Crochet Blog – Page 8

November 22, 2018 No Comments

Monster Hat

Well hello and welcome to the crazy hat week that I seem to be having!!! Definitely needed in this chilli weather!!! Brrrrrr!! So I have now shared with you two ubberly simple hat patterns. So now it’s time to show you the oh so simple accessorisation process!! Yes – I think I am going hat mad!!! So today’s hat design is the lovely monster hat!! I wanted to show you how you can easily turn the Weekend Hat or Simply Snuggly Hat into a monster hat with just a few extra trimmings. Hee hee!!! I reckon my son needs one now!! Maybe a different colour though!!

Ok so the hat pattern that I am using here is my Weekend Hat, which I published on my blog yesterday. So you can find that in the pattern section to the right of this or below if you are on a smart phone/tablet under the name Weekend Hat.

This pattern will help you to create googly eyes and sew on eyebrows and a mouth, oooo and Pom Poms for the ears or hair.

Level – Easy

Supplies –

For this hat you will need a 4mm crochet hook, scissors and a blunt ended tapestry needle. You will also need about 10g of white double knit wool and about 1 metre of black double knit yarn. You can use either wool or cotton for this. And you will also need a Pom Pom or two depending on which design you would like to make. Your Pom Pom may come with a popper attachment, but if not you might need one to attach it on with a needle and bit of thread.

Stitches –

Magic Ring – Fold over the yarn to make the loop. Insert your hook through the loop and grab the working yarn (long piece) and pull through the loop. Hold the tail and the working yarn and pull so that the knot tightens, but you still have a loop. This has created a magic ring.

Slip stitch (ss) – This is where there is no height to the stitch. It’s usually used to join rounds. So insert the hook into the front of the stitch you are joining to. This is usually the first stitch you made in that round/row. So yarn over hook and pull through that first stitch then also through the loop on your hook.

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.

Ok so here we go …

Googly Eyes –

Right then, so we are going to make some googly eyes. So you need your white and black yarn. Start by making a magic ring with your white yarn.

Now chain 1 and then work 6dc into the ring

Ok so slip stitch into the first dc to make a ring. Don’t forget to pull the tail really tight to create the nice tight circle.

Now work 2dc stitches into each stitch until you have 12 stitches. (12)

Now work *1dc then 2dc stitches into the next stitch* and repeat this ** 6 times. (18)

Finally work *2dc and then 2dc into the next stitch.* Repeat this ** 6 times. Now fasten off your yarn leaving a long tail so that the eyes can be sewn on. (24)

Make sure you make two of these eyes, one after the other. It is important that you have two when you come to sew them on, as you can see exactly where you want them to be placed on the hat.

Ok, so now it’s time to finish the eyes with the pupil. Start by threading your needle with the black yarn and then knotting the end. Then thread it through from the back, through the middle of the white part of the eye.

Now you need to sew up and over 2 stitches to create the pupil. You can make these pupils as small or as big as you like depending how many stitches you go over.

I tend to work about 4 or 5 stitches over the top of each other to form the pupil.

Ok, so now it’s time to sew around the edges of the eye using the long tail and your needle and attach them to the hat. I have sewn on many of these types of eyes in my time and I have found the best way is to work your way up and down in and out of each stitch. You can see in the picture below how I am going back into the next stitch. This will ensure the sewing on thread is hidden and will give a much neater finish to your project.

Once you have finished sewing on your eye, secure the yarn at the back of your hat and fasten off. Don’t forget to sew in your ends at the back of the hat. Now onto the second eye and sew on as before. Make sure that you keep checking the eyes are level and placed where you want them to be. Don’t be afraid to undo and start again, if it goes a little wonky!!

To work the eye brows, you can carry on using the black yarn from the eyes. So come up where you want the eyebrow to start and then literally insert it back into where the eyebrow needs to finish.

Now to get to where the next eyebrow needs to be, just weave your needle through the back of the stitches of the hat, making sure it’s not visible from the front to where is needs to be. Then repeat the eyebrow process.

Then do the same with the mouth – weaving it down the hat at the back and then come up where the mouth needs to be and back in to the back.

This time you need to anchor it down in the middle by inserting a tiny little stitch up and over the mouth to secure it in place.

Then secure the thread at the back of the hat, fasten off and sew in your ends.

Now all you need to do is attach those fabulous Pom Poms for ears!!!

Or even just one for a tuft of hair!!

And there you have it. Hope you have enjoyed this one. Please give me a shout if you’re unsure of anything!!

Happy hooking everyone!!

🌈Xx

(Free pattern designed and brought to you by PipsRainbow. Thank you for not copying or recreating it. ☺️Xx)

My Weekend Hat

November 21, 2018 No Comments

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