Baby Hat & Seat Cushion in Plymouth Encore Worsted - F217

Baby Hat & Seat Cushion in Plymouth Encore Worsted – Pattern F217

This free downloadable knitting pattern from Plymouth Yarn Design Studio (pattern F217) offers two charming projects in one: a striped baby hat in three infant sizes and a coordinating 14" x 14" seat cushion. Both pieces are worked in Plymouth Encore Worsted, a popular worsted-weight yarn, making this an ideal pattern for knitters who want to create a practical and decorative set for a nursery or baby shower gift.

Materials & Gauge

Both projects use Plymouth Encore Worsted in two colors:

• Color A: Teal (shade 1317)
• Color B: Coral (shade 1316)

The hat requires 1 ball each of Color A and Color B in all three sizes. The seat cushion requires 2 balls each of both colors. Encore Worsted is sold in 100g balls, making yardage planning straightforward.

Needles required include US size 6 and US size 7 double-pointed needles for the hat (or the size needed to achieve gauge), and a US size 7 needle for the cushion. The recommended gauge is 20 stitches = 4 inches over stockinette stitch on a US 7 needle. Achieving correct gauge is especially important for the hat to ensure a proper fit across the three size options.

A 14" x 14" piece of foam or batting is required as an insert to complete the seat cushion.

Baby Hat – Design Details

The baby hat is sized to fit three age ranges:

• 0–3 months
• 6–9 months
• 12–18 months

The hat is worked entirely in the round on double-pointed needles, a classic construction method for small circumference knitting that produces a seamless, comfortable result perfect for delicate baby skin.

Techniques & Stitches Used in the Hat

• Cast on: A loose cast-on of 72 (80, 80) stitches is used, divided across three double-pointed needles and joined in the round with a stitch marker.
• Stockinette stitch in the round: The brim begins with 4 rounds of stockinette in Color B (coral) on the smaller US 6 needles, which creates a natural curl at the lower edge — a charming, classic detail on baby hats.
• Needle size change: After the initial brim rounds, knitters switch to the larger US 7 needles and work 4 more rounds in Color B before beginning the stripe sequence.
• Two-color stripe pattern: The body of the hat is worked in a repeating stripe sequence: knit 1 round Color A (teal), purl 1 round Color A, then knit 6 rounds Color B (coral). This repeat creates a subtle textural ridge in the teal color against a coral stockinette background, giving the hat visual interest without complex colorwork techniques like stranding or intarsia.
• Purl round: The single purl round worked in Color A creates a raised horizontal ridge, adding a decorative element that breaks up the stripe and adds dimension.

The stripe repeat continues until the hat reaches the specified total length — 6 inches for the 0–3 month size, 6½ inches for the 6–9 month size, and 7 inches for the 12–18 month size — measured from the bottom edge with the brim uncurled.

Seat Cushion – Design Details

The 14" x 14" seat cushion is a practical knitted accessory that coordinates beautifully with the baby hat, using the same two shades of Plymouth Encore Worsted. It is worked on US size 7 needles and finished with a foam or batting insert to give it structure and softness.

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