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!

How to crochet buttons

I love these! I've gotten to the point now that every pattern I have that required buttons, I use these little crocheted buttons. I've even started adding them to patterns that don't call for buttons because they secure my accent flowers. I'm hoping to post an example later this week of a pattern with an accent flower and how to bring the whole thing together.

They only take a couple minutes and are a GREAT solution for leftover yarn scraps at the end of a skein.


Notes:
I normally say use whatever hook you are comfortable with, but these buttons need to be small so you can use them. Because of that, I recommend using an E/3.5mm hook. It will give the buttons the right size when you are finished.


Pattern:
Ch 4 and join with sl st to form a ring.

RND 1: Ch 1. Sc until you fill the ring easily. (No less than six, no more than twelve-ish). Depending on the size button you want, you can adjust the number of sc you put in the ring. For the purposes of the pattern, it really doesn't matter.

For this button, I did 8sc in the ring for RND 1.

RND 2: Ch 1. 2 sc in same st as joining and in each st around. Sl st in ch 1 to finish round.

RND 3: Ch 1. [Insert hook into same st as joining, YO and pull through, insert hook into next st, YO and pull through, YO and pull through all loops on hook] DEC made. DEC in each st around. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing later.

This is from the back/working side. As you dec, the sides will fold in on themselves. This is correct. When you are finished, squish the button flat, and the second layer adds a bit of firmness to the button.

This is the finished button from the front. Very simple, but super cute.

Flower accents

I've tried making flowers a ton of different ways for different projects I've worked on. This is, by far, my favorite pattern.

This one I did not creatively change in any way. It is a straight copy of a red heart pattern, but below you will see my photos of the pattern as I go and how to work through some of the slight speed bumps you might face.


Notes:
One of the sts in this pattern was one I wasn't familiar with, a treble stitch (abbreviated tr). It is just like a double crochet, but one more. Let me explain. When you do a double crochet, you YO, insert hook, YO and pull through, YO and drop 2 loops, YO and drop 2 loops. For the treble, you YO YO, insert hook, YO and pull through, YO and drop 2 loops, YO and drop 2 loops, YO and drop 2 loops. So, you wrap one time extra and grab and drop one time extra. In theory, you could do this as many times as you want and just make the stitch longer and longer. But for this pattern you only need the tr as I've described it above.

Pattern:

Ch 6, sl st to form a loop

RND 1: Chain 5. *Dc, ch 2** repeat from * to ** five times. Sl st in chain 5 to finish round. Should have a circle with 6 posts (looks kind of like spokes in a wheel).

RND 2: Chain 1. In ch sp from below: *sc, hdc, dc, tr, dc, hdc, sc.** to make a petal. Repeat * to ** in each chain space. Sl st in chain 1 to finish off round.

RND 3: Ch 1.  Flip flower forward so you are looking at the back. Sc around the post created in RND 1. Ch 3. Repeat around each post and sl st to finish.

 Reaching behind the flower to sc in the post

After the first ch 3 is finished

The back of the flower after all the Sc CH combos have been done.

RND 4:  Ch 1. In the ch spaces made by RND 3: sc, hdc, dc, tr, tr, tr, dc, hdc, sc to make a petal. Repeat in each ch sp around. Sl st in ch 1 to finish round. Notice you are doing the same thing from RND 2, you are just adding 2 more tr sts.

What a finished RND 4 looks like.

RND 5: Ch 1. Sc around post from RND 3. Ch 4. Repeat around and sl st in ch 1 to finish off. This is the same as RND 3 except you add a extra ch in each ch sp.

RND 6: Ch 1. In ch spaces made by RND 5: sc, hdc, dc, tr, tr, tr, tr, tr, dc, hdc, sc to make a petal. Repeat in each ch sp around. Sl st in ch 1 to finish round. Fasten off. Again, this is the same as RND 4, but you add 2 more tr sts. Even though I ended my flower here, you could, in theory, keep going with it forever. For each sc and ch round you would add another ch, and in each petal round you would add another 2 tr sts.

Finished flower after RND 6.

These are super easy to make and VERY cute.



Beret

So, a friend of mine commissioned two crocheted berets for her daughters as Christmas presents. I am using a modified version of a Red Heart pattern. I say modified because I did not like the way the original pattern came together.

Red Heart's picture of their pattern

This is my walk through of the pattern and explanation of my changes.


Note:
to make inc in this pattern [ch 1, 3 dc] twice in same sp
to make dec in this pattern draw up loop in ea of next 2 dc, yo and through all 3 loops on hook. (basically, sc together 2 dc from previous rnd).

Ch 5; join with sl st to make a circle

RND 1: Ch 3, 2 dc in ring, ch 1. [3 dc in ring, ch 1] repeat 4 times. join to ch 3 with sl st.  5 sets

RND 2: [ch 3, 2 dc] in next dc. *Ch 1, 3 dc in next sp. ch 1, skip next dc** 3 dc in next sp. Then, continue from * to ** all the way around. Sc into top of ch 3 to finish the round. (I know this is different than the usual sl st into ch to finish round, but it works here). 10 groups of 3 dc.

The spaces are from the ch 1, skip a dc part.

RND 3: Ch 3, 2 dc over sc from previous rnd. [Inc in next sp. Ch 1, dc 3 in next sp.] repeat until end of rnd. Sc into top of ch 3 to finish the rnd. 15 groups of 3 dc.

Notice the pretty pentagonal shape here. The inc sts go into the sp from rnd 2 where the 2 are clustered, and the non-inc sets go into the spaces in the above pic.

RND 4: Ch 3, 2 dc over sc from previous rnd. ch 1 and 3 dc in every space around. (this kills the pretty pentagon and makes it a messy circle). sc in top of ch 3 to finish rnd. 15 groups of 3 dc.

RND 5: Ch 3, 2 dc over sc from previous rnd. *ch 1, 3 dc in next sp, inc in next space** ch 1, 3 dc in next sp. Then continue from * to ** around. Then sc in top of ch 3 to finish the rnd. (This basically reforms the pentagon from above). 20 groups of 3 dc.

RND 6: Repeat RND 3 from above. (this continues the pentagonal shape but with 2 groups of 3 dc in between ea corner instead of 1). 30 groups of 3 dc.

RNDs 7-10: Repeat RND 4. (aaaaaaand we destroy the pentagon again to make a circle. It will start to curl up on the ends, this is correct).

This is row 8. This is where the ends start to curl up.

RND 11: Repeat RND 4 one last time, EXCEPT end with a sl st in top of ch 3 to end the rnd, instead of a sc.

RND 12: Ch 3, dc in ea sp around and join with a sl st at top of ch 3 to finish the rnd. 90-93 sts. (This is my deviation from the pattern. The original pattern says to skip the ch-1 spaces, but this only comes to like 60 sts, not the 90 they call for. So, dc in every st).

RND 13: Ch 1. *sc in same st as joining and in next 6 dc (7 sc total). Dec. ** repeat from * to ** around and join with sl st to first sc. 80ish sts.

RND 14-17: Repeat RND 13. (this is another deviation from original pattern. It called for simply sc in all sts for 7 rnds and then folding in half to finish off. This made a HUGE beret, much too large to fit my head [and I have a pretty big head]. The pattern also called for optionally adding elastic inside this packet, but with as large as this was, the elastic would have been necessary. By just continuing to dec for several rnds, you don't need to do as many rnds, and you wont need the elastic).

Enjoy!