Loom Knit Doll Hat Project -- The Bumble

I've got a goal to have knitted at least fifty doll hats within the next fifty days to sell at a huge neighborhood yard sale in the fall.  To my surprise, I found there were very few doll hat patterns available for free on the internet.  This is a pity since a doll hat is a very good project for a beginning loomer and it isn't always obvious how a full-sized hat pattern should be changed to be appropriate for a doll.  Therefore, I've decided to share my notes on creating and converting hat patterns to fit 18" dolls (such as the American Girl, Journey Girl, Our Generation, or My Life dolls).

Our next add-on  experiment is corkscrew spiral tousles.  These may be easier to knit than they are to explain how to do, but we're going to give it a try!

The Bumble Hat

I could only find a tiny ball of yellow yarn to make my "bee stripes."  You may wish to be a little less stingy with the yellow when you are creating your own.

Pattern Information

Knitting Loom:  Knifty Knitter 24 peg "Preemie" loom

Yarn:  
     Color A:  Red Heart "Black" #4 size yarn
     Color B:  Yellow #4 size yarn (lost label)

Skill Level: Intermediate

Abbreviations:
     k = knit
     p = purl
     ew = e-wrap
     ew3tog = e-wrap knit three times into one stitch
     WYIF = wrap yarn in front of the peg

Instructions:

With Yarn Color A, cast on 24 pegs.

BRIM Row 1: knit to the end

Rows 2-20:  Repeat Row 1

When you've completed Row 20, find the first stitch (the end of your yarn should still be dangling from it). Loop the first stitch back up over Peg #1.  Continue around the loom until the entire first row is looped back up onto the loom. Knit the last row of stitches over the first row of stitches.

Switch to Yarn Color B

BODY Row 21: knit to the end
Row 22: purl to the end

Rows 23-30:  Repeat Rows 21 and 22

Switch to Yarn Color C
Rows 31-32:  knit to the end

Switch to Yarn Color B
Rows 33-34: knit to the end

Switch to Yarn Color C
Rows 35-36:  knit to the end

Switch to Yarn Color B
Rows 37-38: knit to the end

Switch to Yarn Color C
Rows 39-40:  knit to the end

Switch to Yarn Color B
Row 41: knit to the end
Row 42: purl to the end

Rows 43-48:  Repeat Rows 41-42

Bind off using gathered removal method.

To create a corkscrew tousle:  I am using Renita Harvey's modified I-cord method of creating corkscrew tousles.  I recommend you watch her video, which can be found here:

 Renita Harvey's Corkscrew Tousle Video

The method is actually pretty simple, but is difficult to convey using conventional knitting notation.  In short, you use two pegs on your loom and wind your yarn in a figure 8 pattern.  You knit four stitches into the first peg and then anchor them by knitting a stitch into the second peg.  Be sure to pull the stitches into the second peg tight to aid the curling of the stitches.  When you are done, it also helps to twirl the spiral with your fingers to give it the shape you desire.  Okay, here's a try at conveying this stitch using knitting notation:

Tie a slip knot in the yarn and place around peg 1
Wrap yarn in a counterclockwise direction around peg 2
Wrap yarn in a clockwise direction around peg 1

Row 1: k1, WYIF k1
Row 2:  ew3tog, k1

Rows 3- 40:  Repeat Rows 1 and 2

Row 41:  k1, WYIF k1

Take loop off peg 1 and move to peg 2. Knit together.  Pull yarn off peg. Put tail of working yarn through the loop and tie off.

Thread tails of corkscrew tousles through top of toboggan. Knot tails securely inside toboggan.