Knit a Kid’s Crayon Hat for Back to School

I’m a little bit in denial that in about two weeks I’m going to have a third grader! I haven’t really done anything to prepare for the upcoming school year (thank goodness for a school that buys all the supplies) but I do have a deep, longstanding love for school supplies and crafting things inspired by them.

If you have a little one who is getting ready for a new year, consider stitching up a crayon hat. This adorable pattern is from Little Red Window and is sized from newborns up to 2T. Of course it would be pretty easy to alter a “normal” hat pattern for a bigger kid if you wanted to.

This would definitely be the hat to knit for a group of cousins or grandkids for holiday pictures. You know, if you were into that sort of thing.

[Photo: Little Red Window.]

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Not too long ago my daughter and I had a discussion about what a chestnut really looks like. The nut itself is small and brown, of course, but on the tree they’re covered with this weird kind of spiky, kind of fuzzy shell. It’s a wonder anyone ever figured out they were edible.

If you didn’t know that, you might wonder why this project is call Chestnut balaclava, but now you know.

This fun design from Yevheniia Pyroh is covered with spikes just like a chestnut shell, and is even the same color, though of course you can make yours whatever color you like. It uses two strands of fingering weight yarn held together (which it says is fingering weight but you could try a light/DK yarn and see if you get gauge with it if you’d rather).

There are two different design options in the pattern. One is a more fitted balaclava style hat (it doesn’t cover the face but does go around the neck) and a looser fit hood.

It’s worked primarily in garter stitch, with shaping done by knitting and purling in the same stitch and through various decreases (including a knit 3 together).

The pattern is charted but also explained in words. It’s worked flat to the size you want, and then joined into a hood shape with ribbing at the neck. The opening for the face is finished with I-cord.

This hood/balaclava would definitely be a conversation starter and in different colors it might read more dinosaur than chestnut, which could also be fun. The sizing is totally custom so you can make it fit whatever head you’re stitching for.

If you want to try it for yourself (and I’d love to hear about it if you do!) you can download the free pattern from Ravelry.

[Photo: Yevheniia Pyroh]

Balaclava Knitting Patterns

Colorwork Balaclava Knitting Pattern [Knitting]

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