Year of the Stitches Week 47 – Marguerite Stitch

Marguerite Stitch 

Well hello my wonderful ones. How are we all? I hope you have all had good weeks!! It all seems to be getting a bit christmassy here. Just seen all the Christmas lights go on which was lovely!! It’s definitely getting colder though isn’t it!! Snuggles under blankets and hot chocolates are of the order of the day!! I am rather pleased with my growing yarny pile of blanket loveliness!! It’s a sight that makes you feel all warm inside!! Hoping to add to the collection next year!!

So Friday night was date night in our house this week and oh how good was it to be out!!! It’s strange how you jump on to some kind of treadmill with day to day activities at home. Especially when it’s cold and damp outside. I don’t know about anybody else, but these early dark nights have thrown me some what! It gives you that feeling of hunkering down, shutting all the curtains and getting those woolly slippers out!! Truth be told, I think we are becoming hobbits! Maybe everybody does! I don’t know, but we definitely are. So when we have a rare occasion of a babysitter, then off we go, out to wherever!! It doesn’t matter where we go or what we do, just feels so good to be out. It seems to start you off on the right track again! Definitely felt like it did on Friday!!

As most of you know, this week has been hat week in my house!! I seem to have had some kind of hat extravaganza!!! We’ve had the Simply Snuggly Hat.

The Unicorn hat.

The Weekend Hat.

The Monster hat.

And my pom pom hat.

Phew – that’s a lot of variations of hats!! Well, all can be found one way or another in the pattern list, either to the side of this or below if you are on a smart phone/tablet. Really hope you enjoy them. My husband’s ordered a hat for Christmas with stripes, so that’s gonna be fun. Better get cracking!!

So onto the blanket and this weeks stitch. It’s called the Marguerite Stitch. It’s quite a delicate stitch and also has quite a few variations. This one uses a 3 spike cluster method, where as another could use a 5 spike cluster method. Hope you like it. It’s a little fiddly, in the sense you have to get to grips with where each one goes. But once you’ve got going, you will be fine. I have tried to make the pics quite clear with numbers, so you know exactly what I mean. Have fun chaps!!

Stitches

Chain (ch) – To make a chain, place the yarn over the hook then pull it through the loop on your hook.

Double Crochet (dc) – Insert the hook through the stitch, front to back, then yarn over hook and pull back through stitch. You will have two loops on your hook. Then yarn over your hook and pull through both loops.

Treble (tr) – To make a treble crochet, firstly yarn over your hook, insert through space/stitch, yarn over your hook, pull back through space/stitch. There should now be 3 loops on your hook. Then yarn over hook and pull through the first two loops, yarn over hook and pull through the last two loops.

Marguerite Stitch (Mc3) – Yarn over your hook and insert into the closed stitch of the previous Mc3 stitch, yarn over your hook and pull through. Then insert your hook into the base of the previous stitch, yarn over your hook and pull through. And then miss a stitch and insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over your hook and pull through. This will give you 5 loops. Then yarn over your hook and pull through all 5 loops. Then chain 1 to finish then stitch.

Supplies

So this week I have used a stunningly deep turquoise blue from the King Cole Merino range.

As always you can use any kind of double knit yarn. You need about 30g/40g of wool. Don’t forget your 4mm crochet hook, blunt ended tapestry needle and some scissors.

Ok so here we go…

1 – Attach your new yarn on the wrong side of your blanket. Chain 1 and work 1dc in the same stitch.

Then 1dc in each stitch across the row, finishing with 1dc in the last stitch. (200)

2 – Ok so now turn your blanket and chain 3. Now you are going to work your first M3c Stitch. So to do this you are going to yarn over your hook and insert into the second chain (No1 in the photo) yarn over your hook and pull through.

So you should now have 3 loops on your hook.

Then insert your hook into the 3rd chain (No2) yarn over your hook and pull through. Then you will have 4 loops on your hook.

Ok so now miss the first dc stitch and insert your hook in the next stitch (No3) yarn over your hook and pull back through. Now you have 5 loops on your hook.

Then yarn over your hook again and pull through all 5 loops.

Ok so now chain 1 to finish the Mc3 stitch.

Right then so we are now ready to start the next Marguerite Stitch (Mc3.) So first things first we are going to *yarn over your hook and insert your hook in No1. This is the closed part of the previous Mc3 stitch.

Then yarn over your hook and pull back through. (3 loops on your hook.

Now insert your hook into No2, which is the bottom of the previous stitch, yarn over your hook and pull through. This gives you 4 loops on your hook.

Finally miss a stitch and insert your hook into the next stitch. (No3) So yarn over your hook and pull back through. You should have 5 loops on your hook.

Now yarn over your hook and pull through all 5 loops. Finish the Mc3 stitch by chaining 1.*

Now repeat this ** across the row.

