Valley Yarns Redwood Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Redwood Children's Winter Hat

What is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Redwood is a colorful children's winter hat designed by Julie Turjoman, perfect for adding seasonal style to a winter jacket. This knitted hat is available in four sizes to fit children ages 1-2 years through 6-8 years, with finished circumferences ranging from 17 to 20 inches. The design combines a practical ribbed band with decorative seasonal motifs worked in stranded colorwork across the crown, creating a festive and functional accessory for young children.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several essential techniques to create its distinctive appearance:

• Stranded Colorwork: The rise of the hat features seasonal motifs worked using the stranded colorwork technique, which involves carrying multiple yarn colors across rows to create intricate patterns. This technique allows the colorwork to pop beautifully against the main color background.
• Stripe Work: The ribbed band is accented with contrast color stripes, adding visual interest to the lower portion of the hat.
• In-the-Round Knitting: The entire hat is worked in one piece in the round from the ribbed band to the top of the crown, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a seamless, professional finish.
• Gauge Management: The pattern notes that larger needles may be used for the stranded colorwork sections if necessary to maintain proper gauge without tightening stitches, demonstrating advanced technique awareness.

Stitches Used

The Redwood hat utilizes fundamental knitting stitches appropriate for an intermediate skill level:

• Stockinette Stitch: The primary stitch used throughout the hat body, providing a smooth, classic fabric with excellent stitch definition that showcases the colorwork motifs.
• Ribbing: The ribbed band at the brim uses alternating knit and purl stitches to create elasticity and a snug, comfortable fit around the child's head.

Materials and Yarn

The Redwood pattern is designed to showcase Valley Yarns Valley Superwash DK, a soft and easy-care yarn composed of 100% Extra Fine Superwash Merino Wool. This yarn choice offers several practical advantages: the superwash treatment makes the finished hat easy to care for, essential for children's garments that require frequent washing, and the DK weight combined with the yarn's properties provides beautiful stitch definition that makes the colorwork patterns truly pop.

Yarn Quantities by Size:

• Sizes 1-2 yr and 2-4 yr: 1 ball of main color (MC)
• Sizes 4-6 yr and 6-8 yr: 2 balls of main color
• 1 ball each of two contrast colors (CC1 and CC2)

Color Specifications: The pattern is shown in MC: 01 Natural, CC1: 07 Red, and CC2: 11 Spring Leaf, creating a winter-inspired palette with warm and cool tones.

Each ball of Valley Yarns Valley Superwash DK contains 50 grams and 137 yards of yarn.

Needles and Tools

The Redwood hat requires multiple needle sizes to accommodate different sections of the pattern and maintain proper gauge:

• US Size 4 (3.50 mm) 16-inch circular needles: Used for the ribbed band, the smallest needles create the tight elasticity needed for a secure fit.
• US Size 5 (3.75 mm) 16-inch circular needles and double-pointed needles: The primary needles for working the main body and crown of the hat in stockinette stitch.
• US Size 6 (4.00 mm) 16-inch circular needles: Available as an option for working the stranded colorwork sections if necessary to maintain gauge without tightening stitches.

Additional Materials Required: Stitch markers to indicate the beginning of each round, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and seaming, and an optional pre-made or handmade pom pom to attach to the top of the crown for a finished look. The pattern notes that a pom pom can alternatively be made from yarn remnants in a combination of all three colors used in the hat.

Gauge and