Cre8 a Knitted Baby Hat - Episode I

I love to knit. Most especially, I love to knit baby hats. I think it is because of the speed and simplicity of the projects. I am always in need of baby gifts and I can whip up a hat in a night or two while I'm watching Top Chef.

I usually make up the pattern as I go, but lately I've been trying to write them down so I can share them. This little baby hat is probably best for babies ages 3 months - 1 year (depending on their head size).

Supplies

• Yarn: 2 colors (your choice) Baby Weight DK Yarn (I like Sirdar Snuggly Baby Yarn, which they do not make any more). You will need 1 skein plus a scrap for the second color.
  
• Needles: Size 4 circular needles and set of Size 4 double-sided bamboo needles
• Small Cable Hook

Gauge (Understanding Gauge)

• 6 stitches/in

Instructions
Don't know how to read a knitting instruction? Check out "How to Read a Knitting Pattern" at WikiHow or the excellent resources at About.com.

• Cast On 80 stitches with Color #1 and join to work in the round.
  
• Rows 1-3: in Color #1 (K2P2)*20
  
• Row 4: in Color #2 (K2P2)*20
• Rows 5,6: in Color #1 (K2P2)*20
• Rows 7,8: in Color #2 (K2P2)*20
• Row 9: in Color #1 (K2P2)*20 -- NOTE: continue in color #1 for the rest of the pattern
  
• Rows 10-15: K35 P2 K6 P2 K35
  
• Row 16: K35 P2 C6F P2 K35
• Rows 17-22: (repeat 10)
• Row 23: (repeat 16)
  
• Rows 24-29: (repeat 10)
• Row 30: (repeat 16)
• Rows 31-36: (repeat 10)
• Row 37: (repeat 16)
• NOTE: While decreasing, switch to your 4 double-sided needles whenever the hat becomes too small for your circular needle.
• Row 38: (K2 K2tog K3)*5 P2 K6 P2 (K3 K2tog K2)*5
  
• Row 39: K30 P2 K6 P2 K30
  
• Row 40: (K2 K2tog K2)*5 P2 K6 P2 (K2 K2tog K2)*5
• Row 41: K25 P2 K6 P2 K25
• Row 42: (K1 K2tog K2)*5 P2 K6 P2 (K2 K2tog K1)*5
• Row 43: K20 P2 K6 P2 K20
• Row 44: (K1 K2tog K1)*5 P2 CF6 P2 (K1 K2tog K1)*5
• Row 45: K15 P2 K2 K2tog K2 P2 K15
• Row 46: (K1 K2tog)*5 P2tog K5 P2tog (K2tog K1)*5
• Row 47: K10 P1 K2tog K1 K2tog P1 K10
• Row 48: (K2tog)*5 P1 K3 P1 (K2tog)*5
• Row 49: K5 P1 K2tog K1 P1 K5
  
• Row 50: (K2tog)*7

Using a yarn needle work the tail of the yarn through the 7 stitches, removing them from the knitting needles. Pull the top of the hat closed and work the yarn into stitches on the inside of the hat. Work in all your yarn ends to complete.