Another hat!

I know a month or so ago I promised to to show a project that combined the flower and the button...buuuuut I got distracted and forgot.

So, here is a simple project that I did that combined the flower accents and crochet buttons in a way that looks adorable!

I used this pattern for a slouchy hat in a simple black worsted yarn and made some minor adjustments to it. (my changes in a different color).

**

1. Ch 2. 10 DC in second ch from hook. Join with a sl st to the first dc.
I DC 10 in a magic circle. (If you're new to the magic circle/ring, the link to the left is a good video for explaining how to do it).
2. Ch 1. Work 2 dc in each stitch around. Join with a sl st to the first dc.(20 dc)

3. Ch 1. Work 2 dc in the first stitch. Work 1 dc in the next stitch. *Work 2 dc in the next stitch. Work 1 dc in the next stitch.* Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st to the first dc. (30)

4. Ch 1. Work 2 dc in the first stitch. Work 1 dc in each of the next 2 stitches. *Work 2 dc in the next stitch. Work 1 dc in each of the next 2 stitches.* Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st to the first dc. (40)
5. Ch 1. Work 2 dc in the first stitch. Work 1 dc in each of the next 3 stitches. *Work 2 dc in the next stitch. Work 1 dc in each of the next 3 stitches.* Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st to the first dc. (50)
6. Ch 1. Work 2 dc in the first stitch. Work 1 dc in each of the next 4 stitches. *Work 2 dc in the next stitch. Work 1 dc in each of the next 4 stitches.* Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st to the first dc. (60)
7. Ch 1. Work 2 dc in the first stitch. Work 1 dc in each of the next 5 stitches. *Work 2 dc in the next stitch. Work 1 dc in each of the next 5 stitches.* Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st to the first dc. (70)

8. Ch 1. Work 2 dc in the first stitch. Work 1 dc in each of the next 6 stitches. *Work 2 dc in the next stitch. Work 1 dc in each of the next 6 stitches.* Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st to the first dc. (80)

9. Ch 1. Work 1 dc in the first stitch and in each stitch around. Join with a sl st to the first dc. (80 dc)

10. Ch 1. Work 1 dc in the first stitch and in each stitch around. Join with a sl st to the first dc. (80 dc)
**if you want your hat slouchier, repeat Row 10 for each 1/2 inch in length you want it...then continue to Row 11**
I usually add two more rows here, meaning I have worked 12 rows before moving on to the next row.

11. Ch 1. *Work 1 dc in each of the next 6 stitches. DC2tog the next 2 stitches.* Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st to the first dc. (70)

12. Ch 1. *Work 1 dc in each of the next 5 stitches. DC2tog the next 2 stitches.* Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st to the first dc. (60)

13. Ch 1. *Work 1 dc in each of the next 8 stitches. DC2tog the next 2 stitches.* Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st to the first dc. (54)

14. Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each stitch around. (54 sc)

15. Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each stitch around. (54 sc)

16. Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each stitch around. (54 sc)

I have also found that a 3 row band makes the edge unstable, so I work 2 additional rounds of single crochets here, bringing the total to 5 rows of SC.

**

After making the hat, I crochet a button (see pattern above) in the same color as the hat, leaving a long tail onthe button for sewing later. I then crochet an accent flower in whatever color I choose (I actually have a whole box of these now to go with different outfits). I use the tail on the button to sew it to the band of the hat. Then, using the hole in the middle of the flower, I push the button through the flower, essentially buttoning the flower to the hat.

This means that whenever I feel like it, I can switch the flowers out because they're just bottoned on, not sewn on. I can also take the flower off, flip the hat inside out, and have just a plain black hat to wear.

Honestly, I LOVE this hat! I wear it all the time now (almost every day), and get a lot of requests to make them for other people.

 

So, as you can see, slouchy hat with white accent flower attached with crochet button!

More busy-ness

Business...busy-ness...get it?  :)
Anyway.

