All proceeds from the sale of the Incredible Expanding Preemie Cap benefit March of Dimes supporting research in premature birth prevention. Maureen Hefti is a knitwear designer living in Sacramento, CA. She knits with many groups including leading free monthly knitting lessons at her local branch library. Maureen believes in volunteerism and charity, but is not at all a saint...Not even close. She hopes to cut down on swearing and raucous laughter, but she knows this isn't likely.
Incredible Expanding Gnome Cap
A tiny cap worked in the round from the brim up, with a yarn-over cable motif. Cables are ribbing, and the cables in this wee hat will expand as your tiny infant grows!
Materials: Wool 2 Dye For Cash Sock wool2dye4.com (80% Merino wool, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon; 435 yards [398 meters]/100 grams [3.53 ounces] This hat takes 1/5 skein or about 80 yards. Feel free to substitute your favorite sport or sock yarn. Needle: Size 1 (2.5mm) circ or dpns.
Incredible Expanding Gnome Cap
1. Using the cable cast on method, co 100 st. 2. If using dpns arrange 25 st per needle on the first and second needles, and 50 st on the third needle. If using magic loop on a long circ, arrange 50 st on each half. 3. Join for working in the round. PM if using circ. 4. Work ribbing as set -up for yo cable \*P2, k3.\* On this and every round rep btwn \* to end.
Gauge:
25 st and 44 rows/4 inches when stretches over a 16 inch sphere. 46 st and 44 rows/ 4 inches gently blocked, and measures when fabric has completely
Repeat rounds 1-4 ten times.
Round 5: Same as round 1. Round 6: Same as round 2.
Begin decrease rounds.
Round 7: \*(P2, k3) 2X, p2, (s2, k1, psso), (p2, k3) 2X.\* (92 st) Round 8: \*(P2, k3) 2X, p2, k1, (p2, k3) 2X.\* Round 9: \*(P2, s1, k2, psso) 2X p1, (s2, kl, psso), pl, s1, k2, psso, p2, s1, k2, psso. \* Round 10: \*(P2, kl, yo, k1) 2X, pl, kl, p1, kl, yo, kl, p2, kl, yo, k1. \* (84 st) Round 11: \*(P2, k3) 2X, (s2, k1, psso), k3, p2, k3.\* (76 st) Round 12: \*(P2, k3) 2X, k1, k3, p2, k3.\* Round 13: \*P2, s1, k2, psso, p2, k2, (s2, k1, psso), x4, k2, p2, s1, k2, psso.\* (68 st) Round 14: \*P2, k1, yo, k1, p2, k2, k1, k2, p2, k1, yo, k1.\* Round 15: \*P2, k3, p2, k1, (s2, k1, psso), k1, p2, k3.\* (60 st) Round 16: \*(P2, k3) 3X.\* Round 17: \*P2, s1, k2, psso, p2, (s2, kl, psso), p2, s1, k2, psso.\* (52 st) Round 18: \*P2, kl, yo, k1, p2, kl, p2, kl, yo, k1. \* Round 19: \*P2, k3, p1, (s2, k1, psso), p1, k3.\* (44 st) Round 20: \*P2, k3, p1, k1, pl, k3.\* Round 21: \*P2, s1, k2, psso, (s2, k1, psso), s1, k2, psso.\* (36 st) Round 22: \*P2, k1, yo, k3, yo, k1.\* Round 23: \*P2, k2, (s2, k1, psso), k2.\* (28 st) Size: One size fits most—-preemie (12 Round 24: \*P2, k5.\* inch head circumference) to three Round 25: \*P2, k1, (s2, k1, psso), k1.\* (20 st) |months (15 inch head circumference). Round 26: \*P2, k3.\* Round 27: \*P2, (s2, k1, psso). \* (12 st) For larger size, co 125 st. Round 28: \* P2, k1.\* (Crown shape will be less pointy.) Break yarn using an 8 inch tail. Thread tail onto darning needle and pass through each of the rem. 12 st. Fasten off by pulling gently until home closes completely. Weave in ends. For preemie size, wash and block gently to even stitches. Lay flat to dry. For newborn size, completely wet cap and stretch to 8 inches. Pin and let dry. Or block using a 16 inch sphere. (Designer used a 16 inch softball.) Maureen Hefti all rights reserved. Reproduction of all or part of this work is forbidden without the express permission of the author. Please do not copy without purchase or permission. Encourage your friends to support knitting design through pattern purchase! RavenousKnits.com
Stitch Guide:
X=times s=slip psso=pass slipped stitch over This pattern is worked in the round—the right side is always facing. Follow these directions if you wish to practice the yo cable working flat. YO Cable Stitch: (multiple of 5 st +2) Repeat between \* to end. CO 29 st. Work p2, k3 rib for six rows. Row 1: P2, \*s1, k2, psso, p2.\* Row 2: K2, \*p1, y0, p1, k2.\* Row 3: P2, \*k3, p2.\* Row 4: K2, \*p3, k2.\* Repeat rows 1-4 for pattern.
