AUNTIE SHEILA'S PAGE - Child's Hood with Mantle

CHILD'S HOOD WITH MANTLE

This is worked from the bottom up, has two seams. It leaves the face open, covers the head, and the mantle tucks under the shoulders of the child's coat, keeping it on, reducing neck and zipper chill.

Materials:
sizes 7 and 8 US needles
2 markers (if you don't own any, just use extra loops of contrasting yarn)
8 oz worsted weight 4-ply yarn (kids seem to prefer acrylics, and they wash well)
tapestry or darning needle

Directions:

MANTLE:
Using size 8 needles, CAST ON 114 stitches.
Knit in garter stitch for 6 rows.
Begin shoulder shaping as follows: switching to stockinette stitch, work as follows:
K29, insert marker, k3, k2tog, k51, insert marker, k3, k2tog, k24. (112 sts)
Next row: Purl to marker, sl marker, p3, p2tog, p to next marker, sl marker, p3, p2tog, p to end.
Next row: Knit to marker, sl marker, k3, k2 tog, k to next marker, sl marker, k3, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat these last two rows until 58 stitches remain on needles.

NECK:
Switch to size 7 needles and work 18 rows in k1p1 ribbing. It looks like too much, but it's right.

HOOD:
Switch back to size 8 needles. Work 5 stitches garter stitch, 48 stitches stockinette stitch, 5 stitches garter.
Work 45 more rows in this manner or desired length to top of chld's head.
BIND OFF.

FINISHING:
Fold in half vertically, with wrong sides out.
Sew top of head sides together evenly, break yarn.
Sew down the k1p1 ribbing and mantle, ending at the first row worked (in garter).

You're done!

EXTRAS:
FYI, this is an especially good hat for children prone to ear infections, since their ears don't get exposed. For extra warmth, duplicate stitch a large design on the sides of the head (to cover the ears with an extra layer of warmth). Can practice your new stitches, intarsia, fair isle, etc. on the HOOD portion, just remember to keep those 5 stitches in garter on each end for the ribbing. There will be an elfin peak at the back of the head, which is just begging for tassels, I-cord fun, pompoms, whatever. This works up VERY fast in worsted weight. If you want to make it smaller, use smaller needles and thinner yarn, but keep stitch count essentially the same.