Warm, soft, and easy to care for…these are some of the qualities I consider before making children’s hats. Babies especially have sensitive skin. Merino wool is soft and itch-resistant. All the hats illustrated here are crocheted from a blend of merino wool and silk which gives the finished product an extra smooth feel.
Crocheted and knitted hats are made smaller than the wearer’s head because they stretch to fit. This is called negative ease. For children, I incorporate less negative ease so that, as the head grows, the hat will still be wearable.
Some of my children’s hats are made with simple repeating stitches and tend to be gender-neutral. I most often pick colours that are lively, but not too light in colour so that dirt won’t easily show. Decorating hats with flowers, pompoms, or tassels adds a dash of personality.
Hats by Tracy J 