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This week I’m sharing one of my all time top sellers from my prop shop days, Mohair Sleep Cap. I literally sold hundreds of these annually, especially around the holidays, because I made mohair santa caps from this pattern. I pray you use it and sell hundreds annually also! I love to see you succeed.
You can use any lace weight mohair/silk yarn. Some of my favorites are Knitpicks Aloft, Valley Yarns Southampton, and Rowan Kidsilk Haze. You can purchase the yarn for this project by clicking on any of the names of the yarn mentions. (To be totally transparent, yes, I do get a small commission when you use those links but that is what keeps all of my patterns free!) You only need 1 skein to complete any size. If you’re making newborn hats you’ll get multiple hats out of 1 skein.
Also included in this pattern is a cute little pair of shorts. Consider it a bonus. I sold many of these little shorts as well. They are perfect little modest tushie cover of the sweet baby who’s getting photos done. You can easily get a full newborn set out of 1 skein of yarn. Mohair pieces are very good for income in a photo prop shop. They are fast to make and really affordable.
Materials and Supplies
Materials – one skein of lace weight mohair yarn, size 6 (4mm) dpn OR 30in circular needle for magic loop, stitch holder, yarn needle
Gauge – 5sts/in ~GAUGE IS VERY IMPORTANT!!! SWATCH FIRST!!!~
Head circumference: nb (13ins). 0-3mths (14ins), 3-6mth (15ins), 6-12mths (16ins)
Mohair Sleep Cap and Shorts Pattern
Newborn
Sleep Cap
Cast on 60sts and join in the round.
k1p1 for 10 rounds
Work in stockinette st until work measures appx 3ins from cast on edge
Decreases
Round 1 – [k2tog k8] repeat from [to] around (54)
Knit 5 rounds
Round 7 – [k2tog k7] repeat from [to] around (48)
Knit 5 rounds
Round 13 – [k2tog k6] repeat from [to] around (42)
Knit 5 rounds
Round 19 – [k2tog k5] repeat from [to] around (36)
Knit 5 rounds
Round 26 – [k2tog k4] repeat from [to] around (30)
Knit 5 rounds
Round 32 – [k2tog k3] repeat from [to] around (24)
Knit 5 rounds
Round 39 – [k2tog k2] repeat from [to] around (18)
knit for 4-6ins
Do not bind off. Cut yarn leaving 8-10ins. Thread yarn onto yarn needle and pull through remaining stitches. Tie off. Weave in all ends. Tie the top of the hat into a loose knot.
Shorts
Cast on 60sts join in the round
Work k1p1 for 10 rounds
Work in stockinette until your work measures 5ins from cast on edge.
Gusset
Round 1: [place marker m1 k1 m1 place marker (the stitches between these markers are your gusset stitches) k29] repeat once more (64sts)
Round 2: knit around
Cut yarn leaving appx 8-10ins. Slip the last 29sts you worked onto a st holder or scrap piece of yarn. Kitchener st the gusset stitches from the front and back together. (tutorial at the end of pattern)
Legs
With main color
Round 1 – knit 29sts, pick up 1st on the gusset (30sts)
Work k1p1 for 10 rounds
Bind off. I like to use a sewn bind off since it has a lot of stretch but it’s not necessary.
Pick up the 29sts on your stitch holder and repeat from round 1 of legs for the other leg.
Weave in all ends.
0-3mths
Sleep Cap
Cast on 66sts and join in the round.
k1p1 for 10 rounds
Work in stockinette st until work measures appx 3.5ins from cast on edge
Decreases
Round 1 – [k2tog, k9] repeat from [to] around (60sts)
Knit 5 rounds
Round 7 – [k2tog k8] repeat from [to] around (54sts)
Knit 5 rounds
Round 13 – [k2tog k7] repeat from [to] around (48sts)
Knit 5 rounds
Round 19 – [k2tog k6] repeat from [to] around (42)
Knit 5 rounds
Round 25 – [k2tog k5] repeat from [to] around (36)
Knit 5 rounds
Round 31 – [k2tog k4] repeat from [to] around (30)
Knit 5 rounds
Round 37 – [k2tog k3] repeat from [to] around (24)
Knit 5 rounds
Round 43– [k2tog k2] repeat from [to] around (18)
knit for 4-6ins
Do not bind off. Cut yarn leaving 8-10ins. Thread yarn onto yarn needle and pull through remaining stitches. Tie off. Weave in all ends. Tie the top of the hat into a loose knot.
Shorts
Cast on 66sts join in the round
Work k1p1 for 10 rounds
Work in stockinette until your work measures 5.5ins from cast on edge.
Gusset
Round 1: [place marker m1 k1 m1 place marker (the stitches between these markers are your gusset stitches) k32] repeat once more (70sts)
Round 2: knit around
Cut yarn leaving appx 8-10ins. Slip the last 32sts you worked onto a st holder or scrap piece of yarn. Kitchener st the gusset stitches from the front and back together. (tutorial at the end of pattern)
Legs
With main color
Round 1 – knit 32sts, pick up 2st on the gusset (34sts)
Work k1p1 for 10 rounds
Bind off. I like to use a sewn bind off since it has a lot of stretch but it’s not necessary.
