Colorful Crafting with Jen: The Sweetie Pie Hat

When I first designed the Sweetie Pie Hat four years ago, I had plenty of time on my hands to create patterns. With no one tugging at my sleeve while I knit, I had deep reserves of concentration and loads of patience.  But now that I have a one and half year old, updating an old beloved pattern with new yarn and simpler instructions is about all I can handle!!    

The original Sweetie Pie Hat was striped, because back then, I had no reason to mind switching colors every eight rows (not to mention weaving in all those ends!). I still love that hat and will continue to wear it, but after knitting the Forever Baby Blanket for a friend, the For Better or Worsted from Anzula was calling my name. I decided it was just the right  yarn for a fresh take on an old favorite!  

With its crisp and clean stitch definition, For Better or Worsted is the perfect choice for interesting stitch patterns, and it just couldn't be nicer to work with! Super duper soft and sumptuous, this merino, cashmere and nylon blend is also machine washable. The new Sweetie Pie Hat takes only one skein of For Better or Worsted and will knit up in no time at all, even with a toddler on your lap! Happy Holidays! -Jen

Materials

• 1 skein of Anzula's For Better or Worsted (80% superwash merino wool, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon; 200 yards). I used the color Mauve.
• A US #7, 16 inch circular needle
• A set of US #7 double pointed needles

Pattern

Gauge

5 1/2 stitches = 1 inch in stockinette stitch

Finished Size 

19 (22) inches in circumference, to fit most adult women (men).

Pattern Notes

How to make a baby cable: Knit 2 together, leaving stitches on the left needle. Insert right needle between these two stitches and knit the first stitch again, slipping both stitches off the left needle (without knitting the second stitch).

Begin

Cast on 96 (108) stitches.

Ribbed Edge 

Rounds 1-3: *[K1, p1] 4 times, k2 p2 repeat from * to end of round

Round 4 (Cable Round): *[K1, p1] 4 times, make baby cable (see Pattern Notes above), p2, repeat from * to end of round. 

Repeat Rounds 1-4 two more times.

Hat 

Rounds 1-3: *K10, p2, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 4 (Cable Round): *K8, make a baby cable, p2, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Rounds 1-4 until hat measures 5 1/4 (6) inches from cast on edge.

Crown 

Round 1 (Decrease Round): *K2tog, k8, p2* repeat from * to end of round. 88 (99) stitches

Round 2: *K9, p2* repeat from * to end of round.

Round 3 (Decrease Round): *K2tog, k7, p2* repeat from * to end of round. 80 (90) stitches

Round 4 (Cable Round): *K6, make a baby cable, p2 repeat from * to end of round. 
 

Round 5 (Decrease Round): *K2tog, k6, p2 repeat from * to end of round. 72 (81) stitches

Round 6: *k7, p2, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 7 (Decrease Round): *K2tog, k5, p2 repeat from * to end of round. 64 (72) stitches

Round 8 (Cable Round): *K4, make a baby cable, p2 repeat from * to end of round. 

Round 9 (Decrease Round): *K2tog, k4, p2 repeat from * to end of round. 56 (63) stitches

Round 10: *K5, p2 repeat from * to end of round.

Round 11 (Decrease Round): *K2tog, k3, p2, repeat from * to end of round. 48 (54) stitches

Round 12 (Cable Round): *K2, make a baby cable, p2 repeat from * to end of round. 

Round 13 (Decrease Round): *K2tog, k4, repeat from * to end of round. 40 (45) stiches

Round 14: *K3, p2, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 15 (Decrease Round): *K2tog, k1, p2, repeat from * to end of round. 32 (36) stitches

Round 16 (Cable Round): *Make a baby cable, p2 repeat from * to end of round. 

Round 17 (Decrease Round): *K2tog, p2 repeat from * to end of round. 24 (27) stitches

Round 18: *K1, p2, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 19 (Decrease Round): *K1, p2tog, repeat from * to end of round. 16 (18) stitches

Round 20 (Decrease Round): *K2tog repeat from * to end of round. 8 (9) stitches

Round 21 (Decrease Round: *K2tog repeat from * to end of round. For larger size, end with a k1. 4 (5) stitches

Using a tapestry needle, thread the end through the remaining stitches and pull tight. Bring the tail to the inside of the hat and weave in loose ends. 

Comments

[Heidi]

So cute! I had to throw away my old favorite winter hat because the moths had gotten to it and it was beyond saving. :O( But now I'm inspired to make a new one! Thanks!

[Sarah]

I was wondering if it wouldn't be too difficult to morph this into a beret? Maybe skip the cables in the band, then do the increasing? What do you think?
Thanks.

[purl bee]

Hi Sarah-

Why not! It would probably be very cute! If you give it a try please let us know. We'd love to see how it comes out.

Thanks!- Molly

[Crochet with Raymonf]

it is just gorgeous! I am always looking for hat patterns to knit for my friends children and I am going to try this in DK as soon as I get my printer hooked up to the computer! Love it and thank you so much for sharing XXX

[Wendy]

Was wondering if the yarn you recommend is really soft-not itchy at all. considering making this sweet hat for a friend going through Chemo-again and needs a pick me up. Also wondering about coverage of the head.
Thanks

[purl bee]

Hi Wendy-

This yarn is really really not itchy. It's one of the smoothest and softest yarns we have. I think it would be totally appropriate for this situation

Cashmere would also be non-itchy and the 8ply would work in this gauge: http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/819-Jade-Sapphire-8-ply-Cashmere

For a non animal based fiber I'd recommend Blue Sky worsted cotton. It is very soft, comes in great colors and is easy to work with: http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/721-Blue-Sky-Blue-Sky-Cotton

Please let us know if you have any more questions. Thank you!
- Molly

[Wendy]

Molly(a beautifull name-my daughter's as well! :) )
thanks so much for the thoughtful response!
this will make a wonderful surprise
happy holidays!
Wendy

[Elizabeth]

Lovely pattern ~ thanks for sharing. I have completed one hat for my sweetie and am nearly done with a second one for me.

