Pihla Hat in Novita Baby Wool - NFFP003 - Downloadable PDF

Pihla Hat in Novita Baby Wool

What is Being Made

The Pihla Hat is a knitted infant accessory designed for approximately 1-year-old children. This downloadable PDF pattern, created by designer Sari Nordlund, produces a finished hat with elegant lace detailing and a comfortable garter stitch band. The hat combines decorative lace patterning with functional construction techniques suitable for babies.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several fundamental and decorative techniques. The pattern begins with stockinette stitch foundation, transitions into charted lace work, and finishes with garter stitch construction. Shaping is achieved through strategic decreasing, with the pattern specifying decrease rows that reduce stitch count progressively. The lace section requires following a 10-stitch pattern repeat worked across the width of the piece, demonstrating chart-reading skills essential for intermediate knitters.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch: Formed by knitting right-side rows and purling wrong-side rows, creating the smooth, classic knit fabric base for the hat
• Garter Stitch: Produced by knitting all rows, providing texture and structure for the main body and ribbed band of the hat
• Lace Pattern: Charted lace work incorporating yarn overs and knit-two-together decreases to create decorative openwork
• Yarn Overs: Used in the lace pattern to create intentional eyelets and openwork design elements
• Knit Two Together (k2tog): Decrease stitch used both in lace patterning and in shaping rows to reduce stitch count
• Bobble Stitch: Textural embellishment created by working multiple stitches into the same stitch, adding dimensional detail

Materials and Specifications

This pattern calls for Novita Baby Wool yarn in the colorway Straw, requiring less than 100 grams of yarn. The yarn weight is DK (double knitting), appropriate for creating a lightweight yet warm accessory for infants. Knitters will need Novita 3½ mm needles (US 4) or the size required to achieve proper gauge. The recommended gauge is 20 stitches in garter stitch over 10 centimeters or 4 inches, ensuring the finished hat achieves the correct sizing for a 1-year-old.

Construction Details

The hat is constructed from a cast-on of 73 stitches, beginning with stockinette stitch. After 5 rows, the charted lace pattern is introduced, with the 10-stitch repeat worked 7 times across the width plus 3 edge stitches. Following completion of the 12-row lace chart, knitters transition to garter stitch for approximately 9 centimeters of body fabric. Shaping occurs through structured decrease rows that reduce the stitch count while maintaining the garter stitch texture, creating a fitted crown suitable for infant wear.