Kids' Banana Beanie

Kids' Banana Beanie

The baby is 6 months old now, so I figured it was high time he made his debut. And what better way to do it than sporting a chunky weight baby hat that can be sized all the way up to 12 years (he's wearing the 9 month size, though - I just couldn't bring myself to knit something he would outgrow immediately)? Anyway, there's not really much else to say about this piece, except for the fact that it's a quick and easy knit, and that its subtle pattern is oh-so-cute.

Sizes: 6 months (9 months; 12 months; up to 3 years; up to 12 years) (to be clearer on sizes: the 6 month will fit up to a 16" head, the 9 month a 17" head, the 12 month an 18" head, the 3 year a 19" head, and the 12 year up to a 21" head)

Yarn: Berroco Vintage Chunky (50% Acrylic, 40% Wool, 10% Nylon; 130 yards [120 meters]/100 grams); #6122 Banana - 1 skein, plus roughly 10 yards of contrasting color, if desired for pompom

A better shot of the pattern,
And the pom pom.

Needles: 16" circular needle in size US 10, one set of double pointed needles (dpns), also in size US 10

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch marker

Gauge: 14 stitches = 4 inches on size 10 needles

So let's get started! First, as a side note, I knit this entire hat with my size 10 needles. However, you could cast on and knit the first five-ish rows with a size 9, if you desired, for a bit of extra snugness at the bottom of the hat. And now that the note is out of the way - using the 16" circular needle of your desired gauge, cast on 52 (56; 60; 64; 68) stitches, place marker, and join in round. Then we'll knit one set-up row, like so:

Set-up Row: * k3, p1; rep from *

And once that's done, let's move straight to our main pattern, which goes as follows:

Row 1: * k1, p1 *

Rows 2 & 4: * k1, slip 1 with yarn in back, k1, p1 *

Row 3: * k3, p1 *

Knit rows 1 - 4 until hat measures roughly 5.5" (6"; 6.5"; 7"; 7.5") and you've just finished row 2 or 4 of the pattern. Now it's time to move on to our deceases, which will be the same for each hat until you reach row 5. Also, you'll want to switch to your dpns the row before you reach 48 stitches.

Decrease Row 1: * k3, p1 *

Decrease Row 2: * k1, k2tog, p1 * (39 stitches [42 stitches; 45 stitches; 48 stitches; 51 stitches])

Decrease Row 3: * k2tog, p1 * (26 stitches [28 stitches; 30 stitches; 32 stitches; 34 stitches])

Decrease Row 4: * k2tog * (13 stitches [14 stitches; 15 stitches; 16 stitches; 17 stitches])

Decrease Row 5: k1, * k2tog * (* k2tog *; k1, * k2tog *; * k2tog *; k1, * k2tog *) (7 stitches [7 stitches; 8 stitches; 8 stitches; 9 stitches])

Clip tail, thread through final stitches, and pull tight. Thread to inside of hat and knot. Tuck in ends. If desired, make pompom and attach to top of hat.