Charity Hat Flower Technique- Free for Machine Knitters

I can't even believe how long it's been since I last posted.  Seems like the more I thought about it, the more I procrastinated.  O well, I'm back.

I thought I'd share a charity hat pattern that the members of my mk guild have been making.  It's more of a technique than a pattern.  You get to use your favorite hat pattern that works with your machine, yarn and the size you want to make.  My friend Bruce just posted on Ravelry a picture of the many he has made for charity.  They are soooooooo cute.  He used a rolled brim (fast) on his Brother KX350 midgauge.
So, without further ado, here is the technique.

Machine and Yarn: Use your favorite hat pattern for the yarn and machine you are using to get the size you want. Once you get the number of rows knitted you want for the height of the hat, transfer every 3^rd or 4^th stitch over one stitch to the left to make eyelets. (You need an even number of holes for the I cord to end up on the outside of the hat. Cheat if you have to. It won't show after you cinch it all up.) Put the emptied needles back to work, knit 2 to 4 rows. Do not remove from machine. Now make the flower “petals”. Can be the same or different color than the body of the hat. Set your machine to hold and *put/keep all but the right 3-4 stitches into hold. On those stitches in work, knit 20 to 30 rows (depending on how long you want each petal and which machine you are using). It helps to hold down the petal loop with your left hand and run the carriage with your right hand. Transfer those stitches the same number of needles to the left. There will be two st on each needle for the first row. Put the emptied needles out of work. * Repeat from * to *. When you reach the last stitch group, knit the petal and then hang the stitches back up, bind off.

Seam the side of the hat.

Make an I CORD: (to thread through the eyelets and cinch up.) Make a tight I cord about 15 inches long. Thread through, cinch up the top of the hat, tie a bow with knots at the ends of the cord. Voila, done. 

It's s very fun hat to knit and little girls love the frilly-ness.   Make some for your favorite charity!