Working on a New Baby Hat Pattern

These baby hats are the start of my next pattern. I thought I'd give you a sneak peek at the research and development stage of making a pattern. It, of course, starts with an idea. I wanted a baby hat with lots of texture. The hat on the left was the first one, I must have ripped out the first couple of rows of pattern a dozen times. Even so, when I finished it, I wasn't real happy with it. It just didn't "pop" the way I wanted it to. If you look at the one on the right you can see the "bubbles" are much more pronounced. But I am still not done. The way I started some of the rows is going to be hard to understand so I have an idea that I want to try in the next hat. I also want to try to change the spacing of the "bubbles" to see if it would look better. So that's at least one more hat and possibly two before I get it the way I want it.

So, that's the usual process, sometimes it comes out the way I want it on the first try but that is rare. Both of the hats I made are good hats, they'll be donated to some organization soon, but they weren't what I was trying for. So I'll be posting the pattern someday when I'm happy with it. I also have a couple of adult hat patterns I'm working on, but I'm not having a lot of luck with them.

A Hat for Warming Families

I love this yarn it's so soft and warm. I won this yarn in a drawing at AllCrafts4 Charity, a Yahoo group that I belong to. They hold a drawing every month for those who contributed during the month.
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Warming Families is a charity that delivers blankets and other warm items to the homeless and displaced, is having a Hat Challange so I decided to use this wonderful yarn for a nice, warm hat!
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The yarn is Patons Melody Quick & Cozy and really worked up nice. I used my Quickie Chemo Cap pattern but went down a size for the hook so this is a child sized hat! I made this hat this morning and the most it took me was two hours. I didn't really time myself so it might have taken less. So can you spare an hour or two to make a hat for this wonderful charity?

Readers Projects

The featured pattern today is the newborn sweater set again, it's one of my most popular patterns so a lot of people have made them!

"I made it for my daughter, Siobhan, who was born mid-April and wore it plenty of times before outgrowing it…
I, myself, have been knitting/crocheting/sewing since I was about 6… so, 20 years. :P I am a mom of three and live in the Southwest and am studying to be a Middle School teacher… "

"A little about me: I’m Kate, from Alberta, Canada. Been crocheting regularly for about 3 years now and LOVE it! I mostly create things to give away (baby blankets, baby hats, caps for cancer patients, etc.), but I’ve been working on some things for myself lately and have been enjoying that too. I love exercising my creativity! :) This sweater set was actually the first thing I created for the son my family was going to adopt this spring. Unfortunately for our family, the adoption fell through, so this little set will be donated to a charity auction a friend is involved with down in the states to help raise money for a hospital’s neonatal ICU. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your new project! Kate"

Warming Families

Warming Families is having a hat challenge! The goal is to have between 15,000 & 25,000 hats donated to homeless and needy families across the US. Hats can be anywhere from infants to adult sizes. Can you help? Please take the time to knit or crochet at least one hat. Check out the website to get more information.

They are also in need of more chapter area volunteers, if you have the time and are willing to help read this page.

My Hat Patterns!

Baby Hexie Hats

Kids Bumby Hat

Hillary's Girly Girl Hat

Quickie Chemo Cap can be used for more than chemo

And the hat from my Newborn Sweater Set

I'm working on another one so please check back!

Hilary's Girly Girl Hat Free Crochet Pattern

OK, that's not Hilary, that's me, Hilary is much younger and prettier. I also did not make this hat for Hilary, it will be going to some as yet undetermined charity. What I did make for Hilary's mother is this pattern so she could make Hilary this hat. Hilary's mother (aka my cousin Marie) showed me a pattern for a baby hat and wanted to know how to re-size it for an adult. I told her I could do even better, I'd do the whole pattern. She also mentioned that Hilary was a girly girl, hence the name of the hat. So now I'll share the pattern with everyone for free:

You will need 4 ounces of worsted weight yarn and an I hook. If I seem to be using an I hook all the time it's because it's one of the few I can find. Someone told me to blame my cats and they're probably right.

