$$ n_{i c a l i n,\alpha}^{s j_{p},\alpha,\cos,\beta,\alpha,n} $$
by Corinne's Knits
I designed this little baby hat to use all the odd ends of sock yarn that a lot of us knitters have lying around our houses. I think it would work beautifully with selfstriping, plain or varigated yarn or with mixed colours leftovers (check ideas for this at the end of pattern). It reminds me of $1950^{\prime}\mathsf{s}$ science fiction films and makes me think of a spaceman from that era. I named it Nicolino (which means lile Nicolas), because I designed it on the day I heard that my friend had given birth to her little boy, Nicolas.
MATERIALS
Yarn 105 (130, 158) m / 115 (142, 171) yards of 4ply sock yarn or fingering yarn. Shown in Regia 4ply Cotton Surf Color Needles $2.5\mathsf{m m}$ (US 1 /2) $80\mathsf{c m}$ (32") circular needle or size $2.5\mathsf{m m}~(\mathsf{U S}~1~^{1}/\mathsf{2})~\mathsf{D P N};$ \$ Or needle size needed to obtain gauge Darning needle Necessary skills Knitting in the round, Kfb(f), st markers, picking up sts
GAUGE
30 sts and $45\mathrm{~rows}=10\mathsf{c m}\mathrm{~/~}4^{\prime\prime}$ in st st
ABBREVIATIONS
DPN(s) - Double pointed needle(s) st(s) - Stitch(es) st st - Stocking Stitch (Stockinette) PM - Place marker K - Knit P -Purl Dec - Decrease Kfb - Knit to the front and back of stitch (inc. 1 st) Kfbf - Knit to the front, back & front of stitch (inc 2 sts) K2tog - Knit two stitches together Inc - Increase SSK - slip, slip, knit WS - wrong side
SIZES
3-6 months (6-12 months,12-24 months) to fit approx head circumference of 36-41 (41-46, 46-51)cm / 14-16 (16-18, 18-20)"
HAT
With circular needle or DPNs, cast on 90 (110, 130) sts. Being careful not to twist, join in the round using magic loop with circular needle or distribute sts evenly on DPNs. PM to mark beginning of round. K 6 rows of garter st (\*K 1 row. P 1 row\* repeat 3 times) \*K 5 rows. P 4 rows\* Repeat these 9 rows 2 (3, 4) time(s) K 4 rows Next row, dec 10 sts. \*K7 (9,11), K2tog\* repeat until end of row (you now have 80 (100, 120) sts) P 4 rows Next row, dec 10 sts. \*K6 (8,10), K2tog\* repeat until end of row (70 (90, 110) sts) K 3 rows Next row, dec 10 sts. \*K5 (7,9), K2tog\* repeat until end of row (60 (80, 100) sts) P 4 rows Continue in this manner, alternating 5 K rows and 4 P rows, decreasing on the Ist and the 5th K row by knitting 1 less st each time before the K2tog until you have 20 sts remaining. If you are a tight knitter, make sure to knit the last dec row loosely! When you have 20 sts remaining, inc 40 sts on the next row: Kfbf of each st (60 sts)
Size 12-24 months only: P1 row Next row, inc. 30 sts: $^{\star}\mathsf{K}\rceil$ , Kfb\* repeat across round (90 sts)
All sizes: \*p 1 row.K 1 row\* Repeat these last 2 rows 11 times Next row, K2tog across round (30(30,45) sts) P1 row Sizes 3-6 and 6-12 months: K2tog across round (15(15) sts) Size 12-24 months only: \*K2tog\* until 1 st remains, K1 (23 sts) P1 row Next row, \*K2tog\* until 1 st remains, K1 (8(8,12) sts)
Size 12-24 months only: K2tog across round (6 sts)
Break yarn. With darning needle, weave the yarn through the remaining sts. Pulltight and secure on the inside of the hat.
EARFLAPS
Pick up 24(24, 28) sts on one side of the hat (you can choose where) Row 1 (ws): K Row 2: K1, SSK, K to 3 sts before the end, K2tog, K1 (22(22, 26) sts) Row 3-5: K Repeat rows 2-5 4(4,6) more times (14 sts) Next row, K1, SSK, K to 3 sts before the end, K2tog, K1 (12 sts) Next row: K Repeat last 2 rows 3 more times (6 sts) Next row, K1, SSK, K to 3 sts before the end, K2tog, K1 (4 sts) K 4 sts i-cord for about 15(20, 23) cm / Place your 4 sts on a DPN with the last st knitted (where the working thread is) on the left of the needle. K all 4 sts. Don't turn the needle but slide the sts to the other side of the needle. The working thread should now be on the st furthest to the left of the needle again. Repeat until you have reached the right length. Break yarn. With darning needle, weave yarn through the sts, pull, secure and weave in. Repeat instructions to knit the second earflap. Position it 18(25,34) sts from the first earflap for the back. You should have a space of 24(37,40), sts between the earflaps for the front of the hat. Weave in loose ends and block. Here is a picture of how I block the hat to have a nice,. flat top. If you want to block the head part of the hat (I don't bother with it myself), I advise you to do it as a second step. An inflated ballon would be a good solution.
IDEAS FOR KNITTING WITH SEVERAL COLOURS
One of the many ways to knit this hat with different leftover yarns is to knit all the K rows in the same colour and the P rows in a different colour. Each set of Ks and Ps can also be knit in a separate colour. For the garter st rows at the beginning or on the flat bit at the top, you could make each ridge (1 row of K, 1 row of P) in a different colour, or alternate with 2 colours. Make sure to change colour on the K row. You can use a different colour to knit the earflaps.
