Pumpkin Hat Pattern

Permission to post from KJS Design & Photography

Photo courtesy of kjsdesign.smugmug.com


Intro
The day before the baby's family photos I decided to make him this hat knowing we were going to the pumpkin farm. He came with sweater for family pictures and other cute hats I aspire to make.


Pumpkin Hat Pattern
Pattern adapted from Knittingonthenet.com



Materials:
Size 9 US (5.5 mm) double points
1 ball  Medium-Worsted Weight Yarn(Vanna's Choice Terracotta)
Small amount Med-Worsted Weight (VC Olive) to achieve stem & leaves

Gauge:
16 sts = 4 inches

Size
Baby (adjust for size)

Instructions
CO 63 stitches or add multiple of 7.
Join, mark beg of round.

<I used a small piece of the Olive yarn since it was around and my stitch markers were not>
*k8, p1* around.
Work until about 5 inches for a baby, or 5.5-6" for a toddler size. [.75"-1" is lost in the rolled brim] 

<If a larger size is wanted, work until 6-6.6" inches before you begin the decreasing. The original patterns suggested adding another panel (8 knits and 1 purl) or you could add more to the current ones (9k, 1p) or (8k, 2p [more defined rib]).

Decreasing:
Row 1: *K6, k2tog, p1*
Row 2: Knit the k, and purl the p.
Row 3: *K2tog, k5, p1*

<Methods: Through the Back Loop (TBL) or slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped st over (SKP)>

<<Notice you decreased on each end. This gives a much more uniform decrease. I tried to only K2tog at the end and it looked funny>
Row 4: Rep Row 2
Row 5: *K4, k2tog, p1*
Row 6: Rep Row 2
Row 7: *K2tog tbl, k3, p1*
Row 8: *K2, k2tog, p1*
Row 9: *K2tog tbl, k1, p1*
Now use green or olive yarn for the stem. <You can use it earlier if you want more green around the base>
Row 10: *K2tog, k1*
Row 11: K2tog around
Decrease by K2tog every row until 3 remain.
Work I-cord until desired length, BO.

<I curled and attached to stem base for effect. You can leave long.>
Fasten off the end of orange yarn also.

Leaf Instructions

When playing with leaves I found adding a stitch (M1-Knit in front and back of st) in the middle of a row shapes it round and the end allows it lay flat. I combined the two in order to round the top and flatten the decrease. This pattern is written for a uniform leaf while mine were improvised so that each half was not equal giving personality. (Stockinette stitch can be used for effect-K the P)

CO 3 stitches leaving end long

P row

M1, K, M1 (5)

Purl

K 1, M1, K1, M1, K1 (7)

P row

M1, K7, M1 (9)

Lengthen: P row, K row, Purl Row

Begin Decrease: K2tog (tbl), K7, K2tog (7)

P row, K row

P2tog, K5, P2tog (5)

P row, K row

K2tog (tbl), K, K2tog (3)

P

BO creating point

Attach to stem by pulling tail into stem and securing with whipstich.