My cousin Amber asked if I could come up with a pattern for a baby owl hat. I combined the hat from my Hello Kitty Hat with an adorable owl keychain I saw on Ravelry. The outcome was quite cute. She wanted the main hat color to be peach. I usually work in jewel-tones, which aren’t available in baby yarn. I made this hat in pastel baby yarns. The yarn is so unbelievably soft! It was quite a bit less stretchy than what I normally use, so I had to start over with larger needles halfway through the project. I should actually start recording my gauge and experience with different fibers.
Disclaimer: Feel free to make this pattern for your personal use, for your platypus, for charity, or to sell. The only thing I ask is that you please do not sell it on Etsy. If you are interested in purchasing a koozie from my Etsy store, you may do so here.
Materials:
- 5 Size 8 Double Pointed Knitting Needles
- US Size 0 Crochet Hook
- US Size 2 Crochet Hook
- 1 Skein Bernat Softee Baby in Soft Peach (P)
- Small amounts of crochet thread in black (K) and white (W)
- Small amount of orange yarn (O)
- Scraps of various sport weight/baby yarn (I used the following: Bernat Softee Baby in Flannel (G), Lion Brand Jamie in Little Boy Blue (B), Lion Brand Jamie in Light Yellow (Y), Bernat Softee Baby in Little Mouse (N))
Gauge:
9 stitches =13 rows = 2 inches Stockinette Stitch
The hat is about 14″ in circumference unstretched and stretches to about 19.”
Stitches Used:
- Knit (k)
- Pearl (p)
- Knit two together (k2tog)
- Twist two stitches to left (tl)
- Twist two stitches to right (tr)
- Pearl twist to right (pr) – taking needle to front of work, k 2nd stitch on left-hand needle, p 1st stitch, slip both stitches off together
- Pearl twist to left (pl) – taking needle to back of work, p 2nd stitch on left-hand needle through back loop, k 1st stitch, slip both stitches off together
- Chain (ch)
- Slip stitch (sl st)
- Single crochet (sc)
- Half double crochet (hdc)
- Double crochet (dc)
- Triple crochet (trc)
Instructions:
Band:
Cast on 72 stitches with P, knit in round being careful not to twist
R1-R4: (k2, p2) 18 times (72 stitches)
R5: (tr, p2) 18 times (72 stitches)
R6: (k2, p2) 17 times, k2, p1 (71 stitches), leave last stitch unworked, this stitch becomes the first stitch of the next row
R7: (pr, pl) 18 times (72 stitches)
R8: (k1, p2, k1) 17 times, k1, p2 (71 stitches), leave last stitch unworked, this stitch becomes the first stitch of the next row
R9: (tl, p2) 18 times (72 stitches)
R10: (k2, p2) 17 times, k2, p1 (71) stitches), leave last stitch unworked, this stitch becomes the first stitch of the next row
R11: (tr, tl) 18 times (72 stitches)
R12: k71, leave last stitch unworked, this stitch becomes the first stitch of the next row (71 stitches)
R13: (tl, k2) 18 times (72 stitches)
Knit each following row until the hat is 5 inches long.
Crown:
R1: (K4, K2tog, SSK, K4) 6 times (60 stitches)
R9: K60
R10: (K3, K2tog, SSK, K3) 6 times (48 stitches)
R11: K48
R12: (K2, K2tog, SSK, K2) 6 times (36 stitches)
R13: K36
R14: (K, K2tog, SSK, K) 6 times (24 stitches)
R15: K24
R16: (K2tog, SSK) 6 times (12 stitches)
Cut the yarn with several spare inches. Thread a tapestry needle and pull yarn through all 12 stitches on needles. Work in ends.
Owl (Adapted from Owl Keychain Pattern):
With G and size 0 hook ch3 and sl st to form ring.
R1: Ch3, work 7 dc in ring, sl st in third ch of ch3 which acts as first dc (8 dc)
Fasten off G and work in ends.
R2: With B sl st between any two dc from R1, ch2 (acts as first hdc), hdc in same space, 2 hdc in each space around, sl st in second ch of ch2. (16 hdc)
Fasten off B and work in ends.
R3: With Y sc between any two hdc from R2, ch1 , (sc, ch 1) in each space around, sl st in top of first sc (16 sc, 16 ch)
Fasten off Y and work in ends.
R4: With P sc in any ch 1 space from R3, sc in same space, ch 1, (2 sc, ch1) in each ch 1 space around, sl st in top of first sc (32 sc, 16 ch)
Fasten off P and work in ends.
R5: With N sc in an ch 1 space from R4, 2 sc in same space, ch 1, (3 sc, ch1) in next 10 ch 1 spaces, 3 dc in next ch 1 space, 2 hdc in next ch 1 space, sc in next ch 1 space, 2 hdc in next ch 1 space, 3 dc in last ch 1 space, sl st to first sc (44 stitches)
R6: Ch 1, turn, skip first stitch, sc, hdc, dc in same stitch, trc (mark stitch with extra yarn or stitch marker), dc in same stitch, sc in next 5 stitches, dc, trc in same stitch (mark stitch with extra yarn or stitch marker), dc, hdc in same stitch, sc, sl st
Do not fasten off.
With O, embroider beak as shown in picture.
Eyes (Make 2):
With K and size 2 hook, ch3 and sl st to form ring.
R1: Ch 1, sc 8 in ring, sl st into first sc (8 sc)
Fasten off and work in ends.
R2: With W, sc in a sc from R1, sc in same sc, (2 sc in each sc) around, sl st to first sc (16 sc)
Fasten off leaving long tail for sewing. Sew the eyes onto the owl using the picture for placement.
Owl (continued):
Modified sc (msc): When you insert your hook under top 2 loops of the stitch below, also insert it under the hat loop directly underneath the stitch on the owl, yarn over, bring loop through hat loop and owl stitch, yarn over and bring loop through both stitches on hook.
R7: Ch 1, turn, msc in each stitch around, 2 msc in marked stitches, sl st in first msc.
Fasten off and work in ends.
Difficulty: Moderate
Time Required: 5 Movies
Overall Experience: Excellent
That is the cutest thing ever!!!
Thank you!