Girly Safari Animal Baby Hats: #1 Zebra (3-6mo)

This pattern was a ton of fun to write and I was so giddy with how it came out. I took it to show my older brother who happened to be in the middle of playing video games. Note that for most guys pink is pink, purple is purple and blue is blue etc... there is no light pink or dark pink, only PINK. So when he saw it I asked what he thought it was. Bad idea. Because it was all pink he instantly claimed it was a pig. That kind of burst my bubble of joy, so I went to see if he was the only one who didn't know what it was. (Because what's the point of a cute hat if no one can tell what it is) Since I have no sisters I went to see what my other brothers thought and questioned them. To my disheartening they all told me it was a pig... ugh! They didn't know how much I had already changed in the pattern to make sure it did not look like a pig. So as a last resort I asked my dad... please let there be someone in the house who does not say it is a pig. Alas my hopes were crushed and my adorable zebra hat was proclaimed a pig. When I informed him that it was indeed a zebra, he told me that it might be more recognizable if I had done it in the traditional black and white colors of a Zebra. Can’t a girl not have a fun, pink, whimsical zebra to wear on her head?

With uncertainty I wrapped it up with two other pink safari animal hats I had done (a monkey and a giraffe which I will post soon) and took it to a baby shower. The mother's face lit up as she saw the "zebra" hat. Finally someone recognized a zebra when they saw one. At least the person who it was for knew what it was and so did everyone else at the shower. The lesson I learned: don't ask my brothers to guess what I made... especially since now they joke about all the hats I make looking like pigs.

Please tell me this does not look like a pig.

Size: 3-6 months

Tools:

·         Crochet hook­ size I/9 (5.5mm) or size need to obtain gauge

·         Scissors

·         Yarn needle/darning needle

Supplies:

• Hot pink  worsted weight yarn (CA)
• Light pink worsted weight yarn (CB)
• 2 matching Black/Dark Brown Buttons for eyes (optional… you can also crochet the eyes)
• A small amount of black worsted weight yarn  (CC)

Gauge:

Rnds 1-4 of Base Hat = approx. 4.5inches in diameter

Instructions:

Base Hat

With CA

Make magic loop, ch 3

Rnd 1: dc 12 in loop, sl st in 1^st dc

Rnd 2: ch 3, (dc in same st) twice, dc 2 in ea st around, sl st in 1^st dc

With CB

Rnd 3: ch 3, dc in same st, dc 2 in nxt st, (dc 1, dc 2 in nxt st) repeat around, sl st in 1^st dc

Rnd 4: ch 3, dc in same st, dc 1, dc 2 in nxt st, (dc 2, dc 2 in nxt st) repeat around, sl st in 1^st dc

With CA

Rnd 5-6: ch 3, dc in same st, dc around, sl st in 1^st dc,

With CB:

Rnd 7-8: ch 3, dc in same st, dc around, sl st in 1^st dc,

With CA

Rnd 9-10: ch 3, dc in same st, dc around, sl st in 1^st dc,

With CB:

Rnd 11-12: ch 3, dc in same st, dc around, sl st in 1^st dc,

With CA

Rnd 13: ch 1, sc in same st, sc around, sl st in 1^st sc, fasten off and weave in ends

With CA

Make a 2” pom-pom and sew to top of the hat, weave in ends

Ear (make 2)

With CB

Ch 7, turn

Rnd 1: dc in 3^rd ch from hook, dc 2, sc 1, sc 3 in nxt st, turn so you are working on the bottom of the chs, sc 1, dc 2, dc 2 in nxt st, sl st in 1^st dc

Rnd 2:  ch 2, dc 2 in same st, hdc 2, sc 2 in nxt st, sc 3 in nxt st, sc 2, hdc 2, dc 2 in nxt st, dc 3in nxt st, sl st in 1^st dc,

With CA

Rnd 3: ch 1, sc in same st, sc around, sl st in 1^st sc, fasten off and weave in tails

Sew on at the top of the hat tucking the point under the base of the pom-pom

Muzzle

With CA

Ch 10,

Rnd 1: dc in 3^rd ch from hook, dc 6, dc 3 in nxt st, turn so that you are working on the bottom of the chs, dc 6, dc 2 in nxt st, sl st in 1^st dc,

Rnd 2: ch 3, dc 2 in same st, dc 6, dc 2 in nxt st, dc 3 in nxt st, dc 2 in nxt st, dc 6, dc 2 in nxt st, dc 3 in nxt st, sl st in 1^st dc,

