My Pattern Experience: INSULATE Hat

My Pattern Experience: The INSULATE Hat

First off, as a huge Doctor Who nerd, I have knit and crocheted many a Doctor Who item - his scarf, a pair of Tardis socks and a double-sided knit quilt that has been the bane of my existence for YEARS.  

This hat did not require years.  I whipped this up and was so excited to wear it.  I love the length, as it can hold my hair, and the sizing is perfect.  It's also simple enough that people who aren't nerds won't immediately call you out on being a nerd.

I give this pattern a 5/5 stars just because of how awesome it is!

My Pattern Experience: Racing Arrows Hat [crochet pattern review}

For Christmas this past year, I decided to make a set of 6 hats that would all go together yet each one be unique and different. It was because of this that I found this Racing Arrows Hat on Ravelry. This was the perfect hat to tie in to the set and I loved working the pattern up.  It was fairly easy to do if you are familiar with working the front post dc (fpdc), and the color patterning is very visually striking so people are always wondering "how long did it take you to make that!?!"  I have plans to make many more of these hats!
Overall, an easy to work fun hat with great detail!

Super Spiral Hat: Hat #1 of the 30 day Hat Challenge

Hat #1 of the 30 Day Hat Challenge

Copyright 2010-2012 LiLu Studios: This Crafting Life, by Lori Steffens. {http://www.thiscraftinglife.com/} Make it, Wear it, Love it, but above all, Share it, don't Sell it!

 

Super Spiral hat

Hook: "I"

Red Heart Worsted Weight Yarn

Pattern:

Ch3

R1: 11 dc in first ch, sl st in first st

R2:  ch3, *FPDC, 2dc in next st* repeat around, sl st in top of ch3

R3:  ch3, *dc in top of FPDC, FPDC on FPDC, sk next dc, 2 dc in next dc* repeat around, finishing with a dc in same st as ch3, sl st in ch 3

R4: ch3,2dc in next st *dc in top of FPDC, FPDC on FPDC, sk next dc, dc, 2dc in next dc* repeat around, sl st in top of ch 3

R5: sl st in next dc, ch 3, dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in top of FPDC, FPDC in FPDC, *sk next dc, dc in next 2 dc, 2dc in next dc, dc in top of FPDC, FPDC in FPDC* repeat around,  sl st in top of ch3

R6: sl st in next dc, ch3, dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in top of FPDC, FPDC in FPDC, *sk next dc, dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in top of FPDC, FPDC in FPDC* repeat around, sl st in top of ch3

R7: sl st in next dc, ch3, dc in next 3 dc, 2dc in next dc, dc in top of FPDC, FPDC in FPDC, *sk next dc, dc in next 4 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in top of FPDC, FPDC in FPDC* repeat around, sl st in top of ch3

R8: sl st in next dc, ch3, dc in next 4 dc, 2dc in next dc, dc in top of FPDC, FPDC in FPDC, *sk next dc, dc in next 5 dc, 2dc in next dc, dc in top of FPDC, FPDC in FPDC* repeat around, sl st in top of ch3

R9: sl st in next dc, ch3, dc in next 5 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in top of FPDC, FPDC in FPDC, *sk next dc, dc in next 6 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in top of FPDC, FPDC in FPDC* repeat around, sl st in top of ch3

R10: sl st in next dc, ch 3, dc in next 6dc, dc in top of FPDC, FPDC in FPDC, sk next dc, *dc in next 7 dc, dc in top of FPDC, FPDC in FPDC, sk next dc* repeat around, sl st in top of ch3.

R11-R18: repeat R10

FO

Another Gift Down! Children's Version of the Margaret Hat. [crochet pattern]

So a couple of my christmas presents this year are geared toward couplings: Mother/Daughter, Husband/Wife, and it's been really fun modifying and creating new patterns that complement eachother!  For this specific pairing, I took a pattern that I had found online and made it for the mother, and then I modified it to make a pattern that would fit a child.  You can find the mother's pattern at the Lion Brand website by following this link: http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/80752AD.html?noImages=.  Below, find the Children's pattern!