At the end of the row after the last chain 1, work 1tr in the last stitch. (201)

3 – Right then so turn your work and chain 3. Now you are going to work a Mc3 in the second chain, third chain and then miss the first and second stitch in the row. Then finish the Mc3 stitch in the third stitch in the row. This is the top of the first Mc3 stitch.

Ok so to work your a Mc3 stitch, firstly yarn over your hook and insert into the second chain from the hook. Then yarn over your hook and pull back through. Insert your hook into the third chain from the hook, yarn over and pull through and then miss the first and second stitch and insert into the third stitch, yarn over and pull through. Now yarn over your hook and pull through all 5 loops.

Finish off the stitch by chaining 1.

Right so now work your next Mc3 stitch. *So yarn over your hook and insert into the closed stitch of the previous Mc3 stitch, yarn over your hook and pull through. Then insert your hook into the base of the previous stitch, yarn over and pull through. And then miss a stitch and insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over your hook and pull through. This will give you 5 loops. Then yarn over your hook and pull through all 5 loops. Then chain 1 to finish then stitch.*

Repeat this ** across the row.

At the end of the row, work the last Mc3 stitch and then instead of working 1 chain stitch, work 1treble in the last stitch, which is where the last Mc3 was worked in the previous row. (200)

And there we have the wonderful Marguerite Stitch.

Really hope you have enjoyed this weeks instalment of Year of the Stitches. Not long now chaps. Only 5 more balls of wool left!!!! Crikey!!!

Happy hooking everyone!!

🌈Xx

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My Weekend Hat

My Weekend Hat  

As promised, here is the second of my two ubberly simple hat patterns. This one uses the Back Loop Treble Crochet Stitch, where as the one before, was the Back Loop Double Crochet Stitch. You can find the double crochet pattern in the pattern list. They are both extremely easy and quick to whip up and also very easy to accessorise – as you will see in my third hat pattern. The third one was made for my daughter, so you can imagine what accessorising took place!!

As I said in the last pattern, these are so versatile and great for Christmas or Birthday pressies! And if you are running out of time for Christmas presents, then this is the pattern for you!! Definitely a lot quicker to make than the double crocheted one. This one is called the Weekend Hat, because you can easily make it in a weekend!

Now the hat in the pic above is the one I have made for my Mum. She adores cerise, so I think we are on a win win situation with this one. The pom pom is added at the end. You can buy them from most wool shops and also online too. Sometimes they have a popper attachment already sewn on, but mine hadn’t so I literally sewed either end on with thread. Just thinking as well you could also make a Pom Pom using the same wool as your hat!! Oooo the possibilities!!

Right then, let’s get down to business. So all the tutorial photos are taken from my daughter’s white hat. I have made her a child’s size which is 5 – 10 years so is smaller than my Mum’s one.

Level – Easy

Sizes

I have tried to give you a wide range of hat sizes, so hope it all makes sense and it’s all easy to follow.

3 month old – Oh so small!! So this measures about 11 inches, but will fit a 16 inch head.

6 month old – A cute little size. So this measures about 12 inches, but will fit a 17 inch head.

12 month old – So this size I would make for a 1 – 2 year old. This measures about 13 inches, but will fit an 18inch head.

Toddler – This size would be a 2 year old to a 4 year old. This measures about 14inches and will fit a 19 inch head.

Child – So I would make this for a 5 year old to about 10 years old. (This is the size I made for my daughter.) This measures 16 inches, which would fit a 21 inch head.

Small – This size will fit a teenager up to a young adult. This measures about 18 inches, which will fit a 22 inch head.

Medium – Small to medium adult. I would usually use this size for a ladies hat. (This is my Mum’s hat size.) This measures about 19inches and will fit a 23 inch head.

Large – This is for a large sized adult. I would usually use this size for a gentleman’s hat. This is the size I have made for my Father-in-law. This measures 20 inches which will fit a 24 inch head.

Supplies  –

Now the amount of wool depends on which size hat you are working on. I have used some wonderful merino wool from the wonderful @EasyKnitter range for my Mum’s hat. It’s beautifully hand dyed. Love the slight colour change.  

But for my daughter’s I have used the super soft Sublime Merino/Cashmere/Silk mix.

So you need Double Knit yarn, a 4mm crochet hook, a blunt ended tapestry needle and some scissors.

3 month, 6 month, 12 month and toddler will all need 1 ball of 50g wool.

Child, Small, Medium will need 2 balls of 50g yarn.

Large will need 3 balls of 50g yarn.

Stitches

Chain (ch) – To make a chain stitch, make a slip knot on your hook and then place the yarn over your hook and pull through the loop. Repeat this action to make a row of stitches.

Double Crochet (dc) – Insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over your hook and pull back through the stitch. You will now have 2 loops on your hook. Then yarn over your hook and pull through both loops on your hook.