Rd 1: Ch 4 and join, ch 3(counts as first dc here and throughout) 14 dc into loop and join, 15dc made
Rd 2: Ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each stitch and join 30 dc made
Rd 3: Ch 3, *2dc in next dc, dc in next dc, repeat from* around and join 45 dc made
Rd 4: Ch 3, dc in next dc, * 2dc in next dc, dc in next 2 dc, repeat from * around and join 60 dc made
Rd 5 thru 15: ch 3, dc in each dc and join
Rd 16: 4ch (counts as dc and ch 1here and in next row), in same stitch dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, *in next stitch dc, ch1, dc, ch1, dc, ch 1, repeat from * around and join
Rd 17: sl st to first ch 1 space and ch 4, ch 1, *dc in next ch 1 space and ch 1 around and join.

Easy, huh??, Hope Hilary likes her hat!!

My Readers Projects: Newborn Sweater Set

I decided it was about time to show everybody some of the great projects made out of my patterns. I asked these ladies if I could use their pictures and if they could tell me a little about themselves and who the sweater set was made for. This is my Newborn Sweater Set pattern which I first put on my blog back in January of 2008. I plan to do this on a regular basis. If you've made one of my patterns, send a picture and a little bit about yourself and who the item was intended for. Send it to debsstuff55 (at) yahoo (dot) com.

My name is Julie im an Aussie, its the first piece of clothing i made, other than scarfs, i made it because it was worded clearly and as a beginner i could understand, Keep in mind i was translating UK terms to US as well.. i gave it to my husbands cousin for her little girl Cooper.

Your sweet sweater set was intended for an unknown baby in the Tulsa area. I sew, knit, and crochet baby items for Newborns In Need, and belong to the easter OK chapter of NIN. All of our items go to area hospitals, medical centers, crisis centers, etc. and a couple local cemetaries that try to provide for the bereaved. The biggest concern for NIN is the vast number of preemies born that require special sizes of caps, booties, gowns, mittens, isolette mattress covers, etc. and unfortunately, also burial layettes. There is also a huge demand for the healthy, but needy newborns - they require receiving blankets, quilts, sweater sets, going-home outfits, diaper bags - and everything that goes in them! Everything we make for NIN is on a volunteer basis and the cost comes out of our pockets - unless we’re lucky enough to get donations! I am always looking for free patterns that will make up quickly, as “quantity” is of the essence - but I don’t want to sacrifice “quality” - and your pattern is just the ticket! On a personal note, I am a 66 yr old gramma of 3; spend my days babysitting all 3, making things for NIN, and creating knitted items for myself and gifts - shawls being my favorite!

My name is Kellie and I was born and bred in the suburbs of New Orleans. Like nearly all true south Louisiana families, my family loves to follow LSU sports!! So, I am always on the lookout for cute patterns that easily incorporate multiple colors for team-themed gifts. When I got my invitation to my cousin's baby shower, I knew she would love a baby girl gift with Tiger flair!! I made this sweater set using the newborn sweater pattern and using Red Heart yarn in amethyst and gold. My only alteration to the pattern was to add "LSU" to the hat by making three scrochet chains and sewing them on to make the letters. It was super quick and easy so I have this pattern tagged in my notes for future use!!

Crocheted Babys' Hexie Hats Free Pattern

I've seen many baby's hats called roundie hats because their made in round rounds. These hats start with a hexagon so I'm going to call them Hexie Hats. I made a little girl's version and a little boy's version. I'm sure you can figure out which is which. I'm not sure which charity they are going to but I'm sure something will turn up soon. It always seems to when I make something with no specific destination in mind.

Hexie Hats

You will need:

Small amount sports weight baby yarn

I hook

Gauge: The first two rounds should be close to 3" across

Starting V stitch = ch4, dc in same stitch

V stitch= dc, ch1, dc in same stitch

Triple decrease= Do dc but leave last two loops on hook, in next stitch do dc leaving last loop on hook (now 3 loops), dc leaving last loop in next st leaving last loop (now 4 loops) on hook, yo and pull through all 4 loops on hook

V stitch decrease= In last stitch before ch 1 of previous row V stitch, do dc leaving last 2 loops on hook, in first stitch after the ch 1, do dc leaving last loop on hook (now 3 loops), yo and pull through all 3 loops

Directions are for newborn size, size 3-6 months is in (parenthesis)

Rd 1: Ch 4 and form loop, ch3 (counts as first dc here and throughout pattern), 11 dc in loop and join, (12 dc)

