Some ladies in my Sunday School class are interested in learning to knit and crochet.  We decided to add a missions component to the learning experience and make preemie hats to donate to local NICUs.  We had our first meeting yesterday.  Since I wasn’t sure about the skill level that would be coming, I wanted to have some simple hat patterns on hand for the people with some experience.  During my search I found some cute football-inspired baby hats, but they weren’t scaled down to a preemie size.  I decided to make up my own pattern to include preemies.  These hats are heartbreakingly tiny.

Materials:

• 4 Size 8 double pointed needles
• Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice Yarn in Toffee (B)
• Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice Yarn in White
• Tapestry Needle

Gauge:

8 stitches = 12 rows = 2 inches stockinette stitch

Stitches Used:

• Knit (k)
• Pearl (p)
• Knit two together (k2tog)

For a 1 to 3 lb Preemie

(Hat has an 8 in circumference that stretches to 10 in.  The hat is 4 in from edge to crown.)

Using W, cast on 32 stitches

R1 – R2:  (K2, p2) around (32 stitches)

R3:  K32 (32 stitches)

R4 – R13:  With B, k32 (32 stitches)

R14 – R16:  With W, k32 stitches (32 stitches)

R17:  With B, (k2, k2tog) around (24 stitches)

R18:  K24 (24 stitches)

R19:  (K1, k2 tog) around (16 stitches)

R20:  K16 (16 stitches)

R21:  (k2tog) around (8 stitches)

Cut the yarn with several spare inches.  Thread a tapestry needle and pull yarn through all 8 stitches on needles.  Work in ends.  With W, thread tapestry needle and embroider the laces on the football using the picture for placement.

For a 3 to 5 lb Preemie

(Hat has an 10 in circumference that stretches to 12 in.  The hat is 4.5 in from edge to crown.)

Using W, cast on 40 stitches

R1 – R3:  (K2, p2) around (40 stitches)

R4:  K40 (40 stitches)

R5 – R16:  With B, k40 (40 stitches)

R17 – R20:  With W, k40 stitches (40 stitches)

R21:  With B, (k2, k2tog) around (30 stitches)

R22:  K30 (30 stitches)

R23:  (K1, k2 tog) around (20 stitches)

R24:  K20 (20 stitches)

R25:  (k2tog) around (10 stitches)

Cut the yarn with several spare inches.  Thread a tapestry needle and pull yarn through all 10 stitches on needles.  Work in ends.  With W, thread tapestry needle and embroider the laces on the football using the picture for placement.

Difficulty:  Easy

Time Required:  1 TV episode

Overall Experience:  Excellent