purl all stitches. Ground: Round 4: Switch back to MC yarn (you can just carry it up the inside of hat; be careful not to pull too tightly that it puckers) and knit all stitches in round. Round 5: Slip first stitch purlwise (to prevent “jog”) and knit all remaining stitches in round. Rounds 6-9: Knit all stitches. Repeat Rounds 1 through 9 of crown pattern three more times or until work measures approx. 5” from cast-on edge (or to desired length). Work Rounds 1-5 of crown pattern (stripe plus first two rows of ground). Decreases: (Please note: switch to DPNs when there are too few stitches to continue using the circular needle, probably around row 3.) Round 1: *K6, SSK (slip 1 stitch knitwise, slip the next stitch knitwise, insert left needle in front of these two stitches and knit the two stitches together through the back loops)* repeat between * to end of round (10 times total for round - 60 stitches remain) Round 2: *K5, SSK* repeat between * to end of round (50 stitches remain) Round 3: *K4, SSK* repeat between * to end of round (40 stitches remain) Round 4: *K3, SSK* repeat between * to end of round (30 stitches remain) Round 5: *K2, SSK* repeat between * to end of round (20 stitches remain) Round 6: *K1, SSK* repeat between * to end of round (10 stitches remain) Finishing: Cut yarn, leaving 6-inch tail. Using tapestry needle, thread yarn tail through remaining stitches on needles; remove needles and pull yarn tail tightly to close up top of hat. Secure hat closure with 2-3 stitches using the tail yarn, bringing the tail yarn through to inside of hat. Weave in end of tail to secure and trim the end. Weave in ends at cast-on edge and color change rows and trim. ©2008 Lynne Lounsbury. All rights reserved.