purlJam

# STRAWBERRY BABY HAT
**A Machine-Knit Beanie for Baby (6-12 months)**

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## MACHINE_SETUP

**Bed Configuration:**
- Main bed (MB) only for stockinette body
- Optional ribber attachment for 1×1 rib brim (or use manual rehang method for machines without ribber)
- Standard gauge (3.6mm–4.5mm) or mid-gauge knitting machine

**Initial Setup:**
1. Push 100 needles to working position (50 left of center 0, 50 right of center 0)
2. Thread waste yarn (contrasting color) through carriage
3. Prepare ravel cord (smooth crochet cotton or thin cord) approximately 30" (76cm) long
4. Have claw weights or cast-on comb ready (minimum 4 weights across width)
5. **Tension Dial Settings:**
   - Waste yarn: T7-8 (looser)
   - Green yarn (ribbing): T5-6
   - Red yarn (body): T6
   - Adjust per your machine's gauge; test swatch recommended

**Carriage Position:**
- Begin with carriage at **COL** (carriage on left)
- Set both part buttons to N (normal) position
- Ensure all needles are in correct working position B

**Row Counter:**
- Reset to RC000 at start of waste yarn knitting

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## MATERIALS

**Yarn:**
- **Main Color (MC - Red):** 60-70 yards (55-64m) worsted weight yarn (#4 medium)
  - Suggested: Red 100% acrylic or cotton blend suitable for babies
- **Contrast Color (CC - Green):** 30-35 yards (27-32m) worsted weight yarn
  - Suggested: Green in same fiber content as MC
- **Small amount yellow yarn** (optional, for seed embroidery)

**Notions:**
- Waste yarn: 25 yards smooth scrap yarn in contrasting color
- Ravel cord: 30" (76cm) smooth crochet cotton or specialty ravel cord
- Cast-on comb + claw weights (or distributed weights totaling 300-400g)
- Transfer tools (single and 3-prong recommended)
- Latch tool or crochet hook for bind-off
- Tapestry needle for seaming and weaving ends
- Stitch markers (optional, for tracking decreases)
- Steam iron and pressing cloth

**Optional:**
- Green pom-pom or small knit leaves for top decoration

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## GAUGE_AND_TENSION

**Target Gauge (stockinette on main bed):**
- 6 stitches = 1" (2.5cm)
- 8 rows = 1" (2.5cm)
- Measured after light steaming, fabric relaxed

**Tension Settings:**
- Green ribbing (CC): **T5-6** (tighter for elasticity)
- Red stockinette body (MC): **T6** (standard)
- Test your tension with a swatch of at least 40 sts × 40 rows

**Finished Measurements:**
- Circumference: 16.5" (42cm) unstretched
- Total height: 7.5-8" (19-20cm) from brim to crown
- Brim depth: 2" (5cm) folded/unfolded
- Body length (brim to crown shaping): 4" (10cm)
- Crown depth: 2" (5cm)

**Math Check:**
100 sts ÷ 6 sts/inch = 16.67" circumference ✓

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## RIBBED_BRIM

**Setup with Waste Yarn & Ravel Cord:**

1. **Waste Yarn Knitting:**
   - With 100 needles in work, carriage at COL, RC000
   - Tension dial at T7-8
   - Knit 8-10 rows waste yarn
   - Carriage ends at COR (carriage on right), RC008-010

2. **Ravel Cord:**
   - With carriage at COR, lay ravel cord across all 100 needles in hooks
   - Knit 1 row at T7-8
   - RC009-011, carriage at COL

3. **CC (Green) Ribbing:**
   - **Option A - With Ribber Attachment:**
     - Set up ribber for 1×1 rib (every other needle on main bed and ribber)
     - Transfer stitches from main bed to appropriate ribber needles using transfer tool
     - Thread CC (green) yarn, set main bed to T5, ribber to T4
     - Carriage at COL, reset RC000
     - Knit 32 rows (= approximately 4" at tighter rib gauge)
     - RC032, carriage at COR
     - Transfer all ribber stitches back to main bed (100 sts total on MB)
   
   - **Option B - Without Ribber (Manual Rehang for Mock Rib):**
     - Thread CC (green) yarn at T5-6
     - Reset RC000, carriage at COL
     - Knit 32 rows stockinette
     - RC032, carriage at COR
     - Manually create mock rib by rehanging later, OR work as rolled brim

4. **Check Stitch Count:** 100 sts on main bed
5. Hang claw weights evenly across fabric (every 20-25 sts)

**Carriage Position after Ribbing:** COR, RC032

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## BODY_ROWS

**Color Change to MC (Red):**

1. **At COR, RC032:**
   - Cut CC (green) leaving 6" (15cm) tail
   - Tie on MC (red) yarn with secure knot at side edge
   - Thread MC through carriage
   - Set tension dial to **T6**

2. **Stockinette Body:**
   - Reset row counter to RC000 (or note RC032 as starting point; pattern continues from RC000 for clarity)
   - Carriage at COL after threading
   - **Knit straight stockinette for 32 rows** (= 4" at gauge)
   - All 100 needles remain in work
   - Check fabric weight; add additional claw weights if fabric drops unevenly
   - **RC032, carriage at COR**

**Row Counter Check:** RC032 (or RC064 if continuing from ribbing count)

**Math Validation:** 32 rows ÷ 8 rows/inch = 4" body length ✓

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## CROWN_SHAPING

**Crown Decrease Schedule:**
The crown will be shaped by holding/transferring needles out of work in 5 decrease rounds, alternating with straight rows.

