PROJECT: Last Minute Skull Caps

There may only be 4 days left until Halloween, but it’s never too late to knit-up another trinket of terror. These “Skull Cap” beanies are made with bulky-weight, organic wool and have painted faces making them a cinch to make in a sec! Here’s the skeleton scoop:

What You Need

2 hanks (3 will make 2 hats) O-Wool’s Legacy Bulky (100% organic merino wool; 106 yds) in color: Natural (or other bulky weight yarn)

Size US 9 (5.5mm) Circs

Size US 9 (5.5mm) dpns

Tapestry Needle

Colored Chalk

Black Fabric or Block Printing Paint

Paint Brush

Gauge

3 1/2 sts per inch

Size

Kiddo (stretches to fit 20″ head)

Note: To size up, just add 4 more stitches for each inch added. The pattern will stay exactly the same.

What to Do

Using circular needle, CO 64 sts. Join, taking care not to twist.

Work in K2, P2 rib for 6 rows.

Switch to stockinette stitch (which in the round, is knitting every row), and work until hat measures 6-61/4″ (I made my older son’s just a smidge longer than my younger son’s.)

Decrease section:

(Switch to dpns, when necessary.)

Rnd 1: *K2, k2tog; repeat from * to end.

Rnd 2: Knit

Rnd 3: *K1, k2tog; repeat from * to end.

Rnd 4: Knit

Rnd 5: *K2tog; repeat from * to end.

Rnd 6: Knit

Rnds 7-8: Repeat rnd 5.

Cut yarn, leaving 6″ tail. Using tapestry needle, weave tail through remaining live sts (taking them off the needles) and cinch closes.

How to Finish

Weave in ends.

Place a piece of cardboard inside of hat, to hold it taught and prevent paint from seeping through to back of hat.

Using colored chalk, sketch skeleton face onto front of hat.

Paint in faces. Let dry.

Slightly pull at the hat so that you can see if you need to paint a second coat including, between the rows of stitches which may show when the hat is stretched.

Let dry again.