One Simply Snuggly Hat

Simple Double Crochet Hat  

Hello my lovelies!! Hope you are all well and keeping warm in this cool weather!! It’s been rather a busy week in our household, so rather thankful that it’s Friday. In celebration of it being Friday, I couldn’t resist sharing this with you. Maybe a little project for the weekend me thinks?

So here is the first of my two ubberly simple hat patterns. This one uses the Back Loop Double Crochet Stitch, where as the next one will be a Back Loop Treble Crochet Stitch. 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 that I would like to share with you!! Hmmm, hat mad… maybe!! Hee hee, accessorising is the best bit!! Well, I hope you like them. These are so versatile and great for Christmas or Birthday pressies! I’m making one for my Mum for Christmas with a Pom Pom from the wonderful Knitting Corner!!

But this one I have made is rather special, as it was designed and made for my wonderful Father-in-law, who had rather a special birthday. He is an avid sailor, so it was only fitting we made him a Jacques Cousteau hat for his birthday. I reckon I’ve done rather a good job replicating his hat. What do you think?

Right then, let’s get down to business.

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 my favourite sublime cashmere/merino/silk Double Knit yarn, but you can use any Double Knit wool you would like.

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 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.

Back Loop Double Crochet (bldc) – 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 two loops on your hook. Then yarn over your hook and pull through both loops.

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 one more stitch.

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

Now work 1 Back Loop Double Crochet (bldc) in the first stitch. To do this insert your hook in the back loop of the double crochet stitch. This is where the arrow is pointing.

See how the hook is in the back loop of the double crochet stitch.

Now yarn over your hook and then pull back through. Now finish off the stitch by placing your yarn over your hook and then pull through both loops. Now work 1bldc in each stitch across the row.

*At the end of the row, turn your work, chain 1 and work 1bldc 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 1 at the start of each row to give you the height for a double crochet.

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

So this is a large sized hat, so I have worked 115 rows. The final product in length measures 20inches, but will stretch out to 24inches.

For a medium hat you will need 107 rows. So it needs to measure about 19 inches across and stretches out to 23inches.

For a small hat you will need 101 rows. This needs to measure about 18 inches across and will stretch out to 22inches.

For a child’s hat you will need 93 rows. This little hat needs to measure about 16 inches across and will stretch out to 21 inches.

For a toddler’s hat you will need 81 rows. And for this hat, it needs to measure about 14inches across and will stretch out to 20 inches.

For a 12 months olds hat you will need about 75 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 69 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 62 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 large hat at 20inches finished, but it will easily stretch out to 24inches. 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. 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.

Now you should have a nice little ridge. This little ridge will be the inside of your hat. 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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Year of the Stitches Week 45 – Alternate Spikes

Alternate Spike Stitch

Hello all. How are we all? Has anyone started to get ready for chrimbo yet? Dare I say it, but a few pressies have been purchased and things to be made list, is a go go. Hoping I can get through it all this year. Think I have enough time. My problem is I keep adding to the list as I keep thinking of new and exciting projects to do!! This happened this week with the utterly wonderful subscription box, beautifullly created my the lovely Abby Parkes at Luxury Yarns.

It is a little box of pure yarny magic!!! You can subscribe either for 1, 2 or 3 months and in the post arrives a little box with a skein of hand dyed wool which Abby dyes herself. But also included are some little bottles of essential oils and some other yarny delights. My daughter was particularly taken with the lavender and frankincense worry oil, (as she calls it.) She straight away started using it. Think it is definitely going to come in handy when she is worried about something. When I realised how excited she was, I couldn’t resist making her something with the beautiful yarn. So I started this on the Friday evening in the car and finished it this morning. Not bad going. It’s using a trinity stitch from week 27 of my blanket. Think it really picks out the flashes on Firework colours that Abby has created in the yarn.

And here’s the finished article!!! Will get the pattern written up for you guys!! It was so quick and simple! Love the colours! Abby Parkes you definitely are a genius with colours!! Can’t wait for the next little parcel to arrive!!

We have had a lovely weekend away celebrating my father-in-law’s birthday in the Cotswolds. It was lovely to be as a family and celebrate such a special birthday. I made my father-in-law a version of Jacques Cousteau hat who was a famous sailor and diver. He wore this particular red hat that he was know for! So thought I had better design and make him one. So here it is. He definitely seemed chuffed with it. Another one to add to the pattern writing up list!!

We visited the wonderful Bourton On The Water yesterday. My grandparents used to live there, so it has a very special place in my heart. Was lovely going back and taking my children to see all the little bridges and of course the model village. My Dappy used to love the Winston’s Ice Cream. He used to have a scoop of ice cream every day. His reasoning was because he hadn’t had it as a child very much, so had to make up for it!! Love it!!

Right then, so we had better get on to the blanket and this weeks stitch. It’s a really simple stitch this week called the Alternate Spike Stitch. So basically the stitch looks like a little spike as it reaches to the row below.

There are lots of different types of spike stitches with different heights and it definitely looks great worked in contrasting colours. So it’s worth a go on a different project. This is cushion that I made for my sister with the spike stitch.

Hope you enjoy this weeks stitch.

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.

Supplies – 

So this weeks yarn is a merino wool from the Wendy range. It’s a lovely pale toothpaste green colour, which is fresh and bright. It works well with last weeks blue. Remember you can use any kind of double knit yarn. So as always you need about 30g, a 4mm crochet hook, some scissors and a blunt ended tapestry needle.

Ok so here we go …

1 – Start by attaching your new yarn on the wrong side of your blanket and chain 1. Now work 1dc in the same stitch and then 1dc in each stitch across the row. (200)

2 – Right so now turn your work and chain 1. Then work 1dc in the same stitch and then the next stitch. Now you are going to work your first spike stitch by working 1dc in the row below. This is where the arrow is pointing.

So insert your hook through the dc stitch in the row below, yarn over your hook and then pull back through. (It will be easier if you work this loop up loosely)

Now finish your stitch by yarn over your hook and pull through both loops. Can you see how you have worked your first spike stitch.

Now work 1dc in the next stitch. (So where you have worked the spike stitch, you should have missed the dc stitch right above it.)

*So now work 1dc in the dc stitch in the row below and then 1dc in the next stitch.* Repeat this ** across the row.

End the row with 1dc in the last stitch. (200)

3 – So now we are going to repeat row 2. Start by turning your blanket and chaining 1. Then work 1dc in the same stitch and then the next stitch. Now work your spike stitch by working 1dc in the dc stitch below. This is where the arrow is pointing.

Remember to work the spike stitch loose, so that it creates a tidy effect.

Then work 1dc in the next stitch.

Now repeat. So work *1dc Stitch in the dc stitch below and then work 1dc in the next stitch.* Repeat ** across the row.

At the end of the row work 1dc in the last stitch. (200)

4 – And once again repeating row 2. So turn your work and chain 1. Then work 1dc in the same and next stitch. Now work 1dc in the stitch below and 1dc in the next stitch to complete your first spike stitch.

Now work *1dc in the dc stitch below and 1dc in the next stitch.* Repeat this ** across the row.

Work 1dc in the last stitch. (200)

And there we have the fabulous Alternate Spike Stitch!

Ever so versatile and would be fab with different coloured yarns worked up in each stripe!! Hope you enjoyed this one. Let me know if you need any help with it.

Happy hooking everyone!!

🌈Xx

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