A Cap from St Nicholas
I’ve got a project for you that takes only one skein of yarn to make, and it will keep your little one warm when they’re ready to play in the winter wonderland!
The Cap from St. Nicholas (so named because it reminds me of the poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas”) uses one skein of Cascade Cherub Aran. The hat is worked in slip stitch crochet, which results in a super soft and stretchy fabric reminiscent of knitting.
Special thanks to Amy Kittel for her help in the development of this pattern! See her tips for success here.
Finished Size: Newborn (0-6m, 6-12m, Toddler, Child)
Note on fit: The Child size is designed to measure 12.5 inches in circumference, but can stretch to fit up to a 20.5-inch head. Even so, the hat may be too tight for comfort for any child older than a preschooler.
Materials:
- 1 skein Cascade Cherub Aran
- Size J-10 (6.0mm) crochet hook
- 65mm pom pom maker or cardboard to make your own
- Sharp scissors
Note: Be sure to keep your slip stitches loose! You will set yourself up for frustration if you make your slip stitches too tight. Keeping them loose will facilitate insertion of the hook when a stitch is worked into them.
Gauge Square
Row 1. Ch 21. Sl st in second ch from hook and next 4 ch, hdc in next 5 ch, sl st in next 5 ch, hdc in last 5 ch. The rest of the pattern is worked in back loops only.
Row 2. Ch 2 (first 2 ch count as hdc now and throughout rest of pattern); turn. Hdc in next 4 hdc, sl st in next 5 sl st, hdc in next 5 hdc, sl st in last 5 sl st.
Row 3. Ch 2; turn. Hdc in next 4 sl st, sl st in next 5 hdc, hdc in next 5 sl st, sl st in last 5 hdc.
Row 4. Ch 1; turn. *Sl st in next 5 sl st, hdc in next 5 hdc; rep from * once more.
Row 5. Ch 1; turn. *Sl st in next 5 hdc, hdc in next 5 sl st; rep from * once more. Rows 6-13. Rep rows 2-5. Rows 14-16. Rep rows 2-4. Finish off.
2 reps and 16 rows = 4 inches.
Cap — worked side to side.
Ch 54 (54, 54, 106, 106).
Row 1. Sc in second ch from hook and ea rem ch across. 53 (53, 53, 105, 105) sc.
Pattern is worked in back loops only from this point forward. Slip stitches count as stitches in this pattern; there will be times when you work into the back loop of a slip stitch.
Row 2 (RS). Ch 1; turn. Sc in first 3 (3, 3, 5, 5) st, (hdc in next 5 st, sl st in next 5 st) 2 (2, 2, 4, 4) times, (sc in next 5 st, sl st in next 5 st) 2 (2, 2, 4, 4) times, sl st in ea rem st across.
Row 3 (WS). Ch 1; turn. Sl st in first 10 (10, 10, 20, 20) st, (sl st in next 5 st, sc in next 5 st) 2 (2, 2, 4, 4) times, (sl st in next 5 st, hdc in next 5 st) 2 (2, 2, 4, 4) times, sc in ea rem st across.
Row 4. Ch 1; turn. Sc in first 3 (3, 3, 5, 5) st, (sl st in next 5 st, hdc in next 5 st) 1 (1, 1, 2, 2) times, (sl st in next 5 st, sc in next 5 st) 2 (2, 2, 4, 4) times, sl st in ea rem st across.
Row 5. Ch 1; turn. Sl st in first 20 (20, 20, 40, 40) st, (sc in next 5 st, sl st in next 5 st) 2 (2, 2, 4, 4) times, (hdc in next 5 st, sl st in next 5 st) 1 (1, 1, 2, 2) times, sc in ea rem st across.
Rows 6-37 (6-41, 6-45, 6-49, 6-53). Rep rows 2-5.
Row 38 (42, 46, 50, 54). Ch 1; turn. Fold Cap in half lengthwise with WS together. Working blo of last row and unused loops of beg ch, sc evenly across both layers to create the back seam of the Cap. Finish off, leaving a 6-inch tail for weaving.
Weave tail in and out of ends of rows on the top of Cap. Pull tail tightly to cinch top of hat closed. Tie off.
Pom Pom
Cut a 10-inch length of yarn for tying the pom pom.
Use a 65 mm pom pom maker according to manufacturer instructions, or follow these instructions to make your own pom pom maker:
- Use template to cut out two identical rings out of sturdy cardboard. Cut slit in outer circle and remove inner circle. (Alternatively, you may use a 65 mm pom pom maker.)
- Hold cardboard cutouts together with slits lined up. Wrap yarn around both rings, passing it through the slits. Continue wrapping until rings are completely covered.
- Cut yarn from rings by placing scissor tips between the cardboard rings. Cut yarn all the way around, using the groove between the rings as a guide.
- Slide 10-inch length of yarn between the two cardboard rings and tie tightly around the yarn. Once yarn is secure, remove the cardboard rings from the pom pom.
Use remaining tails from pom pom to attach pom pom to Cap. Tie tails off and weave in remaining ends. Fluff pom pom and trim if needed.