Pick up the 32sts on your stitch holder and repeat from round 1 of legs for the other leg.
Weave in all ends.
3-6mths
Sleep Cap
Cast on 70sts and join in the round.
k1p1 for 12 rounds
Work in stockinette st until work measures appx 4ins from cast on edge
Decreases
Round 1 – [k2tog k8] repeat from [to] around (63)
Knit 6 rounds
Round 8 – [k2tog k7] repeat from [to] around (56)
Knit 6 rounds
Round 15 – [k2tog k6] repeat from [to] around (49)
Knit 6 rounds
Round 22 – [k2tog k5] repeat from [to] around (42)
Knit 6 rounds
Round 29 – [k2tog k4] repeat from [to] around (35)
Knit 6 rounds
Round 36 – [k2tog k3] repeat from [to] around (28)
Knit 6 rounds
Round 43 – [k2tog k2] repeat from [to] around (21)
knit for 4-6ins
Do not bind off. Cut yarn leaving 8-10ins. Thread yarn onto yarn needle and pull through remaining stitches. Tie off. Weave in all ends. Tie the top of the hat into a loose knot.
Shorts
Cast on 70sts join in the round
Work k1p1 for 12 rounds
Work in stockinette until your work measures 6ins from cast on edge.
Gusset
Round 1: [place marker m1 k1 m1 place marker (the stitches between these markers are your gusset stitches) k34] repeat once more (74sts)
Round 2: knit around
Cut yarn leaving appx 8-10ins. Slip the last 34sts you worked onto a st holder or scrap piece of yarn. Kitchener st the gusset stitches from the front and back together. (tutorial at the end of pattern)
Legs
With main color
Round 1 – knit 34sts, pick up 2st on the gusset (36sts)
Work k1p1 for 12 rounds
Bind off. I like to use a sewn bind off since it has a lot of stretch but it’s not necessary.
Pick up the 34sts on your stitch holder and repeat from round 1 of legs for the other leg.
Weave in all ends.
6-12mths
Sleep Cap
Cast on 76sts and join in the round.
k1p1 for 12 rounds
Work in stockinette st until work measures appx 4.5ins from cast on edge
Decreases
Round 1 – [k2tog, k9] repeat from [to] around (70sts)
Knit 6 rounds
Round 8 – [k2tog k8] repeat from [to] around (63)
Knit 6 rounds
Round 15 – [k2tog k7] repeat from [to] around (56)
Knit 6 rounds
Round 22 – [k2tog k6] repeat from [to] around (49)
Knit 6 rounds
Round 29 – [k2tog k5] repeat from [to] around (42)
Knit 6 rounds
Round 36 – [k2tog k4] repeat from [to] around (35)
Knit 6 rounds
Round 43 – [k2tog k3] repeat from [to] around (28)
Knit 6 rounds
Round 50 – [k2tog k2] repeat from [to] around (21)
knit for 4-6ins
Do not bind off. Cut yarn leaving 8-10ins. Thread yarn onto yarn needle and pull through remaining stitches. Tie off. Weave in all ends. Tie the top of the hat into a loose knot.
Shorts
Cast on 76sts join in the round
Work k1p1 for 12 rounds
Work in stockinette until your work measures 6.5ins from cast on edge.
Gusset
Round 1: [place marker m1 k1 m1 place marker (the stitches between these markers are your gusset stitches) k37] repeat once more (80sts)
Round 2: knit around
Cut yarn leaving appx 8-10ins. Slip the last 37sts you worked onto a st holder or scrap piece of yarn. Kitchener st the gusset stitches from the front and back together. (tutorial at the end of pattern)
Legs
With main color
Round 1 – knit 37sts, pick up 1st on the gusset (38sts)
Work k1p1 for 12 rounds
Bind off. I like to use a sewn bind off since it has a lot of stretch but it’s not necessary.
Pick up the 37sts on your stitch holder and repeat from round 1 of legs for the other leg.
Weave in all ends.
Stitch Key and Tutorials
Stitch Key:
K – knit
P – purl
k2tog – knit 2 together
Kitchener Stitch:
Hold the two pieces of knitting parallel to one another with the wrong sides facing. Thread the working yarn with a yarn needle. *Insert the yarn needle knitwise into the first stitch on the front knitting needle. Draw through the stitch and slip the stitch off of the front needle. Insert the yarn needle purlwise into the next stitch on the front knitting needle. Draw through the stitch. Leave the stitch on the needle. Insert the yarn needle purlwise into the first stitch on the back knitting needle. Draw through the stitch and slip the stitch off of the back needle. Insert the yarn needle knitwise into the next stitch on the back knitting needle. Draw through the stitch. Leave the stitch on the needle. Repeat these steps beginning at the * until all of your stitches have been grafted together.
Download Mohair Sleep Cap PDF
