Little Bunnies Foo Foo Hat

Keep your little one warm with this charming hat that features a delicate row of rabbits near its brim. Worked from the bottom up, this hat looks great both with and without a pom pom. After knitting the brim, stitches are increased for the body of hat and the needle size is changed before beginning the colorwork pattern.

Skill Level: Easy

Size: Toddler (Child, Adult) to fit 16 (18, 21)” head circumference
Recommend worn with negative ease at ribbed band.

Gauge: 24 sts and 36 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking using larger needle.
26 sts = 4″ over chart pattern, using larger needle after blocking.

Materials

Yarn:

 Garnstudio DROPS Baby Merino (100% Merino Wool; 191 yards [175 meters]/50 grams): 01 White (MC), 1 (1, 1) ball; 23 Light Beige (CC), 1 (1, 1) ball.
Needles: US size 4 (3.5 mm) and US size 5 (3.75mm): 16” circular; US size 5 (3.75 mm): set of DPNs.
Notions: Stitch markers (optional); tapestry needle.

Abbreviations

CC – contrast color
dpn – double pointed needles
K – knit
P – purl
m – marker
MC – main color
Rnd – round
St st – stockinette stitch
st(s) – stitch(es)
K2tog – knit 2 sts together
K3tog – Knit 3 sts together
cdd – centered double decrease (slip 2 sts knitwise, knit 1, pass slipped sts over)

Special Stitches

1×1 Rib

Rnd 1: *K1, p1; rep from * around.
Rep Rnd 1 for patt.

Pattern Notes

This pattern is worked in the round from the bottom up, beginning with a ribbed brim. The colorwork pattern for body of hat is charted only.

Pattern

With smaller circular needle and MC, CO 80 (90, 108) sts. Join for working in the rnd, being careful not to twist the sts. PM for beg of round.
Work in 1×1 Rib for 1″ / [2.5 cm].

Inc Rnd: *K8 (5, 6), m1; rep from * to the end of the rnd – 90 (108, 126) sts.

Switch to the larger circular needle.
Knit 1 rnd.
Begin Little Bunnies Chart starting with Rnd 1, working the 18-st repeat 5 (6, 7) times each rnd.
Cont in patt as est to end of Rnd 16, break CC.
With MC only, knit every rnd until piece meas 4 (4½, 6½)” from CO edge.

Shape Crown

Note: Switch to DPNs when stitches no longer fit comfortably on 16″ circular needle.

Rnd 1: *K16, k2tog; rep from * to end – 85 (102, 119) sts.
Rnd 2 and all even number rnds: Knit.
Rnd 3: *K15, k2tog; rep from * to end – 80 (96, 112) sts.
Rnd 5: *K14, k2tog; rep from * to end – 75 (90, 105) sts.
Rnd 7: *K13, k2tog; rep from * to end – 70 (84, 98) sts.
Rnd 9: *K12, k2tog; rep from * to end – 65 (78, 91) sts.
Rnd 11: *K11, k2tog; rep from * to end – 60 (72, 84) sts.
Rnd 13: *K9, k3tog; rep from * to end – 50 (60, 70) sts
Rnd 15: *K7, k3tog; rep from * to end – 40 (48, 56) sts.
Rnd 17: *K5, k3tog; rep from * to end –  30 (36, 42) sts.
Rnd 19: *K3, k3tog; rep from * to end – 20 (24, 28) sts.
Rnd 21: *K1, k3tog; rep from * to end – 10 (12, 14) sts.

Finishing

Break yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread tail through rem sts, pull tight to fasten.
Weave in ends. Block gently.