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.
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.
