Loom Knit Doll Hat Project -- The Trenton

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).

The Trenton -- A Granite Stitch Hat

I gave this hat the name of a city from the Granite State, because I used a modified version of the granite stitch to create it.

I'm using spiral tousles again here.  I decided the spirals I made for a previous hat were too long and have modified my instructions to create a shorter spiral.  I also used two threads of yarn held together to make these spirals. 

Pattern Information

Knitting Loom:  Knifty Knitter 24 peg "Preemie" loom

Yarn:  
     Color A:  Brown Flecked #4 size yarn
     Color B:  Red Heart "Delft Blue" #4 size yarn
     Color C:  Caron "Creme" #4 size yarn
     Color D:  Red Heart "Olive" #4 size yarn

Skill Level: Beginner

Abbreviations:
     k = knit
     p = purl
     ew = e-wrap

Instructions:

With Yarn Color A, cast on 24 pegs.

BRIM  
Row 1:  Knit to 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.

BODY 
Drop Yarn Color A inside the loom and Switch to Yarn Color B
Rows 21 - 24: knit to the end

Drop Yarn Color B inside the loom and Switch to Yarn Color C
Row 25:  *k1, p1* Repeat to the end
Row 26: purl to the end
Row 27:  *p1,k1* Repeat to the end 


Tie off and cut Yarn Color C and Switch to Yarn Color D
Rows 28 - 32: knit to the end

Drop Yarn Color D inside the loom and Switch to Yarn Color B
Row 33:  *k1, p1* Repeat to the end
Row 34:  purl to the end
Row 35:  *p1,k1* Repeat to the end


Drop Yarn Color B inside the loom and Switch to Yarn Color A
Rows 36 - 40: knit to the end

Tie off and cut Yarn Color A and Switch to Yarn Color D

Row 41:  *k1, p1* Repeat to the end
Row 42:  purl to the end
Row 43:  *p1,k1* Repeat to the end


Tie off and cut Yarn Color A  and Switch to Yarn Color B
Rows 44 - 48: knit to the end


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- 24:  Repeat Rows 1 and 2

Rows 25:  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.




TIP
This pattern was designed to be made with many different colors of scrap yarn. I strongly suggest that for the doll-sized version of this hat you pull off a few yards of yarn and wind them into a ball as if it was scrap.  The pattern switches color frequently and asks you to drop the yarn you are not using through the loom to wait its turn.  Pulling a skein of yarn back and forth through a "preemie" sized loom is no fun, let me tell you!