Treble Crochet (tr) – Yarn over your hook and insert the hook through the stitch, front to back, then yarn over hook and pull back through stitch. You will have three loops on your hook. Then yarn over your hook and pull through the first 2 loops. Then yarn over your hook again and pull through the last 2 loops.

Back Loop Treble Crochet (bltr) – Yarn over your hook and insert the hook through the second part of the stitch, front to back, then yarn over hook and pull back through stitch. You will have three loops on your hook. Then yarn over your hook and pull through the first 2 loops. Then yarn over your hook and pull through the last 2 loops on your hook.

Ok so here we go…

So we are going to start by making a foundation chain. Now the amount is different according to the size you are making. The length of the chain stitches determines the height of the hat.

3 month old – Work 25 chain stitches.

6 month old – Work 30 chain stitches.

12 month old – Work 35 chain stitches.

Toddler – Work 40 chain stitches.

Child – Work 50 chain stitches.

Small – Work 50 chain stitches.

Medium – Work 55 chain stitches.

Large – Work 60 chain stitches.

Once you have worked your chain stitches for the size you are making, turn your work and chain three more stitches.

Ok so now it’s time to work 1tr in the fourth chain from the hook and then 1tr in each chain across the row.

Now turn your work and chain 3. Now work 1 Back Loop Treble Crochet (bltr) in the first stitch. To do this insert your hook in the back loop of the treble crochet stitch. This is where the arrow is pointing.

See how the hook is in the back loop of the treble crochet stitch. So insert your hook here, yarn over your hook and pull through. You will now have 3 loops on your hook.

Now finish off the stitch by placing your yarn over your hook and then pull through the first 2 loops. Then yarn over your hook and pull through the last 2 loops.

Now work 1bltr in each stitch across the row.

*At the end of the row, turn your work, chain 3 and work 1bltr in the same stitch and then each stitch across the row.* Repeat this ** across each row in the hat.

Carry on working your back loop double crochet stitches in each row. Don’t forget to chain 3 at the start of each row to give you the height for a treble crochet.

Now for each size you need to work a slightly different amount of rows.

So this is the child’s sized hat, so I have worked 45 rows. The final product in length measures 16inches, but will stretch out to 21inches.

For a small hat you will need 51 rows. This needs to measure about 18 inches across and will stretch out to 22inches.

For a medium hat you will need 53 rows. So it needs to measure about 19 inches across and stretches out to 23inches.

For a large hat you will need 56 rows. This little hat needs to measure about 20 inches across and will stretch out to 24inches.

For a toddler’s hat you will need 39 rows. And for this hat, it needs to measure about 14inches across and will stretch out to 19inches.

For a 12 months olds hat you will need about 37 rows. So when it’s measured, it needs to measure about 13 inches. This will stretch out to 18 inches.

For a 6 month olds hat you will need about 35 rows. So it will measure about 12 inches. This will stretch out to 17 inches.

For a 3 month olds hat you will need about 33 rows. So it will measure about 11 inches. This will stretch out to 16 inches.

You can see in the photo below how I am measuring the child’s hat at 16 inches finished, but it will easily stretch out to 21 inches. The beauty of this stitch is that it has so much movement and stretch, so it’s perfect for hats.

Right then, so now it’s time to fasten up the hat. So to do this, place one half of the hat on top of the other.

Now chain 1 and then insert your hook into your first stitch, then also into the first chain in the foundation stitch. You can see this is where the arrow is pointing.

Now yarn over your hook and pull through the chain and then also back through the dc stitch. You should now have 2 loops on your hook.

Now finish the dc stitch by placing the yarn over your hook and pulling through both loops. Now continue working 1dc into each stitch in this same way – so working through both the dc stitches and the foundation chain stitches.

At the end of the row, once you have worked the last dc stitch, work a slip stitch in the same stitch. You can see how hidden this seem is. This is the inside of the hat and the seam is in the middle.

Now you should have a nice little ridge for the seam. This little ridge can be either on the inside or the outside of your hat. It’s up to you. Here’s an example of Mum’s hat with the little ridge either on the inside.

Or the outside. It’s up to you.

So now we need to sew up the top. So fasten off at the top of the little ridge, leaving a nice long tail. Now thread your needle with this tail and start threading it along the top stitches of each row.

Keep weaving the needle through these stitches so that the hat starts to form. You can see this happening in the photo below.

Now pull the needle through so that it forms the top of the hat.

Keep making stitches to secure it, making sure there isn’t a hole. Then fasten off and sew in your ends.

And here’s the finished article. All you need to do now is turn it inside out. I hope you have enjoyed this hat pattern. Please give me a shout if you get stuck. Can’t wait to see your finished articles. Don’t forget to link it to @pipsrainbow if you share it on social media.

Happy hooking everyone.

🌈Xx

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