And a Little Stinger Hat, Too.

Isn't it ridiculously cute?

I am so happy I had just enough extra yarn whip this little gem up.  It is really simple and works up super fast (I made this in under two hours, and I am not a super fast knitter!)

Use the leftover yarn from the Little Bee Baby Cozy; in my case, I had Swish Worsted in honey, cornmeal, allspice, lava heather.  You'll need US size 4 DPNs, stitch markers, small crochet hook, and a yarn needle.

Cast on 60 stitches with dark brown yarn.  Place marker to indicate beginning of the row, knit in the round for seven rounds.  Change to orange-spice yarn and knit two rounds.  Then, follow the next row pattern:

1 round Brown
1 round Orange
6 rounds light yellow
1 round Brown
2 rounds Orange
6 rounds honey yellow
1 rounds Brown

Next row:  Continue working in brown, placing a marker every 12 stitches.

Begin decrease rows, where first row is worked knitting to two stitches before marker, knit two together.  Second row is worked knitting all stitches in the round.  Work the following stripe pattern:

3 rows light yellow
1 row Orange
All remaining rows are worked in honey yellow yarn.  When only seven stitches remain, cut yarn and using the yarn needle, run yarn through stitches and pull tight to close end.  Tie of yarn and weave in ends.

To make the antenna, cast 6 stitches on the DPN.  Work as flat knitting (not in the round).

Row 1:  Knit two, knit front and back next two stitches, knit two. (8 stitches)
Row 2: Knit all stitches.
Row 3: Knit three stitches, knit front and back next two stitches, knit three. (10 stitches).
Row 4-6: Knit all stitches.
Row 7: Knit three, knit two together, knit two together, knit three. (8 stitches)
Row 8: knit all stitches.
Row 9: Knit two, knit two together, knit two together, knit two. (6 stitches)
Row 10: Bind off.

Break yarn, leaving eight inches for finishing.  Poke into center of the round form to make a dent, and fill with small amount of yarn scraps for stuffing.  Using eight inch tail, sew the opening closed (it will be shaped like a banana).  Catch end of the banana and pull yarn tight to draw both ends together, making a roughly circular shape.  Tie of yarn and weave end into work and trim remaining.

Work  a six inch length of brown yarn in single crochet, three times.  Braid these lengths together, tying knots at both ends.  Using the yarn needle or crochet hook, pull the braid through the hat from the inside to equal points on either side of the top of the hat.  Using the yarn ends of the braid, sew them through the brown puff-balls at either end of the braid strip.  Weave in ends and trim.

This makes a pretty cute gift when paired with the Little Bee Baby Cozy!