Easy Fun Froggy Hat

Staying with the stash busting new years resolution I had some green yarn that needed using up so I decided to make a childs Froggy hat. Frogs are rather cute and this is a fun easy pattern with no complicated stitched or shaping.

Sizes 3 years (4-5 years, 6-7 years)

Finished Measurements
Hat circumference: 16 (18, 20)" (40.5 [45.5, 51]cm)
Materials
1 skein Green double knitting type yarn
Size 7 (4.5mm) 16" (40cm) circular needle
Size 7 (4.5mm) double-pointed needles, set of 5
Size 5 (3.75mm) double-pointed needles, set of 5
Stitch markers
Yarn needle
2 black buttons or 2 frog eyes, 3⁄4" (19mm) in diameter
Small amount of black worsted-weight yarn

Hat

Using the circular needle, cast on 72 (80, 88) stitches. Join, being careful not to twist stitches. Place a marker for the beginning of the round. Work in stockinette stitch (knit every round) until the piece measures 41⁄2 (5, 51⁄2)" (11.5 [12.5, 14]cm) from the beginning.

Shape Crown
NOTE: Change to the larger double-pointed needles when the number of stitches has been sufficiently decreased.
Round 1: *K6, k2tog; repeat from * around-63 (70, 77) stitches.
Round 2: Knit.
Round 3: *K5, k2tog; repeat from * around-54 (60, 66) stitches.
Round 4: Knit.
Round 5: *K4, k2tog; repeat from * around-45 (50, 55) stitches.
Round 6: Knit.
Round 7: *K3, k2tog; repeat from * around-36 (40, 44) stitches.
Round 8: Knit.
Round 9: *K2, k2tog; repeat from * around-27 (30, 33) stitches.
Round 10: Knit.
Round 11: *K1, k2tog; repeat from * around-18 (20, 22) stitches.
Round 12: Knit.
Round 13: K2tog around-9 (10, 11) stitches.
Cut the yarn, leaving a long end. Use the yarn needle to thread the end through the remaining stitches. Draw together tightly and fasten off.

Eye(make 2)
Using the larger double-pointed needles, cast on 20 stitches. Divide the stitches onto 4 needles-5 stitches per needle. Join, being careful not to twist stitches. Place a marker for the beginning of the round.
Rounds 1-4: Knit.
Round 5: On the first needle, k2tog, k to the end of the needle; on the second needle, k to the last 2 stitches, k2tog; on the third needle, k2tog, k to the end of needle; on the fourth needle, k to the last 2 stitches, k2tog-4 stitches remain on each needle.
Rounds 6-7: Repeat round 5 twice-2 stitches remain on each needle. Slip stitches from the first and second needles onto the first needle; slip stitches from the third and fourth needles onto the third needle. Cut the yarn, leaving a long end. Hold the first and third needles parallel to each other and use the yarn end to graft the stitches together.

Finishing
Sew a large button to one side of each Eye or attach a frog eye or embroider black circle and green french knot in center . Stuff the Eye with about 60" (152.5cm) of matching yarn. Sew Eyes to the top of the Hat. With black yarn, embroider a backstitch or chainstitch mouth and nose on the Hat. Weave in ends.

For those of you who aren't keen on using circular needles there is a two needle version on another post http://dianne-jones.blogspot.com/2012/01/two-needle-froggy-hat.html


Happy Knitting!