Finals Over = Giraffe Hat MANIA!!!

Finally finals are over. Ugh. This week was one of the most intense weeks of my college career both mentally and physically. I can't even count how many allnighters I pulled, but currently I have no voice, a runny nose and I have been nauseous all day. The worst part is (yeah there is a worst part, I know, right... what am I going to pull out of my hat now? Kitten in a coma?) that I am hungry but am nauseous at the same time. Ok sort of anticlimactic, I know. But I haven't eaten since I ate fries with Rose yesterday at like 5. That's it, that was the last thing I ate. Ridiculous, I know. But you know, you have to look at the bright side of things. I'll be REALLY skinny if this keeps up. Or dead. You know one of the two.


So for I finished the Giraffe Hat I was making for Rose for Christmas and I think it came out pretty good. I'm currently working on finishing lining her matching scarf and then she will surely be the coolest kid at the playground. Or the Zoo. But at one of those locations she will win the prize for sure. Here she is doing her mad sexy 80s Giraffe mating dance:


Nice moves. Real nice. I know what your thinking. Well no I mean I know what you will be thinking after you stop thinking all those pervy things about Rose. The horns are too long. I keep thinking that too. Well actually I don't think that until I see them in photos and then I think it. Oh well, check out the sweet pompoms!

I will post photos of actual finished scarf later. I won't bore you with photos of like a corner of an unfinished scarf anymore. No, from now on... I'm a professional. Ok I gtg watch 30 Rock and try to eat something

Georges Dragon Hat! Now with Pattern!

Thats him wearing it. Haha. I whipped it up in an evening, after visiting home and noticing that he is OBSESSED with Dragons right now. You should have heard the disgust in his voice after I offered to make him a Thomas the Train Engine hat. Apparently that's soooo 2 years ago.

By the way this is my little brother George. He is 5 (turning 6 in December). I am 20 and turning 21 in February. Fifteen years is a pretty big difference but he's one of my best friends.

I am also making him a Dragon Scarf, which as soon as I am done I will post photos up of.

I crocheted it using a K/ 6.5 MM hook and Lions Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick yarn. Then I just crocheted some triangles in the same yarn just in yellow and slip stitched them to the hat. It sort of looks like a mowhawk.


I've had some demand for the pattern so here it is, (this is from memory since I'm back at school now and my lil bro is in Boston):

I used the Lemon-Grass and Cilantro colors for the hat and the Citron for the spikes. If you don't want to alternate colors then just don't switch colors every round, if you do then do! It doesn't really make a difference in terms of the pattern. This hat is worked continuously in rounds.

Hat:

Chain 2

Rnd 1: Work 6 single crochet (sc) in 2nd chain from hook [6 sts]

Rnd 2: Work 2 sc in each st [12 sts]

Rnd 3: Work 1 sc in next st then 2 sc in st after that, repeat [18 sts]

Rnd 4: Sc in each of the next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat [24 sts]

Rnd 5: Sc in each of the next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat [30]

Rnd 6: Sc in each of the next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat [36]

Rnd 7: Sc in each st around [36]

Rnd 8: Sc in each of the next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat [42]

Rnd 9: Sc in each st around [42]

Rnd 10: Sc in each of the next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat [48]

Continuing rounds: You can keep increasing stitches until the hat is the circumference you want, and keep repeating rounds till its the length you want. I don't quite remember what my brother's hat was, I think I made it a bit bigger because I'm planning on lining it with fleece.

Fasten Off.

For the EarFlaps:

The Earflaps are done working back and forth in rows.

Rnd 1: Sc in next 9 stitches (increase stitches according to size of ears or the size you want the earflaps to be)

Rnd 2: Ch 1, turn. Skip first st and sc in next 8 stitches

Rnd 3: Ch 1, turn. Skip first st and sc in next 7 stitches

Rnd 4: Ch 1, turn. Skip first st and sc in next 6 stitches

Rnd 5: Ch 1, turn, Skip first st and sc in next 5 stitches

Rnd 6: Ch 1, turn. Skip first st and sc in next 4 stitches

Rnd 7: Ch 1, turn. Skip first st and sc in next 3 stitches

Rnd 8: Ch 1, turn. Skip first st and sc in next 2 stitches

Rnd 9: Ch 1, turn. Skip first st, ad sc in last stitch. Fasten off.

Then skip as many stitches across the back of the hat as you need (depends on hat size). Then work the second ear flap same as the first.

I also like to choose a dark color and sc all around the hat and earflaps. I think it gives it a more finished effect.

For the Scales (scales or horns? I'm not sure):

I crocheted 5 triangles independently and then attached them with two slip stitch lines on either side, so that they would stand up. I'm sure there are other ways to do it, but this was fast and efficient.

My triangles had a base chain of 6, but it really depends on what size you want your scales/horns to be. Here is the patterns for my triangles:

Ch 6

Rnd 1: Sc in next 5 stitches

Rnd 2: Ch 1, turn. Skip first st, sc in next 4 stitches

Rnd 3: Ch 1, turn. Skip first st, sc in next 3 stitches

Continue repeating until only one stitch remains then fasten off.

Make 5 (or how many ever you want)

Then starting at the back of the hat, on one side of a scale/horn , slip stitch the scale/horn to the hat, then position another scale to line up with the previous scale, etc etc and keep slip stitching them to the hat until you are at the end, then slip stitch around the front of the last scale and slip stitch the other side of the scales to the hat. Then connect to the beginning slip stitch and Fasten off.

Weave in Ends.

This pattern is pretty accurate, message me if there are any problems. And keep and eye out for my dragon scarf!

