Brookside Knits"To Sit and Knit"

October 2011 Baby Hats Pumpkin Patch

October 2011 Baby Hats in Fall Colors

It’s Fall and Brookside Knitters have been busy all summer knitting and crocheting newborn hats for delivery to–Where else?–the Labor & Delivery section of Pottstown Memorial Medical Center.

Each month we’ve contributed 25 hats suitable for baby boys and 25 for baby girls.  We enjoy adding special hats for patriotic holidays and moving toward fall colors for September & October.

I’ll include photos of the October “Pumpkin Patch” and “Fall Colors” selections and say that we are looking forward to the challenge of “Pilgrim Hats & Bonnets” for Thanksgiving.  All local members contribute, and the Fall hat group includes hats by Joy, Karen, Lenore, LuAnn, and Sandi.

When hats turn out to be too large for newborns we donate them to other charity organizations.  (Newborns  need hats 10-12″ around with no do-dads. They need to be washable, acrylics or cottons rather than wool to be especially kind to tiny heads.)

Baby Hats

Countdown CapHere is the pattern we are using this year (2012) for the Knit-Out baby hat kits.  If you are bringing hats along, you may use any newborn hat pattern.  Pottstown Memorial Medical Center has asked that donated hats have no pompoms, buttons, flowers or other items that may be grabbed by infants. All donated hats will be washed so yarn should be washable (acrylic, cotton, etc., rather than wool). Larger hats, hats with pompoms, or wool hats will be donated to other projects. Thank you for contributing to the project.

CO 40 stitches loosely.
K1, P1 rib for  1 – 1.5 inches

Work in stockinette stitch until piece measures 4 – 4.5 inches from the cast-on edge.

Decrease as follows:
Row 1: *K2tog, K2* across (30)
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: *K2tog, K1* across (20)
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: K2 together across (10)
[Row 6 Optional: Purl]

With cap still on needle, cut yarn about 24 inches long. Using a tapestry needle, thread yarn through the 10 sts on the needle [twice through is more secure]. Pull snuggly. With right sides together, sew up back seam. Weave in ends.