Making Preemie Hats!
Knitting Retreat Day
Saturday, February 21, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Beth Malley
Welcome to our annual Knitting or Crocheting Day!! This year we are giving our work to the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain! When you register pick a pattern of your choice, knit or crochet, and bring at least one Preemie Hat to the retreat (more if you can!!) While at the retreat we will make more…the joy of handmade items is in giving them to folks who appreciate them. The parents of preemies love choosing the hat after bathtime!! God gave us the ability to use our hands for good…we will do just that!! Join us for fun, prayer, creativity, meeting new people and using our hands to give the new little ones a perfect hat!!
Offering: $75, includes lunch
Materials for Crocheting:
G Hook
Soft Worsted Weight Yarn
This hat is worked in the round - do not turn after each row.
Ch 3
Rnd 1: 12 dc in 3rd chain from the hook, join with a sl st to beginning ch 3.
Rnd 2: Ch 2, dc in same stitch as ch 2, 2 dc in each stitch around, join with sl st to beginning ch 2.
Rnd 3: Ch 2, dc in each dc around, join with sl st to beginning ch 2.
Rnd 4-7: Repeat row 3.
Rnd 8: Ch 1, sl st in each dc around, join with sl st to beginning ch 1, fasten off. Weave in ends.
Rnd 8 Variations:
* Ch 1, reverse sc around, join & fasten off.
* Ch 1, sc around, join & fasten off.
* Ch 1, sc, *ch 1, sc*, repeat * around, join & fasten off.
This is an excellent pattern to use up scraps, just make each row, a different color, or make hat one color and Rnd 8 a different color. Just be creative!
(c)Teresa Bowman – 2004
Materials for Knitting
Worsted weight yarn in bright cheerful colors.
US 10.5 (6.5mm) straight needles (hat is knit flat, then seamed)
Tapestry Needle
Roll Brim Hat:
CO 40 sts (leave an extra long tail for seaming up later)
Work in stockinette until hat measures 6” from CO edge.
Decrease:
Row 1: K2, K2tog across row
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: K1, K2tog across row
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: K2tog across row
Using tapestry needle, break yarn leaving a long tail. Thread through remaining stitches and pull tightly. Seam up the back and weave in ends.
Beth Malley
Beth Malley, co-curator of the Monastery Gallery of Art, is also a certified Zentangle teacher dedicated to nurturing others’ artistic and creative gifts. Additionally, she serves as a docent at the Wadsworth Atheneum and hosts the Prayer Shawl Ministry at Holy Family.
Dietary restrictions? Holy Family is committed to making your stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible, and to that end, we can accommodate most dietary needs. Please email Ted, our registrar, at tjastrzebski@holyfamilyretreat.org, if you have any dietary restrictions or food allergies, so that we may make preparations in advance of your retreat.