Sid Scrappy Hat

Sid Scrappy Hat by Melissa LaBarre

What is Being Made

The Sid Scrappy Hat is a children's knitted hat designed to be a quick and practical project for using up leftover yarn. This hat is sized to fit infants and toddlers, with three size options available: 16" head circumference for 6-12 months, 18" for 1-2 years, and 20" for 3-5 years. The hat features functional i-cord ties and strategic shaping at the sides to ensure ears remain covered during cold weather.

Techniques and Construction

The Sid Scrappy Hat is constructed using knitting in the round, a fundamental technique for creating seamless cylindrical garments. The pattern incorporates several key skills appropriate for an advanced beginner to intermediate knitter:

• Stockinette stitch in the round forms the main body of the hat, creating a smooth, classic fabric
• Decreasing is used to shape the crown and ensure proper fit
• I-cord construction creates the decorative and functional ties
• Two-color stranded work is employed in the body section, where knitters alternate between two contrast colors every 2 rows after the initial brim

The pattern begins with a stockinette brim worked in a single color. After completing Round 3 of the brim, knitters transition to the contrast color and continue alternating between colors A and B every 2 rows throughout the body of the hat. This color-switching technique adds visual interest while allowing crafters to incorporate multiple yarn colors from their stash.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch used in the Sid Scrappy Hat is stockinette stitch, which is worked in the round to create a smooth, V-textured fabric. Stockinette stitch in the round is achieved by knitting every round, making it an accessible choice for intermediate knitters. The pattern also features decreases for shaping the crown of the hat, and i-cord, a tubular knitted cord created on double-pointed needles that serves as the hat's ties.

Materials and Gauge

The Sid Scrappy Hat is worked in DK weight yarn. The pattern calls for Plucky Knitter Sweater yarn (90% wool, 10% nylon blend; 270 yards per 100-gram skein), though any DK weight yarn of similar yardage and fiber content can be substituted. Knitters need approximately 60 yards each of two contrast colors for the smallest size, increasing to 70 yards each for the medium size and 85 yards each for the largest size. One full skein of Plucky Knitter Sweater yarn provides ample yardage for any size.

The recommended gauge is 20 stitches and 28 rounds over 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch after blocking. Achieving proper gauge is essential for ensuring the hat fits correctly across all three size options.

Needles and Notions

Construction requires US 6 (3.75 mm) circular needles measuring 16 inches (40 cm) for working the body of the hat in the round, along with a set of US 6 double-pointed needles (dpns) for the crown decreases and i-cord ties. Additional notions include three stitch markers—with one being a distinctly different type to clearly mark the beginning of each round—and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends.