Let it Snow ... Let it Snow .... Let it Snow

Now it looks like we are going to have a warm winter due to global warming.  Thought we had a brown or near brown Christmas last year; so just like rain dance, I am doing what I know best and trying to bring some snow for Christmas by knitting a snowflake hat :D

This snowflake hat makes up the newborn snowflake set: a hat, a pair of thumbless mittens and a pair of booties.

The hat is rather easy to knit, and I made it top down to avoid the Kitchener stitch bind off. For the brim bind off, I chose the tubular bind off; but you can also use any kind of stretchy bind off to avoid picking up that yarn needle (giggles). To make it looks nicer, I had stiffened the snowflakes with sugar water before sewing it to the hat. This is optional. 

I use this simple way to make the sugar water: 1/8 cup of white granulating sugar + 1/8 cup of boiling water, mix until all sugar dissolve, and for good measure, I put into microwave and use Hi heat for 40s. Let it cool down a bit before using.  It just makes enough for the project.

Immerse the piece into the sugar water, take it out and squeeze out excess liquid gentle, then put in between 2 sheets of paper towel to pad dry.  Set it on a blocking sheet (I use 2 sheets of cork boards) with sewing pins to hold the shape desired.  I put in a piece of parchment paper to cover the board surface to prevent the pieces sticking to it. Leave it overnight to dry.

The mittens and booties are seamless knitting, and if you choose to do a stretchy bind off rather than tubular, the yarn needle will only be for weaving in tails :D  The mitten pattern is rather easy to follow, and the bootie pattern needs both crochet and knitting skills.

The free hat pattern will be posted below.  The seamless mittens and booties patterns will be on sale in Ravelry pattern store.  I am putting those on sales just to recuperate the cost of the yarns and time I spent on making the free patterns, so I can buy more yarns and bring everyone more free patterns :) Thank you for your support in advance :)

Enjoy knitting the hat :)

Snowflake Hat (picture here  also show another design as suggestion)

Knitting techniques involved

 

1.       Judy's magic cast on

2.       Magic loop knitting

3.       Changing colour yarns during knitting

4.       Rib stitch

5.       Tubular bind off

 

Crochet techniques involved

 

1.       Magic circle cast on and crochet in rounds

2.       Chain stitch, single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, triple crochet and slip stitch

 

Abbreviations

 

CO = cast on

st(s) = stitch(es)

Rnd = round

k = knit

ktbl = knit through back loop

wyif = with yarn in front

wyib = with yarn in back

sl(pw) = slip purlwise

" = inches

mm = millimeter(s)

approx = approximate

Materials

Yarns, worst, 2 colours

• Yarn A: Royal blue
• Yarn B: Light blue

Circular needles, size 4.50mm and 3.75mm (cable length 20cm)
Crochet hook, size 3.25mm
Scissors
Yarn needle

 Gauge (Stockinette stitch)

 Width and Height             10 stitches x 10 rows = 2 1/2" x 1 1/2"

 Size Newborn - 3 month (3 - 6 month)

 Measurement (approx)

Hat circumference = 11" (13")

Hat height = 6" (6 1/2")

This square hat is knitted from top down.

Using circular needles 4.50mm and Yarn A, CO 48 (56) sts using Judy's magic cast on

Rnd 1     k to the end of rnd (make sure all sts are correctly aligned, depending on the way you cast on, some might have the stitches in reverse, you will then need to ktbl for those sts for correction in the first rnd)

Repeat Rnd 1 until the piece measures 5" (5 1/2")

Rib edging

Rnd 1     Change to Yarn B, *k1, p1* to the end of rnd; cut Yarn A leaving a 3" tail

Rnd 2     *k1, p1* to the end of rnd

Repeat Rnd 2 until the rib measures 3/4"

Set up for tubular bind off

Change to circular needle 3.75mm,

Rnd 1     *k1, wyif, sl(pw), wyib*; repeat * * to the end of rnd

Rnd 2     *wyib, sl (pw), wyif, p1*; repeat * * to the end of rnd

Cut yarn leaving a long tail (around 4 times the circumference of the hat)

Thread the tail to the yarn needle to commence tubular bind off (basically a modified kitchener bind off)

Snowflakes

I have chosen this snowflake pattern on YouTube for the hat.  Feel free to browse anywhere for the pattern you like :)

 

 

Finish

Check the pieces for knit or crochet mishap, amend as necessary

Stiffen the snowflakes with sugar water or any other means you prefer (optional)

Sew in the snowflakes on each top corner of the hat