This sweet little newborn hat was created to raise awareness for the Click for Babies program. The program’s mission is to teach people about the period of purple crying…those first few months known as the “purple period” when babies don’t ever seem to stop crying and how it can lead to Shaken Baby Syndrome.
There is a wonderful group of folks knitting and crocheting hats to donate to hospitals where they are then distributed to newborns and their families in hospitals along with informative booklets…the purple color is to remind parents that the “purple crying period” of their development is perfectly normal during a time when caregivers may get frustrated with long periods of crying.
For more information or to learn how you you can get involved, please visit the organization’s site:
National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome/Click for Babies
Very Violet Newborn Hat
By Jennifer Dickerson
*Instructions included for flat and in the round.
Materials:
- Worsted weight yarn in shades of purple (note: if donating to the program, they require the hat to be 50% or more of the hat knit in purple)
- US 8 16” circular needle for hat in the round
- 4 US 8 DPNs for hat in the round
- US 8 straight needles for flower and hat (if knitting it flat)
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch marker (if knitting in the round)
Gauge:
- 24 stitches and 17 rows = 4 inches
Sizing:
- Newborn
Instructions for Hat Knitted in the Round:
CO 56 sts
PM and join in the round, being careful not to twist.
Work 6 rounds of K2, P2 ribbing
Work in st st (knit each round) until hat measures 5.5 inches from CO edge (Note: hat shown is worked in a stripe pattern that is 6 rounds of each color)
Decrease (switch to DPNs when needed):
Row 1: *K2, K2tog, rpt from * to end of round
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: *K1, K2tog, rpt from * to end of round
Row 4: Knit
Row 5: *K2tog, rpt from * to end of round
Break yarn leaving a long tail. Using a tapestry needle, thread through the remaining stitches and pull tightly. Weave in ends.
Instructions for Hat Knitted Flat:
CO 56 sts, leaving a long tail (you can use this to easily seam up the hat later)
Work 6 rounds of K2, P2 ribbing
Work in st st (knit one row, purl one row, and so on) until hat measures 5.5 inches from CO edge (Note: hat shown is worked in a stripe pattern that is 6 rounds of each color)
Decrease:
Row 1: *K2, K2tog, rpt from * to end of round
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: *K1, K2tog, rpt from * to end of round
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: *K2tog, rpt from * to end of round
Break yarn leaving a long tail. Using tapestry needle, thread through remaining stitches and pull tightly. Seam up the back of the hat. Weave in ends.
Instructions for Bloom:
CO 10 sts
Row 1: KFB each st to end of row (20 sts)
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: KFB each st to end of row (40 sts)
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: KFB each st to end of row (80 sts)
BO all sts
Finishing:
Stitch bloom to hat and weave in ends.
Check out more free knitting patterns here!
If big sister needs a hat, here’s a matching hat for her too!
Click here for Cotton Candy Hat pattern
© Jennifer Dickerson 2013
Please note: Patterns are for personal and charity use only. In addition, if you enjoy the pattern, please link to it, but do not copy the pattern to your own website or blog (including other languages). Thank you!
this is a nice hat:) i am also falling in purple phase, made a crochet drawstring bag. have a lovely day!
Thanks!! I saw the bag on your site…super cute, love it!
Great hat for a wonderful purpose. Great job Jennifer.
Hugs,
Meredith
Thanks…just saw your flower scarf…love it!!!
I'm just getting back to knitting after a very, very long break — so I understand all the directions except :KFB, which means?
Thanks! 🙂
What does KFB stand for??
Knit into the front and back of the same stitch, before taking the stitch off the lefthand needle.. This is a method of increasing. Learnt to do it the other week. Hope this helps. Sheila
Here's a tutorial that will guide you through the stitch:
http://www.fiberfluxblog.com/2012/08/how-to-knit-into-front-and-back-of.html
its also know as mk1
I just made this and because I tend to knit large it will fit my 1 yr. old granddaughter. It's a lovely and easy pattern and I will certainly keep it as one of my favorites.
Beautiful pattern, we knit for babies that are still born and this is lovely Thanks a lot…margaretm5
I accidentally knitted the hat 6inches instead of 5.5. I don't want to take out .5inches.. so is there a way to decrease the hat faster? I don't want it to have a long top. Thanks!
I accidentally knitted the hat 6inches instead of 5.5. I don't want to take out .5inches.. so is there a way to decrease the hat faster? I don't want it to have a long top. Thanks!
I needed to thank you for this phenomenal read!! I unquestionably adored each and every piece of it. I have you bookmarked your site to look at the new stuff you post. newborn earmuffs