Rd 2: Ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each dc and join

Rd 3: Starting V-stitch, *3 dc, V stitch, repeat from * around and join to 3rd ch of starting V-stitch

Rd 4: sl st into space of first V-stitch and do a starting V-stitch, dc in each dc and V-stitch in each V-stitch around and join to 3rd ch of starting V-stitch

(Rd 4A: larger size only, repeat Rd 4)

Rds 5 - 9: sl st into space of first V-stitch and do a starting V-stitch, *2(3) dc, triple decrease, 2(3) dc, V-stitch, repeat from * around, ending with 2(3) dc and join to 3rd ch of starting V-stitch

Rd 10: ch 3 only this one does not count as first stitch, do V-stitch decrease, dc in next 5(7) stitches around and join

(Rd 10A: larger size only, ch 3 dc around evenly spacing 6 decreases around)

Rd11: Ch 2, hdc around

Girls version
Rd 12: Ch 3, 4 dc in each stitch around and join

Boys version
Rd 12 - 13: Ch 2, hdc around and join

Stuff from My Trunk

Since I do in-home live-in care for the elderly, most of my crocheting is done away from home, I have this really bad habit of putting partially finished projects in the trunk of my car and going on to something else. This time while I was at work I forced myself to finish all of them. I didn't make it since I still have two baby blankets partially done still in there.

So far I have finished two blankets, one made from donated squares for a special project for All_Crafts_4_Charity, seven preemie hats and a baby sweater that just needed the ends worked in for Cooper Hospital, four dishcloths and three scrubbies for a battered women's shelter and two finger puppets that were made for the CraftingForACause April and May challenge that didn't get sent in with the others.

Bumpy Preemie Hat Crochet Pattern

It's so sweet and done in Caron's Simply Soft yarn it's so soft. This little hat will fit a larger preemie around four pounds or so.

Pattern:

Small amount of Simply Soft yarn

I hook, you can use larger or smaller hook to adjust the size of your hat.

Ch 3 and join to form ring

Rd 1: ch 3 (counts as 1st dc) 11 dc into ring (12 dc in ring) join to chain 3

Rd 2: Ch 3 dc in same stitch, 2 dc in each stitch join to chain 3 with sl st (24 dc)

Rd 3: Ch 3 *2 dc in next stitch, dc in next stitch repeat from * to last stitch 2dc and join (36 st)

Rd 4: Ch 1 and turn (this row is worked on wrong side) sc in same st as slip stitch, trc in next stitch, * sc in next 2 stitches then trc in next. Repeat from * around, sc in last stitch. Join with sl

st to first sc

Rd 5: Ch 3 and turn (this row is worked on right side) dc in each st.

Rds 6 - 9: Repeat Rds. 4 and 5 twice

Rds 10 -12 Dc in each st.

Rd 13: Ch 1 and turn (this row is worked on wrong side) sc in each stich, end

Crocheted Newborn Sweater Set Free Pattern

Although this pattern is for the sweater set in the middle, it can easily be adapted for either of the two side sets. For the white and green set simply substitute plain dc for shell rows. For the pink one on the right don't change colors. I used an H hook and sport weight yarn and get 4 dc = 1 inch. These sets are newborn size.

V stitch dc, ch1, dc in same stitch

Shell stitch sc, 3dc in same

SWEATER

Using contrasting color Ch 52
You are starting from the neckline
Guage 4 dc = 1 inch

Row 1: dc in forth chain from hook,(Ch 3 counts as 1st stitch here and in every row), dc in next 5 chains, V st in next ch, 9 dc, V st, 14 dc, V st, 9 dc, V st, 7 dc end

Row 2-6: join main color and ch 3, dc in each dc and V stitch in each V stitch.


Row 7:(forms the armholes) ch 3 and turn, dc to first V stitch, folding so 1st and 2nd V stitches are together dc in both to join them, dc to next V stitch and join 3rd and 4th V stitch in same manner, dc to end

Rows 8-15: ch 3 and turn, dc in each dc

Row 16; in contrasting color ch 1 and turn sc in same st as ch 1, *sk 1dc and shell in next dc, repeat until last 2 st, sc in last stitch.

Armhole pattern (optional)

Row 1; Join contrasting color to bottom of arm hole, sc in each stitch and join

Row 2; ch 1, *sk 1 sc, shell in next repeat from * join to ch 1 at beginning of row.

