Addison's Topper
By Nancy Woodhouse Addison decided to tell her parents that she wanted to come into the world early at 33 weeks, which threw me into a procrastinator's-baby-hat-knitting-frenzy. I scoured all possible sources for patterns and inspiration. There is no LYS within 180 miles in any direction so I went to our big-box chain craft store. I saw Ruffles by Lion Brand and this hat jumped right into my little brain. It took me a while to get it out of my noggin, so here it is. It is a straight stockinette cap with three rows of contrasting Ruffles. (PS-Addison ended up waiting until she was 35 weeks to come out and claim her topper) Models: Addison in Sapphire with Cream Ruffles. Cousins: Kelsie in Dusty Rose with Black Ruffles, Ramsey in Cranberry with Tweed Ruffles, Ella in Black with Tweed. Photo credit: Juliann Fraser SIZE XS [S, M, L] 0-3 months[3-6,6-12, 12-36]
FINISHEDMEASUREMENTS
Circumference, unstretched: 12[14,15,16] inches To fit head circumference: 12-14 [14-16, 16-18, 18-20] inches MATERIALS [MC] Vanna's Choice by Lion Brand $[100\%$ Acrylic; 170yds/156m per 100g skein]: 1 skein [CC} Ruffles by Lion Brand $[50\%$ Merino Wool, $50\%$ Acrylic; 21yds/20m per 50g skein] 1 skein One 47-inch US #9/5.50mm circular needle for Magic Loop. Tapestry needle
GAUGE
16sts/20rows $=$ 4 inches in circularly knitted swatch. Stockinette gauge when knitted flat can be very different from circular. For this swatch, I cast on 32 sts, join in the round and work in Stockinette for 5 inches. Take off of the needles to measure gauge.
PATTERN NOTES
Each skein of Ruffles and Vanna's Choice will give you at least 2 hats. The purl side of stockinette has a greater surface area than the knit side. This is why I turned the hat inside out to knit the Ruffles. It is easier to knit with it than purl.
PATTERN
Cast on 50[55, 65, 70]stitches. Join circularly being careful not to twist. Work in stockinette (K each round) for 8 rounds. Turn upside down so that the 8 rows knitted are on top of the needle. Turn inside out by pushing these stitches between the needles so that the purl side is out, knit sides are together on the inside. Swap the first stitch on the left needle (the one with the yarn coming from it) with the last stitch on the right needle. Holding the Ruffles, hold the Rufles so that the edges curl toward you. Knit the stitch from the top edge, 1 inch from the end. Each Ruffle stitch should be a thumb's width from the last. Work in stockinette for 3 rounds, keeping the MC yarn on the outside next to the purl side. After knitting 3 rounds of Ruffles, flip the hat inside out again (knit side of MC now facing you), cut the Rufles, tighten up the MC yarn to minimize the join. Work for 5.5[6, 6.5, 7]inches. Begin decreases as follows: Round 1: K8[9, 10, 11, 12], K2 tog, repeat 4 times. Round 2: K7[8, 9, 10, 11], K2 tog, repeat 4 times. Round 3: K6[7, 8, 9, 10], K2 tog, repeat 4 times. Round 4: K5[6, 7, 8, 9,], K2 tog, repeat 4 times. Round 5: K4[5, 6, 7, 8], K2 tog, repeat 4 times. Round 6: K3[4, 5, 6, 7], K2 tog, repeat 4 times. Round 7: K2[3, 4, 5, 6], K2 tog, repeat 4 times. Round 8: K1[2, 3, 4, 5], K2 tog, repeat 4 times. Continue as established for all sizes, working one stitch less each section until there are 10 stitches, work K2 tog all around. Cut yarn leaving a 7 inch tail. Thread on needle, draw through these 5 stitches to tighten. Pull to inside and secure. Pull all ends to the inside and weave in.
ABOUT THEDESIGNER
Nancy lives and knits in Yuma, Arizona where it is too hot for sweaters, so she sticks to socks, lace, and the occasional hat. She goes to great lengths to avoid purling. Her day job gets in the way of her knitting. She is NaNancy to Addison and Jackson. She blogs at allthingsknitterly.blogspot.com.
