This project is really a combination of the Lion Brand Preemie Stocking Cap (knit) pattern and the Amanda Keeys Pompom Bear pattern. Because of the way I finished it flat on the top with two pompoms, it ended up looking closest to the Pompom Bear, so that’s why I linked it to that pattern.
Pompom Bear is knit in the round, while Preemie Stocking Cap is knit on standard needles then seamed. Since I started intending to do a Preemie Stocking Cap, I ended up needing to seam it. If I made this again, I’d do it in the round.
Following Preemie Stocking Cap instructions, I cast on 72. After knitting what I felt was enough of the ribbing, I worked 2 K2TOGs into the first row of the garter blocks to reduce the stitch count to 70 -- divisible by 10, so the garter block pattern would work.
After knitting two repeats of the garter block pattern, I decided that the hat might look cute squared off like the Pompom Bear hat I did for my daughter. So, instead of starting to reduce to close off the hat, I knit another repeat of the garter block pattern. Holding it up to the preemie hat I knitted for my daughter, I decided it was tall enough. I closed up the top with kitchener stitch, seamed up the open side, and made and attached the two pompoms.
It was a very quick knit -- a few hours on a Sunday afternoon/evening. The fact that it’s preemie-sized helped it go quickly. In the pictures, that’s a nickel on one of the garter squares, for size reference.
So it kinda feels like Pompom Bear, but with a different stitch pattern provided by the garter blocks. It was definitely fun modifying some patterns and seeing what happened. I’m looking forward to seeing this on a baby to really get a feel for how it looks. I’m hoping that it provides some whimsical flair that will be appreciated in the NICU.