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Free knitting patterns for The Big Knit!

What is The Big Knit?

Back in 2008 the good folk at Innocent Smoothies had an idea. They asked some older people, and some younger people, to knit little woolly hats. They then put those hats on their smoothies, and for each one sold they donated 30c to Age Action!

The idea snowballed and so far the people of Ireland have knitted an astonishing 390,000 hats!

Together you have raised over €120,000, and raised awareness of issues affecting older people all over Ireland. Thank you for everything you've done so far.

And now for some ideas! Here are a couple of free knitting patterns (and there are links to loads more below).

Doddle Hat (Basic Pattern)

Free Knitting Patterns | The Big Knit | Innocent Smoothies supporting Age Action

Knitting

  • Using double knitting yarn and some 4mm needles, cast on 28 stitches
  • K2 rows. Then, starting with a knit row, work in stocking stitch (Knit 1 row, Purl 1 row, repeat) for 12 more rows
  • For the next row, K2 together across all the stitches (14 stitches). And for the row after that, P2 together to the end (7 stitches)
  • When you’ve finished, cut the yarn leaving about 25 cm. Thread the cut end of the yarn through a sewing needle, then run it through the loops and remove the knitting needle
  • Tighten the yarn and sew the little hat together at the side. Once finished, turn it right-side out so that the seam you’ve just sewn runs up the inside
  • When laid out flat, the hat dimensions should be about 5-7cm along the bottom and at least 3cm high
  • Sew a little bobble onto the top of the hat

Banana Hat (by Juliet Bernard)

Free Knitting Patterns | The Big Knit | Innocent Smoothies supporting Age Action

Yarn

Any DK weight yarn in white and yellow

You will also need

A pair of 3.25mm (UK10/US3) Pony knitting needles

Tension

Tension is not critical for this project

Abbreviations

  • K knit
  • P purl
  • k2tog knit two together
  • P2tog purl two together
  • sts stitches
  • st st stocking stitch
  • YO wrap yarn over the needle

​Pattern

Hat

  • Pop the kettle on
  • Using 4 ply yarn in yellow and some 3.25mm needles, cast on 36 stitches
  • For the first 2 rows, you need to knit in rib (knit 1, purl 1, knit 1)
  • Then work in stocking stitch for the next 6 rows
  • Change to cream yarn and work 2 more rows in stocking stitch
  • For the next row, knit 4, knit 2 together (tog), knit 4, knit 2 tog and repeat to end of the row. (30 stitches)
  • Then, starting with a purl row, use stocking stitch for the next 3 rows
  • For the next row, knit 3, knit 2 tog, knit 3, knit 2 tog and repeat to end of the row. (24 stitches)
  • Starting with a purl row, use stocking stitch for the next 3 rows
  • For the next row, knit 2, knit 2 tog, knit 2, knit 2 tog and repeat to end of the row. (18 stitches)
  • Then purl for a whole row
  • For the next row, knit 1, knit 2 tog, knit 1, knit 2 tog and repeat to end of the row. (12 stitches)
  • Then purl for a whole row (nearly there)
  • And for the final row, knit 2 tog across all stitches, thread the end of the wool through the remaining stitches and bind off
  • To make up the inside of the banana, sew the side seams together
  • Have a cup of tea!

Peel

  • Using yellow yarn, pick up 12 stitches horizontally from the yellow stocking stitch part of the banana
  • Then for the first 6 rows, work in stocking stitch
  • For the next row, knit 4, knit 2 tog, knit 2 tog, knit 4 to the end of the row. (10 stitches)
  • Purl the next and all alternate rows
  • For the next row, knit 3, knit 2 tog, knit 2 tog , knit 3 all the way to the end of the row. (8 stitches)
  • Then knit 2, knit 2 tog, knit 2 tog, knit 2 to the end of the row (6 stitches)
  • Then knit 1, knit 2 tog, knit 2 tog, knit 1 to the end of the row (4 stitches)
  • And finally, knit 2 together twice, slip one stitch over the other and then bind off
  • Repeat twice more to complete the banana peel and then pat yourself on the back for a job well done

Making up

  • Sew up hat and sew in all ends