Copyright 2010-2012 LiLu Studios: This Crafting Life, by Lori Steffens. {http://www.thiscraftinglife.com/} Make it, Wear it, Love it, but above all, Share it, don't Sell it!

 Children's Version of the Margaret Hat

Ch 11.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across – 10 sts.

Row 2: Ch 2, turn, hdc in each of first 5 sts, sc in each of next 4 sts, sl st in last st.

Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sl st in first st, sc in next 4 sts, hdc in next 5 sts.

Row 4: Ch 2, turn, hdc in first 5 sts, sc in next 4 sts, sl st in last st.

Rows 5–33: Rep Rows 3 and 4.

Fasten off. Seam last row to first, making a tube

Shape Crown

With RS facing, join yarn with sl st on one open end of tube.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, working in ends of rows, work 18 sc evenly spaced around edge; join with sl st in first sc.

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in first sc, *ch 1, sk next sc, sc in next sc; rep from * around, ch 1, sk last sc; join with sl st in first sc.

Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sk all ch-1 spaces; join with sl st in first sc – 9 sts.

Rnd 4: Ch 1, *sc in first sc, sk next sc, *rep around- 4 sts.

Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Weave tail through sts of last rnd, gather tightly together and fasten off.

Shape Brim

With RS facing, join yarn with sl st anywhere along remaining edge of Hat.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, working in ends of rows, work 39 sc evenly spaced around edge, join with sl st in first sc.

Rnd 2: Ch 1, *sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around; join with sl st in first sc.

Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc in each sc around; join with sl st in top of beg ch.

Rnd 4: Ch 1, sc in each tr around; join with sl st in first sc.

Rnds 5–8: Rep Rnds 3 and 4.

Fasten off.

Tie
Make a chain about 24 in. long. Fasten off. Weave chain through sts of Rnd 3 of brim. Tie ends of chain into a bow. Weave in ends.

For extra fun, you can make additional chains in different colors, as I did, for interchangeability!

The Lattice Hat [crochet pattern]

I'm on fire this week with the finishing of crochet projects.  Another one in the bag... the Lattice Hat. 

Yet another pattern that I've adjusted for myself, for ease of reading as well as understanding.  The website that it came from has wonderful step by step photo instructions for how to do the LTC, so all you'll find here are the written instructions.  Visit the link if you need more of a visual instruction.

Lattice Hat

Materials:

H hook for body

G hook for ribbing

Abbreviations:

SC- single crochet

DC- double crochet

FPDC- Front post double crochet

BPDC- Back post double crochet

LTC- Lattice treble cluster

Special Stitch:

Lattice Treble Cluster:

Instructions:

YO 2 times. Insert hook under first LTC from round before last, YO, pull loop up. (5 loops on hook)

YO, pull through first two loops on hook.  YO, pull through next 2 loops on hook. (2 loops remain on hook)

YO 2 times.  Insert hook under next LTC from round before last, YO, pull loop up. (5 loops on hook)

YO, pull through first two loops on hook.  YO, pull through next 2 loops on hook. (3 loops on hook)

YO, pull through all three loops.  LTC is complete.

Additional Notes:

Ch 2 at the beginning of each dc row, counts as first dc. 

For rows that begin with fpdc:  ch 2, fpdc down into starting stitch.  Ignore ch 2 henceforth.  Sl st into the first actual stitch at the end of every row.

Pattern:

Ch 4, join

R1:  9 dc in ring.

R2: 2 fpdc in each dc (18 fpdc)

R3: * fpdc in fpdc, dc in space between fpdc, fpdc in next 2 fpdc, dc in space between fpdc, fpdc in next fpdc* repeat around.  (18 fpdc, 9 dc)

R4: *fpdc in fpdc, dc in dc, fpdc in fpdc, dc in space between fpdc* repeat around (18 fpdc, 18 dc)

R5: *fpdc in fpdc, dc inc in dc, fpdc in fpdc, dc in dc* repeat around (18 fpdc, 27 dc)

R6: *Fpdc in fpdc, dc in dc, dc in dc, fpdc in fpdc, dc inc in dc* repeat around. (18 fpdc, 36 dc)

R7: *Fpdc in fpdc, dc in dc, dc inc in dc* repeat around. (18 fpdc, 54 dc)

R8: dc around. (72 dc)

R9: ch 1, sc in same st, sc, LTC.(for first repetition use fpdc, for all others, follow special stitch instructions)  *sk 1 dc, sc next 3 dc, LTC* repeat 17 times, sk 1 dc, sc next dc, slst in first sc (18 LTC, 54 sc)

R10: Dc around (72 dc)

R11: ch 1, LTC, *

sc in next 3 dc, LTC, sk 1 dc* repeat 17 times, sc next 3 dc, slst to first LTC.  (18 LTC, 54 sc)

R12-21: Repeat Rows 8-11, ending with row 9.

