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Text Box: Free Preemie Hat Patterns

The patterns on this page are free! Here are patterns for crocheted, knitted, knitting board and round loom preemie hats.
FREE Patterns!

· From Care Wear Book

KNIT PREEMIE HATS

· by Sandy Knight

TERMS:
e-wrap stitch: Keep yarn on inside of board. Wrap yarn to the right of the knitting peg and back around. Continue. Always used for cast on row in round knitting.
Flat stitch: Lay the yarn on the outside of the knitting pegs at the top of the peg. KO. Continue.
KO (Knit Off): take bottom loop over yarn laid loosely at top of knitting peg.

For Old Fashioned Knitting Board Preemie Clown Hat:
1. Start with slip knot. Place it over Rounder Peg 1.
2. Cast On Row (CO): Continuing to your right, use e-wrap stitch. Wrap around each knitting peg (to the right and around) until you get back to Rounder Peg 1. Wrap around end tie-off peg.
3. Push the yarn to the bottom of the knitting pegs.
4. Unwrap yarn from tie-off peg.
5. For rows 1-21, use flat stitch, knitting off one peg at a time.
6. To end, cut yarn leaving a 15 inch tail. Use Bindoff Method 3 (gathering method).

Bindoff Method 3—Gathering Method
Take the loop off knitting peg 2 (the loop on the left of the knitting board on the bottom board.) Pull the tail through. Use your fingers to remove the loops off each knitting peg, drawing the tail through them, one at a time. Continue on around the board until all loops are removed on to the tail. Pull the yarn tight to gather the end of the hat. Knot and weave in the ends on the inside of the hat. Roll the edge up on the other end for a brim.

To make a Clown Hat:
Make a large pompon and tack it to the top of the hat. Make 3 smaller pompons and sew them in a row down the center of the hat.

Sock Loom or Small Round Loom Preemie Clown Hat
1. Wrap yarn around notch or peg on outside of board.
2. Use e-wrap stitch for cast on row. Go completely around the loom.
3. Flat stitch rows 1-21. It's best to KO one stitch at a time. Flat stitch gets very tight.
4. Bind off with the gathering method described above.

OLD FASHIONED KNITTING BOARD OR
SOCK/SMALL ROUND LOOM CLOWN PREEMIE HAT

· by Melanie Mays

Comments: I use size 3 needles, and I prefer to use a 24" circular needled for this project. The size of the hat will vary according to the yarn you use. Each baby yarn is a little different. This project works up quickly--I can do two hats in one evening of TV watching! Tip: If you're interrupted during knitting, slip a small square of rubberized shelf liner over both needle tips so the stitches can't slide off! Also, keep a stitch/row counter handy to count your rows.

Cast on 40 stitches (preferably over both needles at once, then carefully slide one out). If you want to make a larger hat, always cast on a multiple of 4 for the 2X2 ribbing. This way, you always start with k2 and end with p2, no matter what row you're working. But remember that if you're making a larger hat, you'll need to do more than 6 rows of ribbing and 20 rows of straight stockinette, to get the right proportions!

Rows 1-6:  k2, p2 ribbing (2X2 ribbing is more flexible than 1X1)

Next 20 rows: straight stockinette

Row 21 of stockinette: Decrease-(K3, k2tog)* across

Row 22: purl across

Row 23: Decrease-(K2, k2tog)* across

Row 23: purl across

Row 25: Decrease-(K2tog)* across

Cut yarn about 15". Thread onto tapestry needle & pull yarn through remaining stitches; pull until closed. Sew flat invisible seam, trying not to make a ridge inside. Tie off with starting tail of yarn. Weave both ends into ribbing; cut flush. Turn cuff up. Add pompom if desired, with knot on outside, attaching firmly so washing won't loosen it.