Striped Baby Hat

 Made with chunky yarn and a size K US crochet hook, this pattern is especially easy for beginners to follow and end up with great results everytime, but will sure to be a favorite for veteran crocheters alike!  The basic principles in making this adorable hat can easily be applied to the making of an adult sized hat, or any other sized hat with even lighter weight yarn! It is not worked in the round, but rather stitched as a flat piece of fabric using a simple variation of  two basic crochet stitches. The sides are then sewn together, and the hat is gathered at the top. The result is a super stretchy, cute, warm hat! Works up quickly, easily, and is fun to make! 

*The instuctions below are to fit a head circumference of  baby approximately 16"-18.5"  (around 6-12 months).

(To accommodate for a larger sized hat: Simply chain a beginning foundation chain approximately 1 1/3 times the  measurement of the crown to brow, and continue working rows 2 & 3 of the pattern until the desired width of the hat is reached. **Please note that the number of single crochet stitches to slip stitches is approximately 3 to 1, with row 2 always having one more slip stitch than row 1 and the successive repeats of row 3. This allows for the step in the changes of the stitch sizes to be staggered, creating a smoother transition and an overall neater piece.)

Lets Begin!!!

Materials: 1 skein Loops & Threads Charisma Yarn in Mountain Majesty (or any chunky weight acrylic yarn), Size K crochet hook, yarn needle.
Gauge: 6 rows x 6 stitches of back loop single crochet =2"sq
 
Begin: Chain 24.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 16 chains, slip stitch in last 6 chains, chain 1
Row 2:  Turn, slip stitch in back loop only of same space and in back loop only of next 6 stitches (7 slip stitches total), sc in back loop only of next 16 stitches.

This photo is showing the first slip stitch of a repeat of row 2

Working in the back loop only of a stitch

Front view after yarning over and pulling through back loop only

Top view of the ridges created by working in the back loops only of stitches

Row 3:  Ch 1, turn, sc in back loop only of next 17 stitches, sl st in back loop only of next 6, chain 1

Working a slip stitch in back loop only

A completed slip stitch after having been working single crochets in the row

Working the final slip stitch in the row

The completed slip stitch of the row

After having worked the chain 1 at the end of the row

Turning fabric, ready to begin next row

Top view of garment after having chained 1. Ready to begin new row with slip stitches (repeat row of row 2). The hook will go in the very first space seen here- very evident.

Hook placed in back loop only, to begin 7 slip stitches in next 7 spaces.

Completed first slip stitch for new row.

A completed set of seven slip stitches

First single crochet after seven slip stitches

A completed row working from slip stitches to single crochet

**Repeat rows 2&3 till fabric slightly stretched measures the desired width you wish the hat to be, finishing off with a last row of a repeat of row 2. Finish off, leaving a long enough tail to allow for sewing up the side seam, as well as gathering top of hat.

With right sides together, sew the side seam together stitch for stitch. Secure, but do not cut off excess.


Gather top of hat: Pass yarn and needle through each chain stitch space around entire top of hat.

Needle going in through the chain 1 stitch created at the end of each successive repeat of row 3

Multiple stitches

close up view

Top view

Top of hat ready to gather

Gathering

Top of hat gathered and secured.

Finished length of hat before pom pom is added.

**Realize the overall length of the hat will diminish a bit once the hat is gathered.** 

Make a pom-pom by wrapping the yarn around two fingers fifty times. Run another piece of yarn behind and through the yarn still on your fingers, and knot it as tightly and securely as possible. Take off fingers, and with scissors, cut through the top of all the loops of yarn to create the pom pom. Trim, and secure to top of hat.

Weave in any ends, as needed.

Chunky, colorful, and full of warm texture

Note the added dimension of design and texture the slip stitch creates, coupled with the back loop stitching, giving the top portion the appearance of a knitted garment.

"Creative Creations by Vicki" is on Facebook

 

and is announcing a free pattern giveaway for this adorable cap! 

How sweet would it look in pink?

Check it out!

 FREE PATTERN GIVEAWAY

A Lovely Little Afghan

 As I browsed through my inbox today, I came across this sweet little blanket in a crochet newletter. I thought for a simple, traditional blanket, it is rather cute. But what caught my attention was the fact that she, just as many of us, hates joining a multitude of lonely sqaures together at the end of every project that seems to be getting close to completion. (Ha!)  Having worked this similar method before, I thought to myself-"Now why didn't I think of that!" She "joins" the squares together, making each square as she goes, using an interlocking method. The result is a blanket with separately defined colors and blocks, without all the fuss and hassle of having to work them together using traditional "granny square" joining!