Rnd 3: ch 1, sc 2 in same st, sc 2 in nxt st, sc 6, (sc 2 in nxt st) twice, sc 1, sc 2 in nxt st, sc 1, (sc 2 in nxt st) twice, sc 1, sc 2 in nxt st, sl st in 1^st sc, fasten off leaving a tail for sewing, sew on

With CB embroider two “x” to represent nostrils

Eyes (make 2)

With CC

Make magic loop, ch

Rnd 1: sc 6 in loop, sl st in 1^st sc, fasten off leaving a tail for sewing, sew on, weave in ends

OR

With CC to sew on buttons for eyes

If you would like instructions for making a pom-pom or more detailed directions for the rest of the patterns, please feel free to comment and please tell me the finished product does not look like a pig. Also please let me if you find any errors as this pattern has not officially been tested.

Basic Striped Baby Hat (3-6mo)

So now that I've posted how to change colors (here) and I don't feel like I have to include that information in every pattern, I will show how I used that technique in my basic striped baby hat pattern. (Note: all color changes are done with the method above)

Size: 3-6 months

Tools:

• Crochet hook size I/9 (5.5mm) or size need to obtain gauge
• Scissors
• Yarn needle/darning needle

Supplies:

• Hot pink  worsted weight yarn (mc)
• Light pink worsted weight yarn (cc)

Gauge:

Rnds 1-4 of Base Hat = approx. 4.5inches in diameter

Instructions:

Base Hat

With mc

Make magic loop, ch 3 (if you would like to avoid the magic loop just replace it with an extra ch & dc in it instead of the loop in rnd 1)

Rnd 1: dc 12 in loop, sl st in 1^st dc

Rnd 2: ch 3, (dc in same st) twice, dc 2 in ea st around, sl st in 1^st dc

With cc

Rnd 3: ch 3, dc in same st, dc 2 in nxt st, (dc 1, dc 2 in nxt st) repeat around, sl st in 1^st dc

Rnd 4: ch 3, dc in same st, dc 1, dc 2 in nxt st, (dc 2, dc 2 in nxt st) repeat around, sl st in 1^st dc

With mc

Rnd 5-6: ch 3, dc in same st, dc around, sl st in 1^st dc,

With cc:

Rnd 7-8: ch 3, dc in same st, dc around, sl st in 1^st dc,

With mc

Rnd 9-10: ch 3, dc in same st, dc around, sl st in 1^st dc,

With cc:

Rnd 11-12: ch 3, dc in same st, dc around, sl st in 1^st dc,

With mc

Rnd 13: ch 1, sc in same st, sc around, sl st in 1^st sc, fasten off and weave in ends

With mc

Make a 2” pom-pom and sew to top of the hat, weave in ends

If you would like instructions for making a pom-pom or more detailed directions for the rest of the patterns, please don't hesitate to comment. Also please let me if you find any errors as this pattern has not officially been tested.

One Day, One Skein Scarfs

A while back I started crocheting these one day one skein scarves...nothing elaborate just an opportunity to use up some variegated yarn. Somehow I'm always behind the seasons, I began making this scarf in early December... just as fall was coming to an end.

For the first three here I used Red Heart Super Saver Yarn (The one with 244yds on it.)

To begin ch 17-20 (whatever you feel like)
Row 1: dc in 3rd ch from hook, dc across
The rest of the rows: ch 2, dc across
Fasten off at the end of a row when you have 12-16yds of yarn left, depending on you long you want the fringe. If you don't want a fringe just work until don't have enough yarn to complete a row.

On this one I used scs instead of dcs and I forgot to save yarn for the fringe so I've been trying to find a solid yarn that will match one of the colors of blue. Blues are so hard to match.

For these last two I used Lion Brand Holiday Homespun which has a gold thread twisted into it, and  Lion Brand Homespun yarn.

One thing I particularly like about the variegated Homespun yarn is how gradually the color changes.

KB Adjustable Sock Knitting Loom

A few Christmases ago I received this neat adjustable sock knitting loom by KB. It is really easy to use and very compact. The hardest part to knit is the sliding section because you have to work around all the pegs that you're not using.

 I decided that it would be best to start with something small, so the first project I did was these cute little baby socks. The pattern was on the DVD that came with the loom. It used 30 pegs and I decided to put 1x1 rib at the top.

