Leprechaun Hat Perfect for St. Patrick's Day

Now that Valentine's Day is is over, here is my last project just in time for St. Patrick's Day. It's a leprechaun hat with a red beard!

I used the simple knit hat from Blue Sky Alpacas to guide me with sizes.

So here is my modified pattern for the Leprechaun hat.

MATERIAL

Size 5 (3.75 mm) circular or double pointed needles 

Size 5 (3.75 mm) straight needles

Tapestery needle

Stitch marker

Dark green yarn

Yellow yarn

Black yarn

Orange yarn (I used my leftover from the pumpkin hat project)

GAUGE

In stockinette stich 24 stiches = 4"

SIZES

Preemies (newborn, baby, toddler) to fit 11 (12-13, 14-15, 16-17)" head circumference.

ABBREVIATIONS 

K : knit

Sts: stitches

K2tog : knit two together 

Rep : repeat

HAT PATTERN

Cast on 63 (72, 81, 90) sts with green yarn

Place stich marker and join in round. Be careful not to twist the stiches (like I did).

Work stokinette stiches by knitting every row.

Rows 1 to 16 knit with green yarn.

Switch to black yarn

Row 17: K24 (29, 34, 38) sts, switch to yellow yarn, k15 sts, switch back to green yarn.

Row 18: Repeat Row 17

Row 19:K24 (29, 34, 38) sts, switch to yellow yarn, k4 sts, switch to black yarn, k7 sts, switch to yellow yarn, k4 sts, switch back to black yarn k until end of row

Rows 20 & 21 : Repeat Row 19

Rows 22 & 23 : Repeat Row 17

Switch back to green yarn.

Continue to knit until piece measures 4½ (5, 5½, 6)" from cast on edge.

Dec Row 1: *K7, k2tog, rep from* 7(8, 9, 10) times [56 (64, 72, 80) sts]

Dec Row 2: Knit

Dec Row 3: Knit

Dec Row 4: *K6, k2tog, rep from* 7(8, 9, 10) times [ 49, (56, 63, 70) sts]

Dec Row 5: Knit

Dec Row 6: Knit

Dec Row 7: *K5, k2tog, rep from* 7(8, 9, 10) times [ 42, (48, 54, 60) sts]

Dec Row 8: Knit

Dec Row 9: *K4, k2tog, rep from* 7(8, 9, 10) times [ 35, (40, 45, 50) sts]

Dec Row 10: Knit

Dec Row 11: *K3, k2tog, rep from* 7(8, 9, 10) times [ 28, (32, 36, 40) sts]

Dec Row 12: Knit

Dec Row 13: *K2, k2tog, rep from* 7(8, 9, 10) times [ 21, (21, 27, 30) sts]

Dec Row 14: Knit

Dec Row 15: *K1, k2tog, rep from* 7(8, 9, 10) times [ 14, (16, 18, 20) sts]

Dec Row 16: Knit

Dec Row 17: *K2tog, rep from* 7(8, 9, 10) times [ 7, (8, 9, 10) sts]

Dec Row 8: Knit

Cut yarn leaving 10". Using the tapestry needle, thread the yarn through the remaining stiches and pull. Secure left over yarn.

BEARD PATTERN

Cast on 54 (54, 72, 72) sts with orange yarn.

Row 1 knit

Row 2 purl

Row 3 *(K2tog) 3 times, (yo, k1) 6 times, (k2tog) 3 times; rep from * 3( 3, 4, 4) times [54 (54, 72, 72) sts]

Row 4 knit

Row 5 knit

Row 6 purl

Row 7 *(K2tog) 3 times, (yo, k1) 6 times, (k2tog) 3 times; rep from * 3( 3, 4, 4) times [54 (54, 72, 72) sts]

Row 8 knit

Bind off

ASSEMBLE HAT 

Weave in ends using tapestry needle.

Iron beard to make it flat.

Sew beard in hat. Place the beard just under the black belt in the hat.

Voila! You have a leprechaun hat for your little one!