a free pattern to inspire you to knit this winter
I've been making these knitted hats – I call them top knots – for about a year now. They are a quick and easy knit, and are an excellent way to use all those one ball yarns in your stash.
I'd always loved them, thinking they were oh-so-cute, but until the Healsville market on Sunday I'd only sold one or maybe two at each market when I took them to sell. But at Healsville my luck changed – I sold six of them. It might have been the colder weather, the new way I displayed them, or perhaps the reduced price – whatever the reason, this week there are six very cute kids walking around in a top knot.
I thought you might like the pattern so you can make one for your very own cutie. Its a made-up pattern, but that means you can use any yarn you want and knit any size you need.
Top knot pattern
Materials:
> approx 80m of yarn (a full ball or leftover yarn)
> set of needles to suit the guage of the yarn
> wool needle to sew up sides
Sizing:
You can make the top knot any size you like:
> measure the circumfrenence of the head you are knitting the top knot for
> divide that by two – this is the width you will knit
> using the tension info for the yarn you are using, work out how many stitches will knit up to that width – you don't have to be too precise!
> measure the person's head from the eyebrows, across the top of the head and to the back of the head – this measurement is the length you will need to knit.
Instructions:
> cast on the number you stitches you calculated, use a needle a size bigger to allow for a loose cast on
> knit every stitch in every row until you have made a tall rectangle that measure the length you need to knit
> cast off.
Finishing:
> fold the knitted rectangle in half, so the cast on and cast off ends meet
> sew up the side seams using your favourite method
> attach "top knot" threads in each corner.
Design ideas:
> why not add buttons or a felt flower to decorate the top knot?
> you could use stocking stitch, moss stitch, or any stitch you like
> why not use several colours – especially good if you have lots of small bits of wool. Maybe stripe? Or perhaps one colour for the front and another for the back?
Have fun! You won't be able to stop at one.