 The thing about socks is that you have to make two matching ones. After I finished the first one I began to wish that humans only had one foot because it seemed like an impossible task to make one exactly the same. Turns out that it really wasn't that hard, since it was easier to count the stitches of the first one once it was off the loom. I'm not sure if I did the same amount of rows on each sock but I think I got pretty close. :)

Shells and Flowers hat

This is the pattern that really got me going on baby hats, and to write my baby football beanie pattern. I love the shells and the incorporated flowers. Unfortunately I ran out of yarn and had to omit/change the last few rounds. You can find the pattern here but I'm not sure if you'll be able to link to it if you don't have an account on ravelry.

Once again I made a matching fleece blanket with a crocheted edge.

Baby Football Hat

My very first crochet sports item... I generally don't care for football nor almost any sport, but even so I am very pleased with how this pattern turned out. I had looked at a few different patterns that were similar on Ravelry but couldn't find one that was free (yes...I'm a penny pincher...hey, why buy something that you can easily do yourself for free?) and in the right size. So long story short... I ended up writing my own pattern. Pretty much the most complicated thing in this pattern is the magic loop or switching colors.

Size: 0-3months

Tools:

I/9, 5.5mm crochet hook or size needed for gauge

Large Yarn/darning needle

 Gauge:

9 rows of 14 dc each (ch 2 at the beginning of each row)  = 4" square

Materials:

Brown worsted weight yarn (MC)

White worsted weight yarn (CC)

With MC make a magic loop, ch2 (if you would like to avoid the magic loop, ch 3 and pretend the 1st ch is the magic loop)

Rnd 1: dc 12 in magic loop, sl st in 1st dc,

Rnd 2: ch 2, dc 2 in ea st, sl st in 1st dc,

Rnd 3: ch 2, (dc 2 in nxt st, dc 1) repeat around, sl st in 1st dc,

Rnd 4: ch 2, (dc 2 in nxt st, dc 2) repeat around, sl st in 1st dc,

Rnd 5-6: ch 2, dc around, sl st in 1st dc,

Rnd 7: ch 2, dc around, switch to CC (by doing the last dc as follows: yo with MC, insert hook into nxt st, yo with MC, draw through st, yo with MC, draw through 2 loops, yo with CC while holding the tail, draw through 2 loops, DO NOT cut the MC), sl st in 1st dc

Rnd 8: ch 2, dc around, switch to MC (by doing the last dc as follows: yo with CC, insert hook into nxt st, yo with CC, draw through st, yo with CC, draw through 2 loops, yo with MC from the last time you changed colors, draw through 2 loops, cut the CC)

Rnd  9-14: ch 2, dc around, sl st in 1st dc,

Rnd 15: ch 2, dc around, switch to CC (by doing the last dc as follows: yo with MC, insert hook into nxt st, yo with MC, draw through st, yo with MC, draw through 2 loops, yo with CC while holding the tail, draw through 2 loops, DO NOT cut the MC), sl st in 1st dc

Rnd 16: ch 2, dc around, switch to MC (by doing the last dc as follows: yo with CC, insert hook into nxt st, yo with CC, draw through st, yo with CC, draw through 2 loops, yo with MC from the last time you changed colors, draw through 2 loops, cut the CC)

Rnd 17-19: ch 2, dc around, sl st in 1st dc, fasten off after Rnd 19 and weave in tails with darning needle

Lacing: make a ch at least 6in long, fasten off leaving a 6in tail, attach the beg tail to the top of rnd 14 (I just tied a knot), thread the ch on to the needle and complete the stitching as shown...(If you need more instruction for the stitching or otherwise please leave a comment and let me know)

Cozy (Pink/Blue) Baby Layette

     If you have followed my blog for some time you may think this looks familiar and it should because I've posted the hat and booties before (here), since that post I have added to the set a blanket and a matching gift bag that I absolutely love!

     For the bag I use a hole punch to make the holes, and then I sc in each one all the way around, then I sl st to join the end.

      The blanket is very similar to the other fleece blankets I've made in the past (here) except I found I could "cheat" (because of the fluffy yarn) by only doing a single round and not doing a ch in between each sc.

     I think using  Red Heart Baby Clouds definitely ties the whole set together and allows me to make a matching baby girl set.

     Because I used the Provo Craft Knifty Knitter blue round loom for the newborn hat it was easy to adjust the size (by switching to the green loom) of it when I had the opportunity to make a matching "big sister" hat! :)

    The gift tag below was done by the author of Spare Thyme Ink who does many beautiful things in the paper crafting world!