PS- Don't you just LOVE the doilies?!

Click here to view how she makes this little blanket and joins her squares together as she goes.

Choir Special at our Church's recent annual prophesy conderence

Click here to view

Music Special

Well, this week kicks off our Church's 13th Annual New England Bible Prophesy Conference, which is broadcasted live via internet through Steve Brown Ministries. My friend (on the right playing recorder-playing first solo part) and I (on the left playing flute-2nd solo part) had the privilege of playing for the evening offertory Sunday night. Someone was kind enough to record a small portion of it and send it to me.

Well, here it is-the project I had been working on last time I posted.

A simple baby sweater with a playful touch.

Modeled by a little cutie.

I knew this color would look smashing next to the baby blues on this little guy!

Click here to view this listing for sale on my Etsy

Since I've made this, I have made a few other baby sweaters, and have designed a few more little girl hats, as well as a lacey head covering out of natural tan and brown flecked yarn. Very pretty, but needs more alterations. I have more pictures to follow-hopefully.
Here's to hoping I get a new camera soon so I can start posting new pictures and posting new sale items on my Etsy quicker than I have been lately. I guess as they say-all in good time.
Off to another day of busyness. That's all for now!

How Much Ease Should You Should Put in Your Knitted or Crocheted Garment?

With all sweater patterns, the amount of "ease" or looseness is a personal preference. Negative ease is a measurement smaller than your body measurement to create a tight fitting garment. Positive ease is a measurement larger than your body for a looser fit. The best way to decide on any size is to measure a sweater that you own (whose fit you like) and check the pattern schematic or measurements to choose a size you like.

Here's a general fit guideline:

Very close = 0 ease

Close Fit = chest + 1 - 2 inches ease

Standard Fit = chest + 2 - 4 inches ease

Lose Fit = chest + 4 - 6 inches ease

Oversized = chest + 6 inches and up

Compliments of Lion Brand's Website

WHAT COLORS ARE HOT FOR THE COOL WEATHER? (click here to view the full fashion report)

 

Just a little something I'd like to try sometime

Another super Sunday in the house of the Lord today! Choir practice, Sunday School, Morning service, choir special, I sang a solo today, a little grocery shopping, came home and made pizza, napped for an hour and a half (slept all of 3 1/2 hours last night), made it to choir practice 1/2 hour late, practiced for an hour in choir, sang soprano in choir today (a great accomplishment for alto is to sing soprano and hit an "F"-I was so happy I actually hit the note), played my flute in the service, listened to a great message from a visiting missionary, practiced a duet with a woman after church, and came home and crocheted as my husband goofed around with my youngest acting all crazy and silly. The house is quiet now, and this is when I tend to let the hours slip by-a quiet home, when you have five kids, is a bit of heaven. But, I need to get in and sleep sometime tonight-I ache all over from lack of sleep and going non stop today (well, almost), but my newest crochet project is calling to me still-I havent spent much time with it today.
It certainly has been a long long while since I've posted anything, however! Life has been busy. Church, home, my kids, husband, and daily life has taken over much of my time, as well as catching up on some crocheting orders and gifts I had to finish, as well as posting many new projects on my Etsy.
  I checked my blog for the first time in what seems forever, and found this beautiful, creative pillow someone had posted. If you click on the link at the top of this post, it will lead you to it). Another creative crochet I'd like to try out sometime in coordinating colors for my room, (I've been wanting to make a pillow or two to sit on my bed, but I fail to be inspired by what I see for ideas for such, and I am not spending any extra brain power in the thoughts of such a thing, as I have so many other things I need to be thinking on instead) so i thought I would share it here, so I will always know where it is, if the day ever arises that I decide to make something for myself.
  Another busy day tomorrow. Getting my hair done-YAY! and I  have a flute lesson to give, as well as a busy day of shopping and cleaning and schooling my daughter a bit. Mondays are usually my "day of rest", as Sundays are no day of rest to me, being as active as I am in church, but a few changes had to be made for my day tomorrow. Oh well. Perhaps Tuesday I can "rest" a bit.
  Well, Im off to sleepy land soon, but first, I need to go work a bit more on a 12 month old size sweater before retiring for the night.
  Good night you all. Pleasant dreams.

Spring time coasters

Here's a lovely little coaster pattern I found as I searched a crocheting website looking at different projects. Aren't they just sweet? So simple, yet cheery.  I can't wait till I have a few minutes to sit and make a few to sell at a new consignment shop around the corner from me.