Coco's Cap

Chart

6 stitch/8 rnd repeat

Knitted in the round.

Coco's Cap is designed to use up odds and ends of sock yarn to make caps for preemies and newborns. It came from a challenge from The Knitmore Girls to design caps for the Head to Toe Design Contest. It was a PRIZEWINNER!!

This plaid stitch pattern is a traditional double knitting pattern used for mittens here in Canada (mostly in the Maritimes) and in the northeastern United States. The double knitting makes for an extremely warm garment and I have used this pattern in socks as well. In Robin Hansen and Janetta Dexter’s excellent book “Flying Geese & Partridge Feet” this stitch pattern is called Chipman’s Block.

Designed for leftover sock yarn (fingering weight), my blue and grey preemie cap is made with 6 gr. of Trekking ProNatura (blue) and 4 gr. of Phildar Preface (grey). My pink and white newborn size cap is made of 9 gr. Fearless Fibers 100% Superwash Merino wool (pink) and 5 gr. Kroy sock yarn (white). The preemie hat is about 7 inches in circumference (unstretched) and the newborn size is about 10 inches in circumference (unstretched).

Chipman’s Block Stitch Pattern Written Out:

Rnd 1: * K1 MC, K1 CC * work from * to * all around.

Rnds 2 & 3: * K3 CC, K3 MC * work from * to * all around.

Rnd 4: * K1 MC, K1 CC * work from * to * all around.

Rnd 5: * K1 CC, K1 MC * work from * to * all around.

Rnds 6 & 7: * K3 MC, K3 CC * work from * to * all around.

Rnd 8: * KI CC, K1 MC * work from * to * all around.

MC = Main Colour

CC = Contrasting Colour

(Since this is worked in the round, all stitches are Knit.)

These 8 rnds represent one pattern repeat.

Preemie Size:

CO 62 sts on 3.5mm (US4) needles with main colour. Immediately change to 2.5mm (US1) double point needles and join in the round. Alternatively, you can cast on with a tubular K1 P1 CO and the 2.5mm needles. The goal is a nice, stretchy edge.

Work K1 P1 ribbing for 1 inch.

Knit one round increasing 4 sts. evenly around. Knit 2 more rounds on these 66 sts.

Introduce the contrasting colour by following the pattern chart. Work these 8 knitted rnds until the piece measures 3-1/2 to 4 inches from the CO edge ending after Rnd 2 or 6.

Reduce for top of cap: K the first of the 3 sts., then K2tog. (in whichever colour you would normally use for this 3 stitch group according to where you are in the pattern).

Next rnd: K2, P2 (alternating colours to fit the pattern)

Cut the yarn leaving a 12-inch tail and draw through all the sts. on the needles. Draw up tightly and secure. Darn in ends.

Newborn Size:

Cast on 90 sts. with the main colour yarn and 2.5mm (US1) needles using your preferred cast on and work 1 inch of K1 P1 ribbing. Work 2 more knit only rounds.

Introduce the contrasting colour by following the pattern chart. Work these 8 knitted rnds until the piece measures 4-1/2 to 5 inches from the CO edge ending after Rnd 2 or 6.

Start reducing for top of cap:

Start knitting with the colour that would follow according to where you are in the chart,

[(K1, K2 tog) twice, K3, K3, K3 (changing colours with each group of 3 as usual] 6 times

Next rnd: This will be a round of alternating colour single knit stitches. Start with the same colour as the existing stitches you’re about to knit into and then alternate with the opposite colour.

*K2 tog, K2 tog, K9 * Repeat from * to * 6 times.

Next rnd: Start with the opposite colour to the first stitch you’re about to knit and knit all around alternating colours.

Reduce for crown (using only MC from now on):

Rnd 1: Knit all around

Rnd 2: (K9, K2tog) 6 times

Rnd 3: Knit all around

Rnd 4: (K3, K2tog) 12 times

Rnd 5: Knit all around

Rnd 6: (K2, K2tog) 12 times

Rnd 7: Knit all around

Rnd 8: (K1, K2tog) 12 times

Rnd 9: (K2tog) 12 times

Cut the yarn leaving a 12 inch tail. With a darning needle thread this tail through all the sts and draw up tightly. Secure and darn in the ends.

Copyright 2010 Cheryl Coville. You are welcome to use this pattern for personal use.

Edited July 30, 2011 ... You can access a printable PDF of Coco's Cap by clicking HERE.