Northwinds Pixie

Northwinds Pixie Knit Hat by Fox and Folk

What Is Being Made

The Northwinds Pixie is a downloadable knitting pattern for a charming children's hat designed by Fox and Folk. This project creates a fitted, decorative hat available in five different sizes to accommodate babies and toddlers from newborn through 3 years old. The hat features a distinctive decorative braid element at the opening, making it both functional and visually appealing for young children.

Sizing and Fit

This pattern includes five size options: Newborn, 6 months, 12 months, 2 years, and 3 years. The stitch counts vary slightly between sizes to ensure proper fit across the age range, with the Newborn size requiring 66 stitches and the 6-month size requiring 70 stitches as a starting point.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Northwinds Pixie incorporates several intermediate-level knitting techniques that add visual interest and construction complexity. The pattern features a Latvian braid, a decorative two-color braiding technique worked over the opening edge of the hat. This technique can be executed using either a two-color cast-on method with two separate accent color yarns or a single-color long-tail cast-on method where the extended tail serves as the second yarn strand for the braid work.

The main body of the hat is worked in stockinette stitch, the fundamental knit stitch pattern that creates the smooth, classic fabric characteristic of most fitted hats. This stitch is achieved by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side, creating a uniform, polished appearance.

Stitches and Abbreviations

• K - Knit stitch, the primary stitch used in the stockinette body
• P - Purl stitch, worked on wrong-side rows in stockinette
• CO - Cast on, the foundation method for creating the initial stitches
• BO - Bind off, the finishing technique to secure stitches
• RS - Right side, the outside-facing surface of the finished hat
• WS - Wrong side, the inside-facing surface
• MC - Main color, the primary yarn color for the hat body

Materials and Yarn Requirements

This intermediate knitting project requires worsted weight yarn, a medium-weight yarn that works up quickly and provides good stitch definition. Yardage requirements vary by size:

• Main Color: 150 to 180 yards (137 to 164 meters) for the primary hat body
• Accent Color 1: 50 to 100 yards (45 to 91 meters) for the decorative braid
• Accent Color 2: 50 to 100 yards (45 to 91 meters) for the contrasting braid element

The pattern recommends US 7 (4.5 mm) circular or straight needles, allowing knitters to choose their preferred needle style based on personal preference and available tools. Additional notions include a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends and stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and size increases.

Gauge and Fit Specifications

Proper gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished hat size. The Northwinds Pixie pattern specifies a gauge of 11 stitches per 2 inches (5 cm) when worked in stockinette stitch. Knitters should swatch their chosen yarn and needles before beginning to ensure their gauge matches the pattern requirements, as variations in gauge will directly affect the final hat dimensions and fit on the child.

Pattern Design and Construction

The hat construction begins with the decorative Latvian braid at the opening edge, which serves as both a functional and aesthetic element. This two-color braiding technique creates visual texture and interest at the hat's rim. The pattern provides flexibility in how this braid is created, accommodating different knitter preferences and skill levels with the technique. Following the braid foundation, the main body is worked in straightforward stockinette stitch, making this an accessible intermediate project for knitters looking to expand their technical skills without overwhelming complexity.

Pattern copyright Fox and Folk © 2019. This downloadable PDF provides complete instructions for creating the Northwinds Pixie hat in