Train Track Baby Hat for Straight Needles

This little hat is made to coordinate with my Train Track Baby Blanket. Instructions are given in several sizes. The sleepers are formed by elongated stitches that are picked up on the opposite rail. This is the straight needle version of this pattern. The in-the-round version is here.

Sizes:
Preemie – 10″ circumference, 5.5″ high
Newborn – 12″ circumference, 6″ high
6 month – 14″ circumference, 7″ high
12 month – 16″ circumference, 7.5″ high
Toddler – 18″ circumference, 8″ high

Gauge:
18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette

Materials:
0.7 to 3 oz (40 to 150 yards) of soft worsted weight yarn
Size 8 (5 mm) knitting needles
Yarn needle

Colors:

At least two colors are needed to make the hat, but up to four can be used. The example has three.

Abbreviations:
k = knit
p = purl
k2tog = knit two together
ssk = slip one knitwise, slip one knitwise, insert left needle into front of both slipped stitches and knit
pw4w – purl with four wraps: insert right needle to purl, but wrap yarn four times and pull through
dws – drop with slip: slip the stitch with the extra wraps purlwise, dropping the extra wraps. There will be a single elongated stitch.
spw – slip purlwise

Pattern:
Start with color for ribbing and below track.
Preemie – Cast on 49
Newborn – Cast on 57
6 month – Cast on 65
12 month – Cast on 73
Toddler – Cast on 81

Ribbing (6 rows for preemie size, 8 rows for other sizes):
Repeat between * across the row
Ribbing 1: * k2, p2 * k1
Ribbing 2: p1 * k2, p2 *
Make these rows 3 times for preemie size, 4 times for other sizes.

Make rows of stockinette as outlined below for the size you want. Odd rows are knit and even rows are purl.
Preemie – 6 rows of stockinette
Newborn – 8 rows of stockinette
6 month – 10 rows of stockinette
12 month – 10 rows of stockinette
Toddler – 12 rows of stockinette

Track:
Repeat instruction between * across the row:
Change to track color.
Row 1: * k *
Row 2: p1 * p2, pw4w, p1 *
Change to between-rail color.
Row 3: * k1, dws, k2 * k1
Row 4: p1 * p2, spw, p1 *
Row 5: * k1, spw, k2 * k1
Row 6: p1 * p2, spw, p1 *
Change to track color.
Row 7: * k *
Row 8: * p *
Change to above track color.

Knit stockinette (knit odd rows, purl even rows) until the hat measures the desired height for size including the ribbing:
Preemie – 4.5″ high
Newborn – 5″ high
6 month – 6″ high
12 month – 6.5″ high
Toddler – 7″ high

Crown:
Repeat between * across the round
Row 1: * k2, k2tog, ssk, k2 * k1
Row 2: * p *
Row 3: * k1, k2tog, ssk, k1 * k1
Row 4: * p *
Row 5: * k2tog, ssk * k1
Cut the yarn with two feet to work with. With a yarn needle, pull the yarn through all the remaining loops, secure, seam the side, secure and weave in end.