Lasse Hat

The Lasse Hat was first knit for Baby Fritz, and is named after Lasse in “Children of the Northlights” by Ingri and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire. Fritz will be the fourth generation to love this book. Lasse was knit so that Fritz could start early with his adventuring outdoors in the winter.

Lasse is knit in the round, with a triple-thick brim to keep Fritzie extra warm. The colorwork is modern, yet traditional, and has little heart shapes in the geometric pattern, to remind him how much he is loved. The earflaps are knit separately, and sewn on by hand. The pompoms are optional. I honestly can’t decide which way I like this hat best. II love the traditional square shape of this hat with out the pompoms and I love the way the pompoms weigh down the corners and jingle with every small movement. It’s a happy hat either way, and you can decide which version is happiest for your little one. It’s adorable either way. I considered making the pompoms removable, so that I could change the nature of the hat with my mood.

I hope you love making and giving this hat.

Sizes
3-6 months, 9-12 months, Toddler

Finished Measurements:
Flat: 8 ¼ x 6 ½ (9 x 7, 9 ½ x 8) /21 x 16.5 (22.8 x 17.75, 24 x 20) cm
Circumference:16.5 (17, 18) inches /42 (45.6, 48) cm
Ear flaps not included in measurements

Yarn
Main Color: DK | Woolfolk – Tov DK 100% Ovis 21 Ultimate Merino Wool 160 yards / 146 m. per 50 gram per skein | 1 2, 2 skeins | Color: DK 07 (blue)
Contrasting Color: DK | Woolfolk – Tov DK 100% Ovis 21 Ultimate Merino Wool 160 yards / 146 m. per 50 gram per skein | 1 (1, 1) skein | Color: DK 00 (white)

Total yardage for hat: approx. 192 (212, 226) yards/ 175 (190, 202) meters.

I chose to make this hat in the softest yarn I could think of. The 3-6 month size takes every bit of 1 skein of the MC. To conserve yarn, and just to be safe, you could knit the first 9 rounds of the brim with the CC. The brim it’s folded under so you wouldn’t be able to tell which color of yarn was used. Or buy an extra skein to make sure you have enough of the main color. Or you could buy 3 skeins and so you can make this hat in 2 sizes, because you will be sad when your baby outgrows this hat.

Needles
One gauge-size 16”/40 cm circular needle and one pair of double-pointed needles needed to obtain gauge in colorwork and single color for the body of the hat
Suggested needle size: US 2 (2.75 mm)

Additional materials
Darning needle

Gauge and swatch
26 stitches and 32 rounds = 4 inches and 10 cm

Skills used in making Lasse
Long-tail cast on
Joining seamlessly in the round
Weaving in the new color
Colorwork
K2tog
Yarn over
Catching floats
Three-needle bind off
Making pompom (optional)
Simple braid.
Hand sewing