Years from now, someone will get the old photos out, and the first thing everyone points at will be the hat.

This is the pattern for that hat. The Halloween Hats Collection gives you a spider hat and a pumpkin hat, but that is only where it starts. The plump little spider, the chubby pumpkin, the glowing moon, the bats and the knitted fence can all be mixed and matched. Add cosy ear flaps with i-cord ties, or leave them off. Knit it in the blues and purples shown, or choose the colours that suit the child you are knitting for.

One pattern, two hats, two styles and three sizes, with more combinations than you are ever likely to need. A spider for the eldest, a pumpkin for the littlest, and a moon and bats for the one in the middle who likes to be different. Every child gets a hat that is truly theirs, and nobody has to argue over who had it first.

Each hat is knitted flat on two needles and seamed up the side, so there is no knitting in the round. The spider and pumpkin are small, quick knits, lightly stuffed and sewn on. The moon is duplicate stitched from a clear chart once the hat is finished, so you can decide exactly where it goes at the very end. The instructions are easy to follow, with step-by-step help for the bullion stitch legs and stalks, and the hats are quick to knit up.

Designed by Jane Burns, with 18 years of experience creating exclusive knitting and crochet patterns for babies and children.

Yarn
Stylecraft Special DK, 100% acrylic, 295m (322yds) per 100g.
Spider Hat, all sizes: 1 ball each of Denim, Periwinkle, Black and White
Pumpkin Hat, all sizes: 1 ball each of Grapevine, Lilac, Black, White and Spice
Any DK weight yarn suitable for babies and children will work. US alternatives in Premier Yarns Basix DK, with shade numbers, are listed in the pattern.

Needles
3.25mm (US 3) and 4mm (US 6) straight needles
3.25mm (US 3) circular needle

Also needed
Darning needle, stitch markers, stitch holder (ear flap version only), oddment of bright green DK yarn, toy stuffing

Tension
22 sts and 30 rows to 10cm x 10cm (4in x 4in) in stocking stitch on 4mm needles

Sizes
1 to 2 (3 to 7: 8 to 11) years

To fit head circumference
45.5 (48.5: 51) cm / 18 (19: 20) in

Finished head circumference
43.5 (46.5: 49) cm / 17.25 (18.25: 19.25) in

Skill level
Confident beginner

A note on safety
These hats are made for little ones. Sew the spider and pumpkin on securely, all the way round, so they cannot be pulled off.

Make the whole outfit
These hats were designed to go with two of my jumpers. The Ghost House jumper and mittens shares the spider hat’s blues, the moon and the fence, so the hat looks as though it has wandered straight off the jumper.

The Scaredy Cat jumper has a spider of its own and a very worried cat, and the pumpkin hat shares its purples and its orange. Knit the jumper and then a hat to match, or knit the hat first and see who comes asking for the jumper.

The jumpers shown in some photos are separate patterns and are not included.

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