Caterpillar Surprise Hat

Happy Mother's Day!   I know it's a bit early, but we're pretty excited about the arrival of a new grandson in September, and this Grams thinks that special occasion calls for a Caterpillar Surprise Hat! Why not include the serendipitous Stepping Stones Hat, too?
 

(4/30/14)Ravelry notes (login needed): I am very excited about this project! I noticed the caterpillar stitch, p15, while looking through 400 knitting stitches, by Potter Craft. I’ve made an interpretation of the stitch by working knit 5, purl 1. The caterpillars will appear as the hat is turned inside-out.  I started, and finished this little hat while riding the bus for a Sou’Wester Garden Club field trip to Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens in Woodland, WA.  It was a good day!

Newborn Caterpillar Surprise Hat

Marilynn Blacketer '14

Caterpillar Surprise,  serendipitous Stepping Stones

The Caterpillar Surprise works well in a cotton or wool blend. The caterpillar surprise is an interpretation of the caterpillar stitch (400 knitting stitches, by Potter Craft, p15). The hat is worked with more knits and just a few purls. This gives the knitter something interesting to do, and if finished neatly, the recipient can flip the hat inside-out for the caterpillars to appear.  Caterpillar Surprise Hat takes just a few hours to knit, and makes a perfect gift or accessory for either gender. 

 I am enjoying this project, and purchased an earth-tone DK to re-knit the first hat because I think that interpretation of the caterpillar stitch looks more like stepping stones. I love serendipity.

Caterpillar Surprise,  serendipitous Stepping Stones

Finished sizes:

Newborn: flat 10” stretch 16” circumference, height 6”

      [Adult: flat 16”, stretches to 24” circumference, height 10”]

      [Child: flat 15”, stretches to 22” circumference, height 9”]

     [Infant: flat 14”, stretches to 20” circumference, height 8”]

Gauge: 5.5 stitches = 1” Adjust needle size to match gauge. 
      [5 stitches =1"     Adjust needle size to match gauge] 

Materials:

Yarn: cotton or wool blend in DK weight      Newborn: 50yards/0.6oz

[Worsted weight: Adult: 150 yards/ 2.5oz; Child: 125 yards/ 2oz; Infant: 90 yards/ 1.5oz]

Photo: Newborn Caterpillar Surprise and Stepping Stone Hats are knit in Plymouth Yarn Encore DK; 75%acrylic/ 25%wool     colors: 451green, 6002tan(brown)

Needles: Newborn: Size US#5, US#6, 12” circular needles, set size US#6 double pointed needles

[Adult, Child, Infant: Size US#7, US#8, 16” circular needles, set size US#8 double pointed needles]

Notions: Stitch markers, tapestry needle

Abbreviations: CO = cast on      K = knit       P = purl      Rnd = rounds      sts = stitches

      pm = place marker      k2tog= knit 2 stitches together

Key: knit   , purl -

Special Stitches: Caterpillar Surprise

(Asymmetrical, reversible, flip inside-out to find the caterpillars)

Rnds 1- 8: *Knit 11, purl 1; repeat from * to end

Rnds 9, 10: Knit

Rnds 11-18 : * Knit 8, purl 1, knit 3; repeat from * to end

Rnds 19, 20: Knit 
(These 12 stitches and 20 rows create the caterpillar surprise pattern.)

Key: knit   , purl -

                          
     


Special Stitches: serendipitous Stepping Stones

(Symmetrical, reversible, think of patio pavers)  
Rnds 1-10: * Knit 5, purl 1; repeat from * to end 
Rnds 11-20: * Knit 2, purl 1, knit 3; repeat from * to end 

(These 6 stitches and 20 rows create the stepping stones pattern.) 

 Directions: Directions are written for size Newborn using DK yarn.

      [Adult, child, and infant directions are in brackets and italic. Use worsted weight yarn, 
      and size US#7, US#8 needles]

Brim: Use the long-tail cast-on method, with US #5, 12” circular needles.      [US#7]

Cast on 60 stitches.                                                                                             [84, 72, 60]sts

Place marker & join together by knitting first stitch being careful not to twist.

Rnds 1-10: * Knit 1, purl 1; repeat from * to end

Hat: Caterpillar Surprise

With US#6, 12”circular needles,                                                                   [US#8]

Rnds 1-8: *Knit 11, purl 1; repeat from * to end

Rnds 9, 10: Knit

Rnds 11-18 : * Knit 8, purl 1, knit 3; repeat from * to end

Rnds 19, 20: Knit

To work rounds 11-18, I placed a second blue marker after the first purl 1, then counted as I had for rounds 1-8, remembering rounds 9, 10 and 19, 20 were knit. 

           Hat: Stepping Stones

           With US#6, 12”circular needles,                                                      [US#8]

           Rnds 1-10: * Knit 5, purl 1; repeat from * to end

           Rnds 11-20: * Knit 2, purl 1, knit 3; repeat from * to end

To work rounds 11-20, I placed a second blue marker after the first purl 1, then counted as I had for rounds 1-10.

Work in Caterpillar Surprise or Stepping Stones pattern (ending on round 10 or 20) 
                             for 5” from CO.            [8”,7”, 6”] from CO

For a taller hat, or fold-up brim work extra rounds of pattern before starting the crown decreases.

Crown: Change to double pointed needles when needed.

Rnd 1: * K4, k2tog; repeat from * to end            50sts                                    [70, 60, 50]sts

Rnds 2, 4, 6, 8 : Knit

Rnd 3: * K3, k2tog; repeat from * to end            40sts                                    [56, 48,40]sts

Rnd 5: * K2, k2tog; repeat from * to end            30sts                                    [42, 36, 30]sts

Rnd 7: * K1, k2tog; repeat from * to end            20sts                                    [28, 24, 20]sts

Rnds 9, 10: * K2tog; repeat from * to end             5sts                                         [7, 6, 5]sts

Finishing: Cut 12” yarn and thread end through remaining stitches.

Pull together, and tie off neatly for a reversible hat.

This pattern is available on MarilynnsGardenKnitDesign.blogspot.com
Pattern pdf is available on Ravelry (login needed)

Copyright 2014, Marilynn Blacketer. All rights reserved. 5-11-14
 For pattern support please contact: marilynnblacketer@gmail.com

Newborn Caterpillar Surprise and Stepping Stones Hats!

UPDATE: 9/15/14

Our little caterpillar surprise!