LC Elf Cap help, please?

[Hoopin' Mama]

I am not very pattern savvy, or knitting savvy for that matter, so maybe I'm missing something here.
I'd like to make the Elf Cap from Living Crafts for my kiddo. The author of the pattern makes sure to stress the importance of gauge, and yet I see no gauge on here.
Uh.......:

Does this mean I follow the recommended for the weight of yarn I choose??

Thanks!

[iowaorganic]

yeah- that is why I haven't done one yet.... The only thing I can think of is to measure your child's head and work from there with your yarn. But that will likely change your stitches and pattern. Ugh- I can't do that kind of thinking right now.

[Hoopin' Mama]

Huh.
I guess I'll pick another pattern, cause he needs one for camping next week.

[Hoopin' Mama]

Okey Dokey,
Anyone know of a good free hat pattern for a 4yo?
I am not good enough at knitting to measure my kids head and figure out the gauge myself.

[3boobykins]

I was perplexed by that pattern too! Gauge is so crucial, but we don't include it here? It's such a cute hat, too!

[Knittin' in the Shade]

I still haven't gotten my issue of LC, so I can't be more specific with my help. But really, they give a pattern without a gauge?! Are there any instructions on how to work to your own gauge?

A good general rule of thumb for a hat is to take the child's head measurement (let's say 20 inches which is fairly typical for a 4 year old) Say you're getting 4 stitches to the inch, 20 * 4 = 80. But you want it to be snug, so you'll take off about 10% of that. 80 * 90% = 72 stitches. That'll give you a nicely fitting hat

[Hoopin' Mama]

Thanks for your help!!

It is actually in the Fall 2008 issue.

The new issue is wonderful