Cottontail Hat
Sizes Newborn, 3-6 month, 6-12 month, 12-18 month, and Toddler
Designed by Julia Belsante
Skill Level Intermediate
Yarn Size #4 Medium, #5 Bulky

ABBREVIATIONS
bo- bind off; co- cast on; dpn- double-pointed needles; k- knit; k2tog: knit two stitches together; ktfb: knit through the front and back of the stitch to create one new stitch; k2tog: knit two stitches together; m1- make one stitch; p-purl; pm- place marker; sl- slip; st- stitch; p: purl; psso- pass slipped stitch over (further directions in “Special Stitches”); RS: right side of work; ssk- slip, slip knit; section; st- stitches; WS: wrong side of work

SIZE
Newborn: 11.5 (30 cm) circumference by 5.5 (14 cm) tall
3-6 month: 12. 5 in (32 sm) by 6 in (15 cm) tall
6-12 month: 14 in (36 cm) circumference, 6.5 in (16 cm) tall
12- 18 month: 15 in (38 cm) circumference, 7 in (18 cm) tall
Toddler: 16 in (41 cm), 8 in (20 cm) tall

MATERIALS
Yarn
Color A: 1 skein #4 medium weight yarn; 63 yards (59 meters)/1.7 oz (48 grams)
Color B: 1 skein #5 bulky weight yarn; 30 yards (28 meters)/.8 oz (22 grams)
Girls’ Hat Only:
Color C: 1 skein #4 medium weight yarn; 7 yards (6.5 meters)/.18 oz (5 grams)
Color D: 1 skein #4 medium weight yarn; 4 yards (3.5 meters)/.07 oz (2 grams)

Original boy’s model is made using
Big Twist Premium in Pigeon (Color A) and Red Heart Buttercup in Teddy Bear (Color B)

Original girl’s model is made using
Big Twist Premium in Snow (Color A), Red Heart Buttercup in White Coral (Color B), Big Twist Baby in Baby Tutu (C), and Big Twist Premium in Shamrock (Color D)

Because the flower and leaves require such small amounts of yarn, this project is a great way to use up small scraps of worsted weight yarn you may have left over from other projects.

Tools
16 in (40 cm) size 9 (5.5 mm) circular needles
Size 9 (5.5 mm) double-pointed needles
Size 11 (8.0 mm) knitting needles
Row marker
Tapestry needle

GAUGE
With size 9 (5.5 mm) needles in stockinette stitch, 16 sts x 24 rows= 4 in (10 cm)

SPECIAL STITCHES
PSSO This hat uses a method of decreasing called passing the slipped stitch over or psso. You will see the following directions: sl1, k1, psso. The following is more detail about how to complete these decreases.
Sl1: Insert the right-hand needle into the first stitch on the left-hand needle and move it to the right-hand needle without working it. Do this knitwise.
K1: Knit the next stitch.
PSSO: Insert the left-hand needle into the stitch you slipped on the right needle (this will be the second stitch on the right needle. Pass this stitch over the knit stitch, just like you would if you were binding off.