The Duketer

Here you have it folks, my favourite knit design yet!  It could be because it was inspired by my boys (remember Silas's birth announcement?  This pattern came out of that).  It could be because my sister, Chloe, took pictures of the finished product, and it looks so much better than I could ever make it look.  It could even just be that I'm getting better.  In any case, here's another knitting pattern for those interested.  The model is Mindy's new baby, Samuel, who is just about as cute as can be!  If you're looking for more, go to my Tutorial Tab at the top.

The Duketer

My 4 year old dotingly refers to his little brother as “The Duketer.”  This hat is for him. 

SIZE

Newborn, 3 months, 6 months

MATERIALS

Two colours in any worsted weight yarn to make gauge (I used Fleece Artist Africa, which has now been discontinued) Wool and wool blends would be better suited than cotton, as they stretch more.

1 set of 6 mm (US size 10) double-pointed needles (can use a 16” circular needle until decreases make using the DPN necessary)

Stitch Marker

Tapestry Needle

GAUGE

16 sts/22 rows = 4 inches in stockinette st

PATTERN NOTES

2x2 Rib (Worked in the round over a multiple of 4 sts):
Round 1: [K2, p2] to end.
Repeat this round for 2x2 Rib.

I-cord  When working an I-cord you do not turn the work.  Instead, you use double pointed needles, slide all the stitches to the other end of the needle, switch the needle back to your left hand, bring the yarn around the back of the work, and start knitting the stitches again, keeping the yarn quite tight. Repeat this row after row to form the I-cord. 

Use the Stationary Joggless Stripe Technique to make the stripes even. 

DIRECTIONS

Newborn (3 months, 6 months)

CO 52 (60, 64) stitiches in A. Divide stitches between needles

Place marker and join in the round, being careful not to twist stitches.

Work in 2x2 rib for 5(7, 8) rows.

At this point you will knit every round, switching between colour A and colour B.  You can decide when to switch, but here is how I have done it, the numbers representing the number of rows of each colour.   (For the smaller sizes, once you get to the I-cord, stop the sequence and skip to the i-cord rows at the end.)

5 (7, 8) rib, 3, 2, 5, 3, 2, 2, 4, 4, 3, 2, 5, 3, 2, 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 6, 3, 2, 3, 3, 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 2, 2, 4, 3, 2, 4, 2, 3,  7 i-cord, 8 i-cord

Row 6-23(29, 34) - After the rib, knit for 18(22, 26) rows, switching between colour A and colour B

Row 24(30, 35) – [K 11(13, 14), K2Tog] around

Row 25 (31, 36) (and every other round) – Knit

Row 26 (32, 37) – [K 10(12, 13), K2Tog] around

Row 28(34, 39) – [K 9(11,12), K2Tog] around

Row 30(36, 41) - [K 8(10, 11), K2Tog] around

Row 32(38, 43) - [K 7(9, 10), K2Tog] around

Row 34(40,45) - [K 6(8, 9), K2Tog] around

Newborn size only:

Row 35-42 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 43 - [K 5, K2Tog] around

Row 44-51 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 52 - [K 4, K2Tog] around

Row 53-60 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 61 - [K 3, K2Tog] around

Row 62-69 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 70 - [K 2, K2Tog] around

Row 71-78 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 79 - [K 1, K2Tog] around

Row 80-87 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 88 – K2Tog around

Row 89 - 103 - Knit an I-cord

Row 101 – K2Tog twice, Cast off

Cut cord, leaving enough length to tie on the pom-pom

3 month size only

Row 42 – [K7, K2Tog] around

Row 44 – [K6, K2Tog] around

Row 45-52 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 53 - [K 5, K2Tog] around

Row 54-61 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 62 - [K 4, K2Tog] around

Row 63-70 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 71 - [K 3, K2Tog] around

Row 72-79 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 80 - [K 2, K2Tog] around

Row 81-88 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 89 - [K 1, K2Tog] around

Row 90-97 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 98 – K2Tog around

Row 99 - 113 - Knit an I-cord

Row 114 – K2Tog twice, Cast off

Cut cord, leaving enough length to tie on the pom-pom

6 month size only

Row 47 – [K8, K2Tog] around

Row 49 – [K7, K2Tog] around

Row 51 – [K6, K2Tog] around

Row 52-59 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 60 - [K 5, K2Tog] around

Row 61-68 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 69 - [K 4, K2Tog] around

Row 70-77 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 78 - [K 3, K2Tog] around

Row 79-86 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 87 - [K 2, K2Tog] around

Row 88-95 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 96 - [K 1, K2Tog] around

Row 97-104 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 105 – K2Tog around

Row 106- 120 - Knit an I-cord

Row 121 – K2Tog twice, Cast off

Cut cord, leaving enough length to tie on the pom-pom

FINISHING

Create a large pom-pom using my tutorial or another method with colour A and B.  Sew the pom-pom onto the end of the i-cord.  Sew in ends. 

Find it on Ravelry here!