A Butterfly Hat for Alex

Butterfly Hat for Alex

Sizes: Newborn small (preemie) and large
Finished measurements
Small: 13” circumference
Large: 15” circumference
Materials: sport weight cotton yarn (I used Knitpicks Shine Sport; 60% pima cotton, 40% modal), one skein (50g. / 110 yds)
16” circular needles, size 3
Double point needles, size 3 or size required to get gauge
Gauge: in stockinette stitch, 5 sts = 1 inch

Directions are written for the smaller size with the larger size in parentheses.

Hat body:
Cast on 70 (80) stitches. Join in round, place marker, be careful not to twist stitches.

Round 1: Knit
Round 2: Purl
Round 3: Knit
Rounds 4, 6 and 8: *K5, with yarn in front (wyif) slip 5 stitches purlwise;* repeat around
Rounds 5 and 7: Knit
Round 9: K7 *insert right needle from below under the three loose strands; yo and draw up a loop (gathering loop); purl the next stitch and slip the gathering loop over the purled stitch; K9* repeat around to the last two stitches, K2.
Round 10, 12, and 14: *wyif, slip 5 sts, k5* repeat around
Round 11 and 13: Knit
Round 15: K2 * insert right needle from below under the three loose strands; yo and draw up a loop (gathering loop); purl the next stitch and slip the gathering loop over the purled stitch; K9*; repeat to the last 7 stitches, k7.

For smaller size, repeat rows 4 through 15 once more, then rows 4 through 9 once.
For larger size, repeat rows 4 through 15 twice more.

Top decreases, both sizes:

Round 1: Knit
Round 2: Purl
Round 3: Knit
Round 4: Purl
Round 5: Knit (switch to dpns when necessary)

For smaller size only:
Row 6: *K8, k2tog* around
Row 7: *K7, k2 tog* around
Rows 8 through 14: continue to work decreases on every row until there are 7 stitches left on then needles.
Cut yarn, draw through the loops and pull tight. Weave in ends.

For larger size only:
Row 6: *k8, k2tog* around
Row 7: knit
Row 8: *k7, k2tog* around
Row 9: knit
Row 10: *k6, k2tog* around
Row 11: knit
Row 12: *k5, k2tog* around
Row 13: knit
Row 14: *k4, k2 tog* around
Row 15: knit
Row 16: *k3, k2 tog* around
Row 17: knit
Row 18: *k2, k2tog* around
Row 19: *k1, k2tog* around
Row 20: *k2tog* around (8 sts left on needles)
Cut yarn, draw through the loops and pull tight. Weave in ends.

**This pattern has not yet been test knit from these instructions, only from my chicken-scratch notes. If anyone wants to knit up a couple and let me know what could be done better, please feel free to do so.