purlJam

# Little Sweetheart Baby Beanie
*A cosy worsted-weight beanie for ages 6–12 months, knitted flat on straight needles in crisp white with scattered green hearts. A gentle introduction to colourwork for confident beginners.*

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## Materials
- **Main Colour (MC):** Worsted-weight yarn in white — approx. 60 m (66 yds)
- **Contrast Colour (CC):** Worsted-weight yarn in green — approx. 15 m (17 yds)
- **Needles:** 5 mm (UK size 6 / US 8) straight needles
- **Notions:** Tapestry/darning needle, scissors, 4–6 short lengths of CC or bobbins for colourwork, stitch markers (optional)

*Tip: A smooth, springy wool or wool-blend worsted shows the heart motifs most clearly.*

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## Tension (Gauge)
**16 sts × 22 rows = 10 cm (4 in)** over stocking stitch, knitted loosely on 5 mm needles.

*Verification: 60 sts ÷ 16 sts per 10 cm = 37.5 cm flat panel width. Once seamed this gives a circumference of approx. 37.5 cm, stretching comfortably to 44–48 cm to fit the baby head with snug negative ease.*

**Please knit a tension swatch.** If your fabric is tight, go up a needle size — relaxed colourwork is essential for fit and a smooth surface.

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## Size
**6–12 months** (one size)
- Finished circumference (unstretched): approx. 37.5 cm (14¾ in)
- Finished height: approx. 15 cm (6 in)
- Recommended for head circumference: 44–48 cm

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## Abbreviations
- **k** – knit
- **p** – purl
- **st(s)** – stitch(es)
- **k2tog** – knit 2 together (1 st decreased)
- **RS** – right side
- **WS** – wrong side
- **MC** – main colour (white)
- **CC** – contrast colour (green)
- **st st** – stocking stitch (k on RS, p on WS)
- **rep** – repeat

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## Pattern Notes
- The beanie is worked **flat** (back and forth) on straight needles, from the brim up to the crown, then seamed up the back.
- The hearts are worked in **colourwork** following the **separate attached chart panel** (see below). For a beginner, the simplest approach is the **intarsia** method, using a small separate length of green yarn for each heart and twisting yarns at colour changes to avoid holes.
- Odd-numbered (RS) rows are read **right to left**; even-numbered (WS) rows are read **left to right**.
- Keep colourwork **loose** to prevent puckering.

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## Attached Stitch Chart
A **separate stitch chart panel** is attached to this pattern showing the scattered heart motifs. Please use that attached chart for the visual grid — it is **not** reproduced here in the pattern text.

**Where it sits:** The attached chart corresponds to the **Heart Body section** (Rows 1–22 of the body, worked after the ribbed brim and before the crown shaping). Begin reading the chart on the first RS row of the Heart Body.

**How to read it (knitting, worked flat):**
- Each square = 1 stitch; each row of squares = 1 row of knitting.
- **RS rows (odd):** read **right to left**.
- **WS rows (even):** read **left to right**.
- **Blank/white squares** = knit/purl in MC (white). **Green/marked squares** = work in CC (green).
- On RS rows knit each square; on WS rows purl each square — the colour shown applies regardless of knit/purl.

**Colour/yarn management:**
- Use a separate short length (or small bobbin) of CC for each individual heart (intarsia). At every colour change, **bring the new colour up from under the old colour** to twist the strands and close any gap.
- The chart is designed across the full **60 stitches** of the body, so no stitch-count adjustment is needed — the chart width matches your stitch count exactly (60 chart columns = 60 sts). Carry MC across the row as your background; introduce/drop CC only where hearts appear.

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## Instructions

### Brim (Ribbing)
With MC, cast on **60 sts**.

**Rib row:** *k1, p1; rep from * to end.
Repeat this rib row until work measures **3 cm (1¼ in)**, ending after a WS row.

*Stitch count check: 60 sts.*

### Heart Body (Colourwork — follow attached chart)
Beginning with a RS (knit) row, work in st st **while following the attached chart** for heart placement:

- **Row 1 (RS):** Knit, working hearts in CC per chart.
- **Row 2 (WS):** Purl, working hearts in CC per chart.
- Continue in st st, following the attached chart, through **Row 22**.

*Stitch count check: 60 sts throughout. Chart spans all 60 sts and 22 rows.*

After Row 22, cut all CC strands, weave in later, and continue in **MC only**.

Work **2 rows** in st st in MC (1 RS, 1 WS).

*Body now measures approx. 3 cm brim + 11 cm body = ~14 cm before crown.*

### Crown Shaping (MC only)
Work the following decrease rows. WS rows are purled plain.

**Row 1 (RS):** *k8, k2tog; rep from * to end → **54 sts**
**Row 2 (WS):** Purl.
**Row 3 (RS):** *k7, k2tog; rep from * to end → **48 sts**
**Row 4 (WS):** Purl.
**Row 5 (RS):** *k6, k2tog; rep from * to end → **42 sts**
**Row 6 (WS):** Purl.
**Row 7 (RS):** *k5, k2tog; rep from * to end → **36 sts**
**Row 8 (WS):** Purl.
**Row 9 (RS):** *k4, k2tog; rep from * to end → **30 sts**
**Row 10 (WS):** Purl.
**Row 11 (RS):** *k3, k2tog; rep from * to end → **24 sts**
**Row 12 (WS):** Purl.
**Row 13 (RS):** *k2, k2tog; rep from * to end → **18 sts**
**Row 14 (WS):** Purl.
**Row 15 (RS):** *k1, k2tog; rep from * to end → **12 sts**
**Row 16 (WS):** Purl.
**Row 17 (RS):** *k2tog; rep from * to end → **6 sts**

*Verification: each RS decrease row removes 6 sts (60→54→48→42→36→30→24→18→12→6). All groups divide evenly. ✓*

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail of approx. **40 cm**.

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## Finishing
1. Thread the long tail onto a tapestry needle. Pass it through the remaining **6 sts**, slip them off the needle, and pull firmly to gather and close the top of the crown. Secure on the inside.
2. **Back seam:** With right sides together (or using mattress stitch on the RS), seam the two side edges together from crown to brim. Use MC and an even tension. Seam the ribbed brim so it remains stretchy.
3. **Weave in ends:** Neatly weave in all MC and CC tails on the wrong side, closing any small gaps left at heart colour changes.
4. **Block gently:** Lightly steam or wet-block to even out the colourwork and relax the stitches. Allow to dry fully before wear.

*Optional: turn up the brim for a snug double-thickness band around the ears.*

**Care:** Check yarn ball band; superwash wool or cotton blends are ideal for easy laundering of baby items.

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*Congratulations — you've made the Little Sweetheart Baby Beanie! 💚*