About the pattern
The hat is knit bottom up in the round, starting with a provisional cast on for the band. You then work short-row earflaps (you can also completely skip those to get a regular hat!) and continue with the outer layer in colorwork. You then go back and work the inner layer from the band up (you can skip this step, if you want a lighter hat!)

This pattern includes 2 types of instructions:
• Written pattern for 6 children sizes with 40-52cm/15.75-20.5” head circumference if you meet pattern gauge;
• Recipe to calculate for a different gauge / head circumference.
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Please note, some of the pattern photos are from my testers who are not on Ravelry. You can see many more FO’s from this pattern on Instagram under the pattern hashtag: #Bambi_hat
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Sizes
A total of 6 sizes, for head circumference 40-42 (42-44, 44-46, 46-48, 48-50, 50-52) cm/15.75-16.5 (16.5-17.25, 17.25-18, 18-19, 19-19.75, 19.75-20.5)” to fit a child of 0-3 months (3-6 months, 6-12 months, 1-3 years, 3-8 years, 8-12 years).

Yarns
You will need yarn in 2 contrasting colors. Make sure it’s soft enough for the sensitive skin on the forehead: I recommend merino or cotton-merino blend (depending on your climate).
If you want to follow the pattern at gauge, use DK-weight yarn.
If you want to work with the recipe, feel free to choose anything between sport and aran weight.
My samples were knit in Lana Gatto Super Soft.
Testers successfully substituted it with:

• BBB Premiere
• Lana Grossa Cool Wool Merino Big Solid/Uni
• Schachenmayr Merino Extrafine 120
• KPC Yarn Glencoul DK
• Sandnes Garn Duo
• Infinity Design Cotton Merino

Gauge
Default DK gauge is 23 sts per 30 rows in 10cm/4”.
But you can also use the formulas in the pattern to rework it for your own gauge.

Needles

• 4 mm/US6 40cm/24” circulars for the main part and DPNs/ magic loop for the crown
• 3.5 mm/US4 40cm/24” circulars for the band and ties

Notions
Tape measure, (gauge) ruler, stitch markers, tapestry needle, waste yarn, crochet hook 3.5-4mm/E-G, row counter (optional), scissors and a pompom (optional; you can also make one from the yarn)

Required skills
Knitting, purling, provisional cast on, basic colorwork, working in short rows.
All difficult steps have photo- and some also video-tutorials in 2 formats: my own explanations with Russian voice-over + links to non-affiliated generic technique tutorials in English.

Pattern tech-edited and translated into English by Olga Barshai GingerHandcrafts