 

Switch to G hook

R22: *fpdc down into sc, bpdc, fpdc, bpdc* repeat around (36 fpdc, 36 bpdc)  FPDC should fall on the peak of the LTC and the middle of the LTC.

R23-24: fpdc in fpdc, bpdc in bpdc around. (36 fpdc, 36 bpdc)

Fasten off and weave in ends.

original pattern may be found here: http://www.rheatheylia.com/index.php?page=patterns&id=11

Holidays! [puff hat crochet pattern]

As you all know, the holidays are right around the corner, and I've got so much to do!

I've ceased buying gifts for everyone, in lieu of crafting wonderful presents that I've found people appreciate much more than those store bought options.  Last year, I didn't even ask people what they wanted, but instead, made a ton of items, threw them all into a cardboard box and let them pick their presents!  It was fun to watch them rifle through the box, trying things on and exclaiming at each other about how much they liked this hat, that scarf or these gloves.  This year, I'm even crafting toys for the important children in my life~ a fun venture, I think!

I also have a crafting project/gift idea that my daughter and I will complete~ the traditional cookie mix in a jar.  My daughter is 3.5 years old and loves to craft with me!  I think she'll have a blast making these jars for family and friends!

Tonight, I finished my first holiday present...  can't tell you who it's for, because they might be reading this blog and that would just ruin the surprise!!  I love love love the way that this hat turned out, even though I had to totally modify the pattern in order for it to fit my head.  So here's a picture of how it turned out, along with my modified pattern!

Puff Hat

Copyright 2010-2012 LiLu Studios: This Crafting Life, by Lori Steffens. {http://www.thiscraftinglife.com/} Make it, Wear it, Love it, but above all, Share it, don't Sell it!

Hook: Size K

Abbreviations

PS- Puff Stitch

slst- slip stitch

sc- single crochet

ch- chain

Special Stitches:

Puff Stitch:

1. Wrap the yarn over the hook, insert the hook below the chain. Wrap the yarn over the hook and draw through. There will be 3 loops on the hook.
2. Wrap the yarn over the hook, insert the hook below the chain. Wrap the yarn over the hook and draw through. There will be 5 loops on the hook.
3. Wrap the yarn over the hook, insert the hook below the chain. Wrap the yarn over the hook and draw through. There will be 7 loops on the hook.
4. Wrap the yarn over the hook, insert the hook below the chain. Wrap the yarn over the hook and draw through. There will be 9 loops on the hook.
5. Wrap the yarn over the hook and draw through to secure puff stitches at the top.

Pattern:

Chain 5, join.

R1: *PS, ch1* Repeat 6 times, sc in top of beginning PS to join.

R2: *PS, ch1, PS, ch1 in next ch1 space.*  Repeat around (12 PS/ch1).  SC in beginning PS to join.

R3: *PS, ch1, PS, ch1 in next ch1 space.  PS, ch1 in next ch1 space.* Repeat around (18 PS/ch1).  SC in beginning PS to join.

R4: *PS, ch1, PS, ch1 in next ch1 space.  PS, ch1 in next ch1 space.  PS, ch1 in next ch1 space.* Repeat around (24 PS/ ch1).  SC in beginning PS to join.

R5-R15: *PS, ch1 in next ch1 space.* Repeat around (24 PS/ch1).  Sc in beginning PS to join.

R16: *2 sc in next ch 1 space.*  Repeat around (48 sc).  SLST in beginning sc to join.

R17-R18: Sc in each sc around.  (48 sc).  SLST in beginning sc to join.

Finish off.