Cunning Baby Hat

Oh, we do love Firefly.

After being commissioned to knit a Cunning Hat for a friend's brother's Christmas gift, I decided to try to make a tiny version since said friend's brother and his wife are expecting a baby this spring.

This hat ended up being about 17" in circumference with room to stretch. I don't know how that translates into baby sizes, but it fits our large stuffed goose.

Needles: four US size 6 DPNs (because DEATH to SEAMS)
Yarn: gold, orange, and maroon/burgundy Red Heart (Walmart) worsted weight. One skein of each is WAY more than you need for one little hat (WAY more than one adult and one little hat, actually), but Red Heart (and Walmart) doesn't really do little portions.
Gauge: 16 sts in stockinette = 4 inches on size 6 needles

1. Cast on 60 stitches in ORANGE using the Twisted German cast on method. This will result in a looser, more stretchy start than a normal cast on.

2. Distribute stitches evenly among three needles and join first round, being careful not to twist (this is the trickiest part of the DPNs (how to join and knit on DPNs)). Work 6 rounds in 2x2 ribbing.

3. Switch to stockinette stitch (knit all rounds), increasing 6 stitches evenly over the first round. 66 stitches total. Work 6 more rounds in stockinette. (13 rounds since cast on.)

4. Switch to GOLD yarn. Work two rounds in stockinette stitch. (15 rounds total.)

5. On 16th round, begin to shape the crown. *K9, K2tog* and repeat ** across. On next round, *K8, K2tog* and repeat. Continue to decrease the number of knit stitches by one each round until 6 sts remain. Cut a tail of about 6 inches and use a tapestry needle or a crochet hook to bring the tail through the active stitches in the direction you would knit another round, sliding needles out as you go. Pull tail tight and tie off.

6. For earflaps, pick up 14 stitches from the bottom edge of the hat with RED yarn using one DPN. With the outside of the hat facing you and upside down, tie the red yarn onto the first stitch on the right hand side of the needle. Knit first row, flip hat over. Knit second row (wrong side) and flip hat again. Row 3: Knit. Row 4: Purl. For remaining rows, knit in stockinette (knit on right side, purl on wrong side), and knit (or purl) last two stitches of each row together until 3 sts remain. Bind off.

7. Weave any loose ends into the inside of the hat. Make and attach a red pompom to the top. (low-tech pom pom creation There are more sophisticated methods that turn out nicer, more even pom poms, but by the time I get to the embellishment stage, I'm done being finicky.)