Carlos's Hat

This is a hat I made for my friend Carlos following a modified version of Aarons Hat Trick #3. I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick yarn and size K hook. I also worked mainly in back loops to create the ridged effect which I think makes the stripes look more defined. I'm pretty happy with how it came out, it was my first striped ear flap hat! I'm just afraid that it will be a little tight on him, but I figure it will stretch out. Also it's machine washable so that's great!

Also since this hat was for a boy, I made it a bit longer and wider around. Usually my rule of thumb is to stop increasing stitches when you find your perfect width (trying it on helps) and then sc in every stitch around and around till you reach your perfect length. You could also try increasing sts one round and then doing one round even after that.

There is something wrong with my kidneys so I've been told to rest up and drink lots of fluids. You know what that means. Naps, CSI and crocheting. Hopefully I will finish my friend Roses Gloves this week and will have photos and a pattern up later.

Here is the pattern for Carlos's Hat:

Hat

Chain 2

Rnd 1: Work 6 single crochet (sc) in 2nd chain from hook [6 sts]

Work in back loops from here on

Rnd 2: Work 2 sc in each st [12 sts]

Rnd 3: Work 1 sc in next st then 2 sc in st after that, repeat [18 sts]

Rnd 4: Sc in each of the next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat [24 sts]

Rnd 5: Sc in each of the next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat [30]

Rnd 6: Sc in each of the next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat [36]

Rnd 7: Sc in each st around [36]

Rnd 8: Sc in each of the next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat [42]

Rnd 9: Sc in each st around [42]

Rnd 10: Sc in each of the next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat [48]

Rnd 11-19: Sc in each st around [48]

Fasten Off.

First Ear Flap:

The ear flaps are done working back and forth in rows. I switched off doing back and front loops on each row so that front of the ear flaps would be ridged.

Rnd 1: Sc in back loop of next 12 sts.

Rnd 2: Chain (ch) 1, turn. Skip first stitch, sc in front loops of each st [11 sts]

Rnd 3: Ch 1, turn. Skip first stitch, sc in back loops of each st [10]

Rnd 4: Ch 1 , turn. Skip first stitch, sc in front loops of each st [9]

Rnd 5: Ch 1, turn. Skip first stitch, sc in back loops of each st [8]

Rnd 4: Ch 1, turn. Skip first st, sc in front loops of each st [7]

Rnd 5: Ch 1, turn. Skip first st, sc in back loops of each st [6]

Rnd 6: Ch 1, turn. Skip first st, sc in front loops of each st [5]

Rnd 7: Ch 1, turn. Skip first st, sc in back loops of each st [4]

Rnd 8: Ch 1, turn. Skip first st, sc in front loops of each st [3]

Rnd 9: Ch 1, turn. Skip first st, sc in back loops of each st [2]

Keep repeating till only one stitch remains, then fasten off.

Second Ear Flap:

Skip 8 sts across the back of Hat. In next st, join yarn with slip st then follow the same pattern as for the first ear flap.

Front Flap:

Sc across the front of hat to the second ear flap, Ch 1, turn. Repeat the last row 9 times, alternating between stitching in front loops/ back loops. Fasten off.

Edging:

Join yarn in the front edge of an ear flap and then just sc around .

For the Ear Flap ties I just braided all the colors I used. But you can use any technique. You can braid, I've also done Monks Cords and so on.

That's my kitten playing with the braided tie of the hat. I will post more photos of his adorable face later

Butterfly Beauty Turban by Dot

I found this great Turban Pattern online when looking for interesting crochet patterns. My roommate Allie got my interested in Turbans after she busted one out recently. I unfortunately cannot always pull off her fashion stylings, but this turban is surprisingly easy to wear. I wore it with my pea coat recently and got some compliments :). Check out Dot's site though, she has some really cool patterns on there. I basically followed her crochet patterns except for a few modifications.




The Modifications:

I repeated row 6 twice.

I crocheted 7 rows of butterfly stitches. So basically I repeated row 8 five times, and then went back to the pattern, crocheting her row 11 and 12.

I added the extra rows because I wanted a slightly longer turban and also I liked the way more butterfly stitches looked. Altogether my turban was 17 rows long.

I used Lion Brand Yarn Vanna's Choice in Purple and I think either a J or H hook. I'm pretty terrible at gauge and such, so I basically experiment until I figure out the correct hook size. I don't really make those little squares, though I should really start.

Kendals Fishermans Hat (with Pattern)

This is a hat that I made my friend Kendal, I'm pretty happy with the way it came out. I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Yarn and a size K hook. Over all it took me around two hours to make and that was while I was watching online lectures as well as taking notes, so needless to say this is a pretty easy project.





Kendals Fishermans Hat Pattern

Notes: This hat is worked in continuous rounds. Do not join at the end of rounds. Also I created the ribbed appearance by crocheting in the back loop of each stitch.











Chain 2


Round 1: Work 6 single crochet in 2nd chain from hook [ 6 stitches]

Round 2: 2 single crochet in each stitch [ 12 stitches]

Round 3: Sc (single crochet) in next stitch, then 2 sc in stitch after that. Repeat till you have [18 stitches]

Round 4: Sc in each of the next two stitches, then 2 sc in next stitch. Repeat till you have [24 stitches]

Round 5: Sc in each of the next three stitches, 2 sc in next stitch. Repeat till you have [30 stitches]

Round 6: Sc in each of the next four stitches, 2 sc in next stitch till you have [44 stitches]

Round 7 - 20: Sc in each stitch around.

You don't necessarily have to do 20 rounds, just Sc around evenly, trying on the hat until it covers the ears.

Fasten off First color and join Second color.

Round 21: Sc under both strands of the V of the stitches in round 20 `

Round 22 - 25: Sc in the front loop of each stitch

Round 26: Sc in front loop of previous row AND in front loop of round 14. Fasten Off.

If you have any questions, or there are mistakes, post comments and I will reply.