AUNTIE SHEILA'S PAGE - Spiral Rib Baby Hat

SPIRAL RIB BABY HAT
(adaptable for other sizes - see below)
I used DK wool (light worsted?)
4.5mm dpns (a 12" circular would be OK for the main part) Gauge - 5 sts = 1" Hat measures about 14" around.
Cast on 72 sts and join into circle.
Work in spiral rib patt as follows:
Rounds 1-3: (k3 p3) 12 times
Rounds 4-6: p1 (k3 p3) 11 times, k3 p2
Rounds 5-9: p2 (k3 p3) 11 times, k3 p1
Rounds 10-12: p3 (k3 p3) 11 times, k3
Rounds 13-15: k1 p3 (k3 p3) 11 times, k2
Rounds 16-18: k2 p3 (k3 p3) 11 times, k1
Repeat these 18 rounds once
Shape top:
R1 (k3 p1 p2 tog) 12 times
R2 (k3 p2) 12 times
R3 (k3 p2tog) 12 times
R4 knit
R5 (k2 k2tog) 12 times
R6 (k1 k2tog) 12 times
R7 (k2tog) 12 times **
R8 (k2tog) 6 times
R9 (k2tog) 3 times
Work I cord on remaining sts - I did about 2" then finished it off and tied a knot in it.
Observations:
I didn't do any kind of band at the start and the front edge seems a bit loose. So I plan to pick up sts around the cast on edge and do a few rounds of k2 p2 rib. Alternatively, I could have just used smaller needles for the first 6/9 rounds.
Other sizes:
The pattern is in a multiple of 6, so you can adapt this to bigger sizes easily. Cast on as many as you need and work the body as long as you want. I recommend a few rounds of 1/1 or 2/2 rib to start with.

** If you prefer you can stop at this point and draw up the remaining sts and finish off.