Crochet Slipper Socks

These are one of my favorite pairs of around the house socks. They are great to wear over another pair of socks or just by themselves. Unfortunately, as with many pairs of crochet socks I cannot wear them with my shoes on.

The pattern for them is quite simple and doesn't require the knowledge of very many stitches. These socks were actually one of the very early patterns I tried. For they longest time I was only doing single crochets and chain stitches. In case you are wondering what the pattern is    http://www.crochetandknitting.com/socks.htm. I would also like to make it clear that this is not my own pattern, and I am quite grateful to the author.

Crochet Converse Baby Shoes

   I just absolutely love this pattern, it is very simple and the only stitches you need to know are ch, sc, sl st, hdc and dc. Tutorials for these stitches except the sl st and hdc can be found here.

    Unfortunately, I found the pattern on Ravelry and can't find it elsewhere, so anyone who would like it would have to become a member of Ravelry if they aren't already.

    If you would like the pattern here is the link http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/crochet-baby-converse.

   I would totally recommend this pattern to a advanced beginner (one who has done several patterns). The directions were given with many photographic references so as long as you know the stitches you should have no problem.

Cozy Cozy Wrist Warmers

What keeps your hands warm, allows your fingers to be free, and you can crochet?

Wrist Warmers! They're cozy and give the flexibility that regular bulky gloves wouldn't. What's really cool though is that you can crochet them! Whoo! Yeah!...Big surprise...Okay you probably already knew that and so did I, but what I didn't know was that they were so easy! I made these cozy fingerless gloves eons before I had blog so it took me awhile to find the pattern so, finally here it is: http://homespunjenn.blogspot.com/2006/01/happy-new-year.html

Oh! I forgot to mention you can make them for every occasion! I love to use mine when I'm studying on a cold winter day and want to be able to feel the pages on my finger tips! :)

Crocheted Tri-Bead Baby Socks

These cute little baby socks are very simple to make, so you can make a pair of baby socks for every occasion. They are great for beginners because they use only the simplest stitches, the chain stitch, single crochet and slip stitch.

Note:The actual socks I bought and I only crocheted the beads on.  Also your hook has to be small enough to go through the hole in  your bead. Most of the time the hole inside tri-beads are relatively large. To save on colored beads I use a clear beads in between all the colored beads. I usually use cotton crochet tread but I'm sure you could use sock or sport weight yarn etc.

 Special stitches: Bead Stitch=insert your hook through a bead, yo, pull through bead and loop. I'm going to abbreviate this st as bds
To start unfold the socks, with slip knot on your hook, (insert your hook into the top the sock (make sure you are inserting it into the knitting and you have more than just the elastic band on top of your sock), sc, ch 3, bds, ch 3,) Repeat all the way around the sock, the distance between your stitches is up to you,  most of the time I use 24 beads per sock depending on the size of the sock.

American Girl Doll Matching Hats

This is probably one of my favorite crochet projects yet. It fits the American Girl doll perfectly and turned out so cute. I made a matching kid sized one too. I designed it myself but unfortunately I didn't write down the pattern before I gave it away.

For the base of the hat I used Lion Brand Homespun yarn and then just worsted weight yarn for the flowers.

Basic Knitting Loom Hats

These are some of the first hats I ever made, at this point I was learning that I should use a double strand of worsted weight yarn. (On the black hat I did and on the purple hat I didn't)

 For the purple hat I used the green "Knifty Knitter" loom and used the yellow "Knifty Knitter" loom for the black hat.

Cute Baby Hat and Booties

These make the cutest little shower gifts. It's a simple, quick working and a very forgiving project, Perfect for beginners.

I used Red Heart Baby Clouds yarn for both the hat and booties. The hat was done on the blue knifty knitter loom (could also be done on a bulky weight, 24 peg knitting loom. Cast on 24, knit 3in (approx. 12rnds), reach inside the loom and place each loop from the first rnd over the corresponding peg, knit 6.5 to 7in more (approx. 26-28rnds), finish off with a draw string (to make a draw string simply cut the yarn leaving a 18in tail, thread a yarn needle using that tail. Go through each loop on each peg going from the bottom up. Once you have done so take each loop of each peg, then pull thread tight) secure with a knot . Feel free to add a pom-pom. Note this is just the instructions that came with the knitting loom, not my own pattern.

 The baby booty pattern was also not my own, but here's where I found it http://bevq.blogspot.com/2010/01/bevs-baby-clouds-booties.html

Together they look adorable in pink or in blue.  The booties fit perfectly into the hat for storage or shipping purposes.

Enjoy!