Teddy's hat

This pattern is adapted to fit a baby with anencephaly from the Cash Baby! Hat pattern by Mari Chiba which can be found here Mari has kindly allowed the adapted pattern to be shared without charge to help families whose babies have anencephaly.

There are options within the adapted pattern below to make a hat which fits our babies' smaller heads snuggly, or a taller one which can accommodate a few breast pads to give the appearance of a more rounded "normal" head shape.

Hat:

Using 3 ¾mm double pointed needles, cast on 63 stitches, join to knit in the round.
Round 1: p
Round 2: k
Repeat rounds 1-2 4 times.
Knit in stocking stitch (knit every row) until hat measures 1 inch (or 2 inches if you want a hat that will accommodate a few breast pads to give a more rounded appearance to baby's head) from cast on edge.
Decrease for crown as follows:
Round 1: (k7, k2tog) 7 times
Rounds 2, 4, 6 & 8: k
Round 5: (k5, k2tog) 7 times
Round 7: (k4, k2tog) 7times
Round 9: (k3, k2tog) 7 times
Round 10: (k2, k2tog) 7 times
Continue decreasing 7 stitches every round until 7 stitches remain, then break yarn and pull through remaining stitches.

Earflaps - Make Two:
The earflaps are knit flat. After knitting the first earflap flatten your hat and mark where your second earflap should start, making sure both earflaps are centred and equidistant from each other.
With right side facing, pick up and knit 15 stitches.
Row 1 and all wrong side rows: k
Row 2: k1, ssk, k9, k2tog, k1
Row 4: k1, ssk, k7, k2tog, k1
Row 6: k1, ssk, k5, k2tog, k1
Continue in pattern, decreasing 2 stitches every row until 5 stitches remain.
Next row: k1, sk2p, k1
With remaining 3 stitches knit in i-cord to desired length for the ties. Break yarn and pull trough 3 stitches.

Last updated November 12, 2020