For ties, either ch 120 and thread through first row or you can use a length of ribbon

HAT

Rd 1; with contrasting color, ch 4 and join, ch 3 (counts as first st) 14 dc into loop (15 st) join to ch3

Rd 2; ch 3, 2dc in each dc, join to ch 3

Rd 3; ch 3, dc in same space as ch 3, *dc in next st, 2 dc in next repeat from * around

Rd 4 -10; change to main color, ch3, dc in each dc join to ch3

Rd 11; change to contrasting color, ch1, sc in same st, * sk 1 dc and shell in next dc repeat from * around, skip last dc, join to starting sc

BOOTIES
Ch 3 at beginning of each rd counts as 1 dc
With contrasting color Ch 4 and sl st to form loop.

Rd 1; ch 3 and 11 dc in loop. (12 sts)

Change to main color
Rd 2; ch 3 *2 dc in next stitch dc in next repeat from * (18 sts)

Rds3 and 4; dc in each dc

Heel

Row 1: ch 3, dc in all but 3 dc

Row 2 -4: dc in each dc and end leaving 6 in tail of yarn

Sew back of heel together by using the back loops only

Cuff
Join Main color yarn at back where it was sewn together

Rd 1: ch3, 7 dc evenly spaced down side, dc in each dc left open, 7 dc evenly spaced on other side and join

RD 2-4: dc in each dc end main color

With contrasting color
Rd 5: ch1, sc in same sp as ch1, *sk 1 dc shell in next dc, repeat from * around, sk last st and join to sc
For ties either ch 70 for tie or you can use ribbon.

Quickie Chemo Cap Free Crochet Pattern

On one of my Yahoo groups Bev's-Charity-Challange we were asked to make just one hat on Christmas day. Since I was over at my son's apartment I didn't have a lot of yarn with me except what I was using for a couple blankets, this is what I came up with. It's a really simple chemo hat, very soft and, at least I think it is, very pretty. I made it in less than an hour and I'm going to give you the almost-a-pattern pattern. It's just too simple to call a pattern. I used a varigated yarn and somehow it just striped perfectly. I tried to do it again, same yarn, same hook, same pattern and it wouldn't do it.

Quickie Chemo Cap

You need to use a super bulky yarn such as Red Heart Baby Clouds or Light and Lofty. I used a size N hook. I do crochet rather loosely so you may need to make adjustments, also I have two N hooks that are totally different in size so yours may not give the same size hat. The one I made will fit an adult woman.

Ch 4 and join to form loop

Round 1: ch 3 (counts as dc) 15 dc in loop and join (16 st)

Rd 2: Ch 3 dc in same st 2 dc in each st till end and join (32 st)

Rds 3 - 8: Ch3 dc in each dc and join

Rd 9: Ch 1 sc in each dc

See how easy? If you want to make chemo hats and have some suitable yarn it doesn't get any easier or quicker than this.

Kids' Bumpy Hat

I've reworked this pattern to try to make the sizes more uniform. The changes didn't change how the hat looks. Sizes in parenthesis are for

(Infant, Toddler, Child)

Photo on right is courtesy of a reader who made this hat. (Thanks Karla)

Kid's Bumpy Cap

Sweater to match

Booties to match

Using J hook Chain 4 and slip stitch in first chain.

Rd 1: ch 3 (counts as 1st dc) (13, 15, 17) dc for (14, 16, 18 dc in ring) join to chain 3

Rd 2: Ch 3 dc in same stitch, 2 dc in each stitch join to chain 3 with sl st, (28, 32, 36) stitches

Rd 3: Ch 3 *2 dc in next stitch, dc in next stitch repeat from * to last stitch 2dc and join (42, 48, 54) stitches

Rd 4: Ch 1 and turn (this row is worked on wrong side) sc in same st as slip stitch, tr in next stitch, * sc in next stitch then tr in next. Repeat from * till end of row. Join with sl st to first sc

Rd 5: Ch 3 and turn (this row is worked on right side) dc in each st.

Repeat rds 4 and 5 (3, 4, 5) times

Next row, repeat row 4

Turn work to work on right side again. Ch 2, hdc in each stitch for next 3 rds. Finish off