Starting weight of red = 104 grams
white - 21 grams

Mash-up between the 3 patterns, with some variations on each. The Malabrigo Santa Baby has a provisional cast-on then the white ribbing knit later and folded over, which I didn’t do. The Santa Hat for Babies is knit flat, and I knit in the round.

3-year old hat: Cast on 66 on size 4 mm needles with Berroco Comfort white held together with some nameless eyelash yarn.

knit in the round
1+ inch (6 rounds), then switch to 5 mm needles and red yarn.
5.5 inches, then k4, k2tog around
6 rounds, then k3, k2tog around
6 rounds, then k2, k2tog, etc.
- after k2tog around, knit 6 rounds then k2 tog until down to 3 stitches.
For Avery’s hat last year I chose to knit 5 rounds between decreases vs. 8 from the pattern as I didn’t want a long tail, to drag the hat down, especially as I’m guessing at the size. The pattern I incorporated - Santa Hat for Babies, and which this Malabrigo Santa Hat is based on, has a much more rapid decrease. I chose something in the middle.

6-year old hat: Cast on 80 stitches.
- 6 rounds between first 3 decreases then 8 rounds between next.

Different 6-year old hat: Cast on 80 stitches.
decreases as follows (after 30 rows of red):
Place Marker, k2tog, K18 repeat 3 more times (4 times total, remembering to use a different marker for the first marker to mark the beginning of a round.
Knit 3 more rounds.
K2tog, knit to stitch marker repeat 4 times total around the hat.
Repeat last 2 instructions 18 more times until 16 stitches remain.
Knit one round.
K2tog repeat 8 times.
Cut yarn and put end attached to hat onto tapestry needle. Run yarn through stitches and then secure.

Pompoms - first attempt was both white yarns wound 75 times around 4 fingers - huge! Next was 50 times around 3 fingers - perfect. Tutorial: link text