Knit a honeycomb and bees hat :: free knitting pattern

An allover honeycomb pattern is decorated with little knitted bees.

Size 1 for a baby/toddler: finished size 50cm
Size 2 for a large child/teenager: finished size 63cm

You will need

● 100g black DK wool
● 100g yellow DK wool
● pair 31/4mm and 4mm knitting needles
● Small amount of gold yarn such as Twilleys Goldfingering
● Numbers in brackets are for larger size

How to make

Using 3 1/4mm needles
Cast on 100 (124) sts in black
(alternatively the first row could be cast on in yellow then change to black)
K1, P1 rib for 3cm (4cm)
Change to 4mm needles, proceed with honeycomb pattern

Row 1 K in black (right side)
Row 2 K in black
Row 3 (using yellow) K1, SL 2, * K6, SL2
Repeat from * to last st.
K1 (all slip stitches slip purlways)
Row 4 (using yellow) P1, SL2, * P6, SL2, repeat from * to last st P1
Row 5 As Row 3.
Row 6 As Row 4.
Row 7 As Row 3
Row 8 As Row 4.
Rows 9 and 10 Using black, knit
Row 11 Using yellow, K5, SL2, * K6, SL2, rep from * to last 5 sts, K5
Row 12 P5, SL2, * P6, SL2 rep. from * to last 5 sts P5
Row 13 As Row 11
Row 14 As Row 12
Row 15 As Row 11
Row 16 As Row 12
These 16 rows form the honeycomb pattern.
Repeat 16 rows of honeycomb pattern once more (twice more)

Shape hat

Knit rows 1 and 2 in black

Row 3 K1 yellow * SL2 black, K2 yellow, K2 tog, K2 yellow. Repeat from * to last 3sts. SL2 blk, K1 yellow. 88sts (109 sts)
Row 4 P1 yellow, * SL2 black black, P5 yellow continue from * to last 3 sts. SL 2 blk, P1 yellow
Row 5 K1 yellow, * SL 2 blk, K1 yellow, K2 tog. K2 yellow, continue from * to last 3 sts. SL 2 blk, K1 yellow. 76 sts (94 sts)
Row 6 P1 yellow, * SL 2 blk, P4 yellow to last 3 sts. SL2 blk, P1 yellow.
Row 7 K1 yellow, * SL2 blk, K4 yellow. Continue from * to last 3 sts. SL2 blk, K1 yellow.
Row 8 P1 yellow, * SL2 blk, P4 yellow. Continue from * to last 3 sts. SL2 blk, P1 yellow.
Row 9 Using black only. K1, * K2 tog, K4, continue from * to last st. K1 63 sts (78 sts)
Row 10 Knit 1 row straight in blk
Row 11 K3 yellow, SL 2 blk, * K3 yellow, SL 2 blk, continue from * last 3 sts K 3 yellow
Row 12 *P 2 tog, P1, SL2 blk, continue from * to last 3 sts. P2 tog P1 50 sts (62 sts)
Row 13 K2 yellow, SL2 blk, continue from * to last 2sts, K2 yellow
Row 14 *P2 yellow, SL2 blk, continue from * to last 2 sts, P2 yellow
Row 15 *K2 yellow, SL2 blk, continue from * to last 2 sts K2 yellow
Row 16 *P2 yellow, SL 2 blk, continue from * to last 2 sts P2 yellow.

Continue decreasing as follows:

Row 1 Using blk *K2, K2 tog. Continue from * to last 2 sts. K2 38 sts (47 sts)
Row 2 K all stitches in blk.
Row 3 Using yellow only * K6, K2 tog.
Continue from * to last 6 sts. (7sts)
K6 (K5, K2 tog) 34 sts (41 sts)
Row 4 Purl using yellow.
Row 5 *K2, K2 tog, continue from * to last 2sts (3sts) K2 (K2 tog, K1) 26 sts (31 sts)
Row 6 Purl using yellow (P2 tog, purl to last 2 sts, P2 tog, 29 sts)
Row 7 *K2 tog 13 times to 13 sts.
(K2 tog to last st. K1, to 15 sts)
Cut yarn, use enough length to thread through remaining sts and draw up.
Stitch seam of hat matching up pattern.
Sew in ends.

To make bees (knit 3)

Using 3.25mm needles cast on 12 sts in blk.
K 1 row
P 1 row
Change to yellow
K 1 row
P 1 row
Change to black
When 5 stripes are knitted cast off.
With right sides together gather up one end, stitch side, turn right way out, gather up other end.
Using gold metallic yarn stitch a small loop on each side of bee (keep yarn doubled).
Using a buttonhole stitch, go round each loop until each wing is fairly rigid and secure.
Stitch bees in place on hat.