So, at work I am part of this group, and we do a lot of service work in the community. One of the projects we are working on right now is called Happy Hats. We are collecting hats to give to kids in the hospital. The hats are supposed to be whimsical, you know, to bring a little cheer to the sick kiddos.

Here are some of the hats I've been working on:

An owl! (haha you can see my pinspiration for this hat in the background...even though I didn't use her pattern, it did inspire me, so I felt it only fair to link back to her page)

I made my little sister try on all the hats...as payment for her puzzle blanket. I love having a model, lol.

A Dinosaur! RAWR! (again, my pinspiration)

Way cuter on Lil Sis

A Unicorn with a Rainbow Mane (this one was all me, lol)

Probably my favorite hat I've ever made

Hat with a Mohawk! (another one all mine)

Sadly, this one was too small to fit on sis's head. *sadface*

A cat "Scoodie" MEOW!

I'm a little mad because I put the paws on backwards, so I had to flip it inside out and reattach the ears...which lead to that ridge you see down the middle of Lil Sis's head. Oh well, there are always mess-ups with a new project.

 

Most of the hats are made with the same basic pattern (which I found here) (except for the scoodie, which is made from this pattern). I love earflap hats! So, I took this basic hat and added a little of my own creativity to make some really fun hats!

I might go through each of the hats and explain the little bits and pieces of how they came together, in case you might want to make your own.


UPDATE!
I added one more hat to my hats collection for Happy Hats. I'm totally in love with this one :)
My "pinspiration" (in quotes this time because it didn't come from pinterest...ish) this time came from a pin that led to an Etsy shop. I hate when I love an item, but the link leads to something to purchase. I want to make things...not buy them! So, I used her hat for a little bit of visual inspiration, but the actual hat design is all mine.

This is with the front visor up. See that black button on the side? It allows the visor to move.

And one with the front visor down so you can see what the visor looks like.

 

And from the side with the front visor down.

I think I need to stop making hats for a while, lol. 

So I've been busy...

I know it has been a while since my last post, but I've been busy getting some crafts together. The first was a project I was really excited about. I saw this post on pinterest (yeah yeah I know) that goes to this blog.

This led me to create this simple pattern.

I loved this woman's idea for a blanket of puzzle pieces, although I thought her execution was a little loose for my style of blanket. I like tightly stitched blankets that are thick. My mom also crochets like the blogger, nice and loose. I don't think there is anything wrong with it, it just isn't my style.

Here is my interpretation of her puzzle blanket:

All in all it was pretty easy to put together. It is just a different twist on a simple granny square. 

I made each granny square attachment style to the previous one to make each puzzle piece. Then I outlined each compelted piece with a single crochet in black, then sewed all the puzzle pieces together and added a simple black border with a scalloped edge.

These are pictures of the blanket in various states of done-ness. This gives you a better idea of how the granny squares go together, and shows the outlining of each piece before it was attached.

It is a gift for my sister, and she will be getting it this weekend when she comes in town. Lil Sis said she wanted the blanket in primary colors. I didn't think it would come out nice in those colors...but obviously I was wrong. I love the way it came out.

I have to admit, I used the cheapie yarn (Red Heart Super Saver) because it was on sale. lol. I took some pinterest advice and washed the thing in fabric softener when I was finished with the whole blanket. I tried washing it with the just the FS, but it didn't really work. So, I washed it again with FS and a little bit of liquid detergent. After a short wash, I put it in the dryer on delicate or low heat for about an hour. It is one of the softest blankets I have ever touched. It is just as soft as blankets I have made with expensive yarns. I'm extremely happy that a little bottle of FS could save me so much money and make this project sooooooo soft.

In other news, a friend and I have opened our own Etsy shop (again, yeah yeah I know). You can see (or purchase) crafts we/I have been working on. The link should be (shortly) posted on the side bar of the main page of my blog, so feel free to check it out!