Aunt Martha's Hats

My husband’s Aunt Martha was an amazing, talented and productive knitter—she was definitely a role model for me, though I have never come close to matching her output! When our kids were young, she would always come up with just the right knitted items—balaclavas, vests, mittens, socks, stocking caps, scarves and beanies. It was a LOT colder then, (both in the house and out of it!) and I couldn’t begin to keep up with the woollies! Aunt Martha loved stripes, and one Christmas a big box arrived from her filled with an awesome assortment of hats and mittens in many sizes and colors, but all in various stripes, with the occasional “lice” row thrown in for good effect! Some of those hats are now on grandchildren heads, though the mittens have all been felted, worn out and/or lost, which seems to be the way that goes— Here’s to the next generation of free-range kids in their woolly hats and mittens! **SIZES** 1 (2, 3, 4, 5) // XS (S, M, L, XL) Approximate Ages: Baby (Toddler, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12) **FINISHED MEASUREMENTS:** Circumference: 14.2 (15.3, 16.4, 17.5, 18.5) inches, measured on stockinette section Length: 6 (7, 8, 8.5, 9) inches from bottom to tip (adjustable) Changes to gauge or yarn weight, or adding length, may require extra yarn **GAUGE** (over blocked stockinette stitch) 22 sts and 30 rnds = 4”/10 cm **NEEDLES** US 6 (4.0mm) needle(s) or size needed to obtain gauge. US 5 (3.75mm) needle(s) or one size smaller than gauge needle. Choose needles based on your favorite method for working small circumferences in the round. DK or Light Worsted-Weight wool yarn that knits to gauge **SUGGESTED YARN:** Junction Fiber Mill Making Tracks, Kelbourne Woolens Germantown, Cascade 220, Quince & Co. Lark Total Yards needed/hat SIZE: 1 -80 2 -90 3 -100 4 -120 5 -145 **NOTIONS:** tapestry needle, waste yarn for stitch holder, 6 stitch markers (one unique) **SKILLS USED:** working in the round, decreases (k2tog) using a chart