When working on my first hat, I made a change for Round 13:
Round 13 (Decrease Round): *K2tog, k2, P2, instead of K2tog, K4.

Thanks for sharing a wonderful and quick project. Happy New Year!

[Amy]

Hi! Great hat...already made one for myself. I'm now making one for a dear friend who's undergoing chemo and she's a huge University of Texas fan. It's hard buying yarn when you can't see or feel it yourself and I live in a small town with now nearby yarn stores. Can you help me find the right yarn in the UT orange (kind of a burnt orange)? THANK YOU!
Amy

[purl bee]

Hi Amy-

We actually had similar question about making a hat for someone going through chemo earlier. If you'd like to check out my previous response please see the answer to "Wendy" 3 comments above.

As for the color. "Pumpkin" in Blue Sky cotton would work great: http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/721-Blue-Sky-Blue-Sky-Cotton

"Kashquat" would be the closest in the cashmere but it is a bit bright: http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/819-Jade-Sapphire-8-ply-Cashmere

"Canteloupe" would be closest in the For Better or Worsted but it is also a bit bright and light: http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/7913-Anzula-For-Better-or-Worsted

You can also call our website at 800-597-PURL if you'd like to talk to someone directly. They will have the yarn in front of them and will be able to give you a more perfect match. You can send them this link for the UT orange color: http://www.utexas.edu/what-starts-here/brand-identity/primary-colors

Thanks for the fun question!

Molly

[Josie]

Hi there,
I just made the Sweetie Pie hat and some matching fingerless mittens. I love it! The fit is perfect. I love how it is snug and covers my ears. Perfect for walking my dog in the cold Michigan winter! Thank you for sharing such a wonderful pattern.

You can see a picture of it here, on my blog. http://houseinhiddenhollow.blogspot.com/2012/02/fos-finished-objects.html

Josie

[JR]

Thanks for the pattern! Did you use all 200 yards? This seems like a good de-stashing pattern, but I'll be substituting other yarns and want to make sure I'll have enough. Plus I've always wanted to learn cables, and this seems like a good project for that! The cable instructions aren't entirely intuitive to me, although I don't have my needles in front of me to try it out--does anyone know of a good video showing the technique?

[Lesley]

Just finished the new sweetie pie hat. Great pattern, great hat. Question? Shouldn't round 13 of the crown decrease be k2tog, k2, p2? Instead of k2tog, k4? Thanks, Lesley

[purl bee]

Hi Lesley,
Great question! And the answer is... it could be. We found that doing k4, helped transition into the final decrease rounds better as you approach the top of the hat. It was something that was and continues to be debated. I've actually done it both ways. We continue to get this question though, so perhaps k2tog, k2, p2 is a more natural round.
Thank you for asking!
Laura

[Rue]

I love this pattern! Thank you for sharing it! I'm a new knitter & would like to know if I could use this pattern for a child ( a boy in particular)? If yes, do you have any advice for reducing the pattern size?
Thank you!

[purl bee]

Hi Rue-

This pattern would probably fit a boy without changing it as it's a snug fitting hat, just make sure to knit the small size.

Thanks for your question!

Molly

[Mary]

Materials say: Circular needles and double pointed needles but don't say when to use which. Help. I'm a beginner.

[purl bee]

Hi Mary-

Start on the circular needles. When the decreases make the hat too small to get around the circular needle switch to the double points.

Please let us know if you have any more questions and thank you!

Molly

[Jessica Duckers]

This was a beautiful, easy beanie pattern to complete!!, thank you so much for making it available!!! It's one I'm going to keep a hold of!

[Jocelyn]

I am also a new knitter and I just made the hat for my daughter in a diff color. It was easy to make and I was initially worried about the baby cables but I saw a video of it and it helped immensely. Thanks for sharing the pattern.
Can you help me figure out how to make it for a 1 year old? Or show me where to get info re: this? Thanks. Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!

[purl bee]

Hi Jocelyn-

We don't have plans to write this pattern in a baby size at the moment but you might want to check out our baby patterns here (including many hats!) http://www.purlbee.com/baby-projects-knitting/

Thank you for writing in!

Molly

[JR]

I made the hat in baby-size just by using sock yarn and size 3 DPNs. I'd guess it would fit a one-year-old, but that's just an estimate. It looks great!

[Megan Morton]

I just finished up this hat for my husband's birthday and I absolutely love how it turned out! He was really happy with it too haha. Is there anywhere to post pictures? As always, the Purl continues to provide beautiful ideas and inspiration. I'm going to get to work of the Snowflake Scarf now:) Happy New Year!

[purl bee]

Hi Megan-

We would love to see some pictures! There are lots of way to share them with us:

You could post them to our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Purlsohocom/58035888021

Or share them with on Twitter: https://twitter.com/purlbee

Or if you have your own blog you can leave us a link in the comments.

Thank you!

Molly

[Laura]

I keep coming back to this pattern - so sweet. I'm a beginner knitter and I'm ready to try dpns. I have a yarn I would like to use, but it is only 180 yds. Do you remember if you used all 200 yds of the gorgeous mauve For Better or Worsted?

[jen]

Hi Laura,

I'm so sorry, I don't remember if I used all of the yarn but I don't have any left in my stash so it is a good bet that I used most of it!

Thanks,

Jen

[Laura]

Thank you , Jen. It's a beautiful pattern and the yarn you chose is so lovely. Great work!