Elf hat free knitting pattern by Leanne Dyck

This adorable children's hat is the perfect project for the beginning knitter, but I'm guessing knitters of all skill levels will want to knit it.

Like all the patterns I share on this blog, this pattern was designed by Leanne Dyck.

Baby hat

knitting needles:  4.50 mm/US 7/UK7
Yarn:  worsted weight main and contrasting colour
Tension:  4 stitches x 6 rows = one inch

4 x 4 rib
Row:  knit four, purl four--to end of row
Repeat row for pattern

Stockinette stitch
Row 1:  knit--to end of row
Row 2:  purl--to end of row
Repeat row for pattern


Cast on 56 stitches with main colour
Work in 4 x 4 rib stitch for 2 inches [5.08 cm]
Work in Stockinette stitch with contrasting colour for two rows
Alternate between main and contrasting colours every second row
Decrease two stitches at the beginning and end of row every second row
When hat measures 10 inches [25.4] and 6 stitches remain, slip stitches onto a double point needle
Work I-cord for six inches
Using a darning needle, pull thread through stitches and secure
Add fringe

His Toque (short story) by Leanne Dyck

His Toque

One of my island neighbours knit her husband a toque. Many years later he still wears it. She tells him that it has become ugly with age – he still wears it. She explains that the yarn has become piled – he still wears it. She says the colours have faded – he still wears it.

"Maybe if I could knit another exactly like it, he'd let me throw that ugly old thing out. But I no longer have that pattern," she tells me.

“I can design a toque to match that one.”

“Really? Well, that would be lovely, dear.”  She hands me the toque and a bag of yarn. 

Arriving home, I set to work. The toque is a clever design. There are a few things I would change but I resist the impulse. Casting on leads to casting off. I sew the seam and weave in the ends. I put the new toque with the old into the bag of unused yarn and I return to my neighbour's. She is pleased to see me and inquires about my progress.

“I’m finished.” I hand her the bag.

She fishes out the new toque and hands the bag back. "You've done a lovely job, dear."

Her husband walks into the room. "That my new toque?" He takes it out of his wife's hands and pulls it on. "It fits."  He kisses his wife and waves to me. “I’m going for a walk.” 

Later--with the old toque as my muse, I made alterations and produced a pattern. One toque leads to another and another and another. I've knit the toque for men, women, and children. The toque has been enjoyed by all. 

handknitting pattern: winter hat designed by Leanne Dyck

My favourite toque
Fits most adults

Fast, easy, and fun--a perfect first knitting project

Yarn: worsted weight
Weight (in ounces and grams) of the skein/ball:  3.5 oz/ 100 grams
Length (in yards and meters) of the skein/ball:  230 yards/ 210 metres

Needle size:  1 pair of 4.50 mm (7 US, 7 UK)

Tension:  20 stitches x 8 rows = 4 inches over Stockinette stitch

Stitch pattern

4 x 4 rib stitch (over even number of stitches)
Row 1:  knit 4, purl 4--to end of row
Repeat row for pattern

1 x 1 rib stitch (over even number of stitches)
Row 1:  knit 1, purl 1--to end of row
Repeat row for pattern

Cast on 80 stitches
Work in 4 x 4 rib stitch for 11 inches (27. 5 cm)
This row:  knit two together to end of row (40 stitches remain)
Work in 1 x 1 rib for 1 inch (2 cm)

Pull yarn through remaining stitches, sew the side seam and weave in ends. 


***
Next post:  I will share the story of how I developed this design.

Free knitting pattern: Toque by Leanne Dyck

This toque fits like a dream and the pattern was designed for the beginner-level knitter.

Yarn: one skein (230 yards/ 210 metres)

Needle size: 1 pair 4.50mm (7 US, 7 UK)

Tension: 20 stitches x 8 rows = 4 inches over Stockinette stitch

Stitch pattern

4 x 4 rib stitch (over even number of stitches)
Row 1: *knit four, purl four --repeat from * to end of row
Repeat row for pattern

1 x 1 rib stitch (over even number of stitches)
Row 1: *knit one, purl one --repeat from * to end of row.
Repeat row for pattern.

Cast on 80 stitches
Work in 4 x 4 rib stitch for 11 inches (27.5 cm)
This row: *knit together --repeat from * to end of row 40 stitches remain
Work in 1 x 1 rib for 1 inch (2 cm)
Bind off, sew seam and weave in ends.

Knitted in Love

One of my island neighbours knit her husband a toque. Many years later he still wears it.

She tells him that it has become ugly with age --he wears it. She explains that the yarn has become pilled --he wears it. She says the colours have faded --he wears it.

"You knit it for me. You knit it for me when we...when our love was oh so young," he coos. "I don't want a new toque. I don't want any toque but this one." He draws her into his arms and kisses her.

"Oh, I give up." She laughs.

Later, when he is having an afternoon nap, she confides in me, toque in hand. "I'm going to take this dirty old thing and burn it. You see how ugly it is!" She pauses. "It's just... it's just that...he feels the cold so. Maybe if I could make one exactly like it. The same colour --the same pattern..."

"What's the matter?"

"Well, dear. It just won't work."

"Why not?"

"I lost the pattern years ago and these old hands...they just won't hold the needles."

I take the toque from her hands, closely examining it. "I can design a toque exactly like this one."

"Really? Well, that would be wonderful dear." She says, handing me a shopping bag with a skein of yarn. I added the toque.

Arriving home, I set to work. I'm impressed by the clever design. Still, there are things I like to change. I resist the impulse. I replicated the toque. I knit the last stitch, sew the seam, and weave in the ends.

I place the remaining yarn with both toques in the shopping bag and return to my neighbour's. She is pleased to see me and enquires about my progress.

"I'm finished." I hand her the bag.

She takes the new toque out of the bag, hands the bag back to me and examines my work. She grins.

Her husband sails into the kitchen, grabs the toque and announces, "I'm going for a walk." He kisses her and waves goodbye to me.

Victorious, we wait until he leaves and then we share a laugh.

Later, with the old toque as my muse, I design a new --and better --toque. It quickly became my favourite toque pattern. I have knit it for men, women, children and infants. I keep several for myself.

Tomorrow: I share the pattern