Passap 1x1 Baby Bear Hat: HerbalHippieKnits

The hat below was the first pattern I'd ever learnt on my machine and looking back I realise how

important one missing aspect was... tension.

I used an 8ply yarn... I had my bed tension on -3... and I had my stitch size on 2.5 (I'm

currently hanging my head in embarrassment) BUT trial and error, I got there in the end and now I've made over 100 of these, they are brilliant as gifts especially anyone with a birthday after September.

TIP

* If you are trying to push the lock across the bed and you have to give it some welly, or physically can't move it without becoming a body builder, that is a sign your tensions and sizes are all off. STOP. If you are half way through the knit; 1. Remove the strippers, 2. Change both beds to GX, 3. Cut the yarn from the bobbin - this is the safest way to not snap any needles. (Needles are about £50 for a packet of them over here)

I learnt the EX pattern from a basic blanket I was attempting to knit, I found N|N quite flimsy, and also I didn't like how the fabric looked wonky, so after about 5x attempts (where I realised the hat would be folded so we had to alternate, and also how EX, EX was horrendous to work with, I settled wit EX|N & N|EX. Although, if you wanted an extra tight hat N/N would be perfect for you.

Below I've typed out the pattern, but have also included a Youtube video for you to watch - I, myself learn by visually seeing something work so personally I think videos are better.

PATTERN.

The needle counts and sizes I made by pure trial and error, freebie hats and measuring friends childrens heads - so they are pretty precise now - but don't be surprised if you come across a child with either a slightly smaller, or larger head size than planned. Section 1 + 2 are the most important to adjusting sizes, they give the hat a bigger feel as it extends the length.

UK Sizes

Size Needle Count 1st Sect 2nd Sect

Newborn 56 62 64

0-3 57 64 66

3-6 58 66 68

6-12 60 68 68

1-2 62 76 76

2-3 64 78 78

3-4 66 80 80

4-5 66 82 82

5-6 66 84 84

6-7 67 86 86

7-8 67 88 88

8-9 69 90 90

9-10 70 92 92

10-11 71 94 94

11-12 72 96 96

Adult F 73 98 98

Adult M 74 100 100

For this trial I used Stylecraft DK. I like the stretchiness it gives the hats, they're lots of colours available and it runs smoothly through the machine without waxing.

Step 1.

Thread your yarn through the eyelets, I always rewind my yarn into cakes to help loosen the tension and avoid yarn barfs.

* Orange Strippers as it's a double bed pattern

* Set up the required needles (I've chosen an adult hat so will be 75)

* Set your bed tension to -1. This for me makes the hat nice and firm, but also stretchy, I've tried on 0, or +1 +2 ect, but they became saggy and also by doing that it makes the hats bigger in size

* Stitch size 4.2 on both front and back lock

* Front lock 'N' - Back lock 'N'

Make sure the clips are positioned correctly

Back bed - ending needle

Front bed - starting needle

Step 2. Cast on Method.

* Knit 1 row

* Front lock 'CX' - Back lock 'CX'

* Stitch size 4.5 on front and back lock

* Knit 2 rows

* Stitch size 4.8 on both locks (It could also be 4 3/4)

* Front lock 'N' - Back lock 'N'

* Knit 1 row (this may feel slightly stiffer)

Step 3. Section 1

* Front lock 'EX' - Back lock 'N'

* Reset row counter

* Knit desired rows needed for pattern chosen

I've chosen an adult hat so will be 100

Step 4. Section 2

* Front lock 'N' - Back lock 'EX'

*Reset row counter

* Knit desired rows needed for pattern chosen

I've chosen an adult hat so will be 100

Step 5. Cast off

It's hard to explain how I do this in words, so if I confuse you a long the way, please refer to the video. Please feel free to message me and let me know how I could explain it better in words.

* Front lock 'N' - Back lock 'N'

* Knit 2 rows

* Pull the yarn from the eyelet to give you about 3 hats widths worth of length, and cut from the ball of yarn

* Pull yarn up from the middle of the bed and put to one side

* Rotate the bed so that the handle is up - which should align your needles to be directly facing each other, rather than 1x1

* Move all needles from the back bed - to the front bed. You can use your bobbin needle and do this individually, or you can use the metal bobbin combs to move 20 over at a time

* Thread the 3width yarn you have to one side through the single bobbin needle, and proceed to lift from RIGHT TO LEFT, each needle up and unhook each loop onto the bobbin needle.

What you should see if the hat slowly being removed off the machine from right to left, with each loop resting on your excess yarn

Step 6.

Once you have removed the hat - the next step is to sew it up.

*Pull the hat to the end of the yarn so that you create a small circle at the top - you then want to sew it closed. If you are having 1 pom pom, then keep it a perfect circle. If you are having two, sew it with a slight flat section in the middle - it helps to give you hat some shape.

* When sewing the top section, you want to be able to see the 'WS Wrong side' - this is the 'N' side.

*When you are half way and moving onto section 2, reverse the hat so that the top is now the 'RS Right side - EX' and the unsewn section is the WS - N.

With the adult hat you'll have a strand of yarn near the top unless you found a ball of yarn more than 350m - use this to tie a small knot with another loose strand, before sewing and weaving it in - it stops it from being visible and popping out