**Setup at RC032, COR:**
- 100 sts in work
- MC (red) threaded, T6

**Decrease Round 1:**
1. **RC032, COR:** Transfer every 5th stitch to adjacent needle across row:
   - Use transfer tool to combine sts: transfer needle 5 to needle 4, needle 10 to needle 9, needle 15 to needle 14, etc.
   - Push empty needles to A position (out of work)
   - **80 sts remain** (20 sts decreased)
2. Knit 4 rows straight (RC036, COR)

**Decrease Round 2:**
3. **RC036, COR:** Transfer every 4th remaining stitch to adjacent needle:
   - Approximately 20 transfers
   - Push empty needles to A position
   - **60 sts remain** (20 sts decreased)
4. Knit 4 rows straight (RC040, COR)

**Decrease Round 3:**
5. **RC040, COR:** Transfer every 3rd remaining stitch to adjacent needle:
   - Approximately 20 transfers
   - Push empty needles to A position
   - **40 sts remain** (20 sts decreased)
6. Knit 2 rows straight (RC042, COR)

**Decrease Round 4:**
7. **RC042, COR:** Transfer every 2nd stitch to adjacent needle:
   - Transfer alternating stitches across (40 transfers to 20 needles)
   - Push empty needles to A position
   - **20 sts remain** (20 sts decreased)
8. Knit 2 rows straight (RC044, COR)

**Final Gather:**
9. **RC044, COR:** Cut yarn leaving 24" (61cm) tail
10. Using latch tool or transfer tool, drop each remaining stitch off needle onto waste yarn OR thread tapestry needle with yarn tail and carefully remove stitches from machine, threading through each loop
11. Remove fabric from machine

**Math Check:** 100 → 80 → 60 → 40 → 20 sts ✓

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## FINISHING

**Gathering Crown:**
1. Thread 24" yarn tail through tapestry needle
2. Pass needle through all 20 remaining stitches
3. Pull tight to close crown opening
4. Pass needle through center hole again to reinforce
5. Secure with several small stitches on wrong side

**Removing Waste Yarn:**
1. Locate ravel cord at cast-on edge
2. Gently pull ravel cord to release waste yarn rows
3. Place live stitches on spare needles, knitting needles, or waste yarn holder
4. Option: Rehang stitches on machine for tubular bind-off, OR proceed with seaming

**Side Seam:**
1. With right sides together, align cast-on edge and crown edge
2. Using mattress stitch and matching yarn:
   - Match green ribbing section with green yarn
   - Switch to red yarn for body section
3. Seam from bottom edge to crown
4. Weave in all ends securely on wrong side

**Brim Finishing (if using ribber):**
1. Fold ribbed brim up approximately 1.5-2" to create leaf-like cuff
2. Tack at side seams if desired, or leave free-rolling

**Brim Finishing (if stockinette/no ribber):**
1. Allow green edge to roll naturally, creating leafy effect
2. Or secure cast-on edge with decorative crochet edge

**Strawberry Seed Details (Optional):**
1. Using yellow yarn and tapestry needle, embroider small French knots or duplicate stitches randomly across red body section (8-12 "seeds")
2. Space irregularly for natural strawberry appearance

**Blocking:**
1. Lightly steam seams and body with steam iron held 1-2" above fabric
2. Use pressing cloth to protect fiber
3. Do NOT flatten ribbing; steam gently to set shape
4. Allow to dry flat on towel

**Top Decoration (Optional):**
1. Make small green pom-pom (1-1.5" diameter) and attach to crown center
2. Or knit small leaf shapes and tack around crown gather for strawberry calyx effect

**Final Check:**
- All ends woven in and secured ✓
- Seam invisible from right side ✓
- Crown gathered smoothly ✓
- Brim has good elasticity ✓
- No loose stitches ✓

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## ABBREVIATIONS

- **CC** – Contrast Color (green)
- **COL** – Carriage On Left
- **COR** – Carriage On Right
- **MC** – Main Color (red)
- **MB** – Main Bed
- **RC** – Row Counter
- **st(s)** – stitch(es)
- **T** – Tension dial setting (followed by number, e.g., T6)

**Machine-Specific Terms:**
- **Position A** – Needle pushed back, out of work
- **Position B** – Needle in normal working position
- **Ravel cord** – Smooth cord knitted in one row to allow easy waste yarn removal
- **Transfer tool** – Tool used to move stitches from one needle to another
- **Latch tool** – Hook tool for picking up stitches or chain bind-off
- **Claw weights** – Weighted clips hung on fabric to maintain tension

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**Pattern Notes:**
- Always test gauge before beginning; baby items require accurate sizing
- For preemie size: cast on 80 sts (13.3" circumference)
- For toddler size: cast on 110 sts (18.3" circumference)
- Strawberry theme variations: add white seeds in duplicate stitch, create leafier green crown, or add dimensional strawberry appliqué

**Care Instructions:**
Machine wash gentle, cool water (if yarn permits); lay flat to dry; do not wring or twist.

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*Pattern tested on Brother KH-930 standard gauge machine with KR-850 ribber. Adaptable to any flat-bed standard or mid-gauge machine.*