I have a large collection of vintage knitting books and pamphlets some go back to the 1930s. Many have no date on them. I have knitted many a layette from the old Patons baby books over the years. Layettes are no longer popular and today babies wear very utilitarian clothing, rather than the frilly, lacy decorative concoctions of days gone by.
Many of the patterns in the vintage pattern books have dated and some just need a little tweaking.
Copyright
I have permission from the copyright owner and have done a rewrite of this pattern. Any questions about my rewritten version needs to come to me, not the original copywriter owner.
For more information on copyright here in Australia check out this information sheet.
Ravelry has a page for this lovely old book.
‘Poplar’ is a pattern that needs a tweak or two. The changes I’ve made:
- written it to work in the round
- the cast on to 120st
- the decreasing to eight stitches a round, rather than seven
- lengthened the hat prior to the decreases, so the hat sits forward on the head
Pattern
Yarn:
8ply Heirloom Easy Care or Patons Totem in 2 colours.
Yarn B – 2 balls dark, Yarn A -1 ball light
Needles & notions
40cm 4mm circular needles
4mm double pointed needles
stitch marker
Sizes:
To fit adult head 53 cm – 60cm
Tension:
22sts to 10cm
Notes:
- Do not cut yarn between colour changes, loosely carry it up the hat
- change to double pointed needles as needed
Band
Using yarn B Dark, cast on 120 sts
Working in the round, place stitch marker to mark beginning of the round.
Work (k2, p2) rib until rib measures 6cm for a simple band or 12cm for a folded band.
Body (3 sections)
Using yarn A (light)
R1-8 knit 8 rows in stocking stitch.
Using yarn B (dark)
R9 (p1, with yarn held at front, sl1 purlwise) repeat to end.
R10 (k1, with yarn held at from, sl1 purl wise) repeat to end.
R11 and R12 knit
Repeat R1- R12 twice more.
Decreasing sections (7 sections)
Using yarn A. (light)
Next R (k13, k2tog) repeat to end. (8 sts decreased)(112)
Knit 6 rounds.
Next R (k12, k2tog) repeat to end. (104)
Using Yarn B (dark)work R9- R12.
Using yarn A. (light)
Next R (k11, k2tog) repeat to end. (8 sts decreased)(96)
Knit 6 rounds.
Next R (k10, k2tog) repeat to end. (88)
Using Yarn B (dark)work R9- R12.
Using yarn A. (light)
Next R (k9, k2tog) repeat to end. (8 sts decreased)(80)
Knit 6 rounds.
Next R (k8, k2tog) repeat to end. (72)
Using Yarn B (dark)work R9- R12.
Using yarn A. (light)
Next R (k7, k2tog) repeat to end (8 sts decreased)(64)
Knit 6 rounds
Next R (k6, k2tog) repeat to end (56)
Using Yarn B (dark)work R9- R12
Using yarn A. (light)
Next R (k5, k2tog) repeat to end (8 sts decreased)(48)
Knit 6 rounds.
Next R (k4, k2tog) repeat to end. (40)
Using Yarn B (dark)work R9- R12.
Using yarn A. (light)
Next R (k3, k2tog) repeat to end. (8 sts decreased)(32)
Knit 6 rounds
Next R (k2, k2tog) repeat to end. (24)
Using Yarn B (dark)work R9- R12.
Last Row with Yarn B (dark) (k2tog) repeat to end (12sts
Break yarn and thread through live stitches.
Make twisted cord
Cut 4 x 1m strands of yarn, Lay them side by side,tie them together at each end. Holding one end firmly, (I use my toe!) twist them until they start to kink. Carefully match the ends and let the yarn twist back on itself. Tie ends together.
Make tassel
Using your phone.* Wrap yarn around the long length of phone until bundled yarn looks full, around 50 wraps. Tie bundle, through the centre, with a strand of yarn firmly at one end. Slide tied bundle carefully from the phone. Using 1 meter of yarn wrap bundle firmly about 2 cm from tie, pull tight and tie firmly. Bury ends inside tassel. Cut open opposite end from tie. Trim and neaten.
*(phone measures 14cms, a piece of cardboard or a book can also be used)
Join tassel to cord
Firmly sew tassel to folded end of twisted cord.
Sew cord to top of hat.
Insert knotted end of cord into top of cap and sew it firmly into place while gathering hat around it.