Child’s Intarsia Diamond Hat

 

Finished Size:  19.5″

Yarn used: Lion Brand Wool Ease Seaspray and Heather Blush, or equivalent worsted weight yarns, your choice of MC (main color) and CC (contrasting color).

Needles: size 7 needles and double point needles (dpn); tapestry needle.

Gauge: 23 sts+26 rows =4″, change needle size if needed to match gauge.

Notions: stitch markers and counters.

Note:  The diamonds and “twinkles” can be worked in either intarsia or Fair Isle.  Intarsia produces single layered fabric because the alternate colored (CC) yarns are cut when one color section is done and joined in again at the next section that requires the CC.  Fair Isle, on the other hand, produces double or more layered fabric as the CC yarns are carried floating or weaved-in on the WS when not in use and are brought to the front to be knitted when the pattern calls for the colors again. 

The diamonds on this hat are knitted in intarsia because I anticipate that some kids, living in the California weather, may not appreciate the thickness produced by Fair Isle knitting, especially with heavier weight yarns.  The twinkles are done in Fair Isle since they only cover a few rows and will not create as much of a bulkiness. 

A large portion of the hat is thus worked flat ( intarsia is easier done flat) and then for the last few rows of the top portion I opted to work in the round.  The flat part is sewn at the end creating a back seam.  

Learn more on knitting in Intarsia and Fair Isle here and in these tutorials- intarsia, Fair Isle.

Hat 

Cast on 112 stitches. Work flat (turning front and back) in k1, p1 rib for 1 inch (use smaller size needles for this part if you prefer your ribbing tighter)- about 6 rows.  Switch to stockinette stitches- k on RS, p on WS (and switch to larger needles if you used smaller needles for ribbing) for the rest of the project. 

For rows 12-26, incorporate color changes according to the chart, repeating the multiples of 10-stitch pattern (starting from second stitch) 11 times across the rows.  For example, for row 12 only the fifth stitch of each 10 stitches (first set covers stitches 2-11, second set covers stitches 12-21, and so on) that you work is knit in CC yarn- repeat 11 times.  Use stitch markers to keep track.  First and last stitiches (#1 and #112) are worked in MC and will be enclosed by the seam later.

28

27

26

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

25

24

C

C

23

22

21

20

C

C

C

C

19

18

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

17

16

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

15

14

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

13

12

C

11

10

11

10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

 

C	= Contrasting color

Continue with stockinette stitch until the hat measures 6.5″ from the beginning, longer if you wish to have more coverage.  At this point I prefer to work in the round.  Switch to the dpn’s and distribute the stitches evenly onto 3 needles.  Join the beginning and end stitches together RS facing.  Start working the decreases for the crown as follows:

Round 1: *k2tog (knit 2 stitches together), k5, repeat from * to end of round – 96 sts

Round 2: *k2tog, k4, repeat from * to end of round - 80 sts

Round 3: *k2tog, k3, repeat from * to end of round - 64 sts

Round 4: *k2tog, k2, repeat from * to end of round - 48 sts

Round 5: *k2tog, k1, repeat from * to end of round - 32 sts

Round 6:  k2tog all around - 16 sts

Break yarn,  leaving enough length to thread through remaining sts.  Pull tightly and weave in the end.   Sew the back seam using mattress stitch and be sure to enclose the first and last stitches into the seam so the 2 diamonds are separated by only 1 stitch like the rest of the hat.

 Photo of back seam, in the center.

Pom-pom:  I used the method posted by Interweave Knits, instructions here.