Wednesday, November 26, 2014

FIND SOME TIME TO CROCHET & A POM POM-A-DAY


Welcome to the month of manys!

Many events and parties to attend
Many additional household chores(Can you say d-e-c-o-r-a-t-i-n-g?)
Many people to connect with
Many fun activities to conduct with the kiddos
Many stores to visit (online or otherwise)
Many additional treats to bake
The next few weeks are definitely going to be filled with obligations that only pop up this time of year. My post today, while in its first appearance seems as if it is yet another “to do” to add to your already overburdened “to do” list, actually provides an opportunity to relax, reduce your heart rate, and create something special for the little ones in your life—a crochet hat for one of your child’s dolls.

If you don’t already know the positive affects that crochet (and knitting) have on your health, you have missed out on a natural tension reducer. By counting stitches, focusing on the stitch types, using one’s mind to connect with repetitive motions, and reaching the ultimate satisfaction when a project is complete, a person that crochets quickly learns that crochet can make a day flow much more smoothly.

Below you will find the directions for a simple style crochet hat for a small doll with a head circumference of approximately 8”. For those handy with the hook, it can be whipped up in a bit more than an hour—great to do while the kiddos are watching a holiday special on TV.

I have not added the directions to each stitch as there is no way that I could duplicate all the wonderful tutorials and videos available on the web. Instead, I am offering the pattern with a quick cheat-sheet at the end.

The hat is topped off with a pom pom. For older children, I’m sure that they will love to create the pompom on their own to top off their hat for dolly.

So….grab your crochet hook, a ball of crochet thread, a cup of cocoa, a blanket, and find some time to relax.

*This pattern may be shared with anyone, as long as it is linked back to this page and credit is given for the pattern.

Winter Cap with Pom Pom
 

 
This pattern is for a snowcap to fit a doll with a head circumference of appproximately 8”. Modify your first ring accordingly.

Skills Level: 2 (easy plus—some knowledge of basic stitches required)

Size 10 hook, size 20 crochet thread
Gauge: 13 stitches per inch
Abbreviations:
Round (rnd), chain (Ch), single crochet (sc), double crochet (dc), Front post (fp), Back Post (bp), slipstitch (ss)
13 rounds of DC, 1 rnd of sc, 3 rnds front post/back post ribbing
Ch 4 (first color-red in sample)

Rnd 1: 10 dc in 4th chain from hook (the ch3 counts as the first dc) (total of 11 dc) Join ring with ss

Rnd 2: ch3 (counts as first dc for this rnd and for every rnd hereafter) 1 dc in the first dc from the last rnd *2 dc in the next dc from the rnd*, repeat between *'s(total of 22 dc), join with ss

Rnd 3: ch3, 2dc in the next dc from the last rnd, *1 dc in the next dc from the last rnd, 2 dc in the next dc from the last rnd*, repeat between *'s to the end. (total 33 dc) This rnd has a pattern that I repeat to myself of 1,2,2 (meaning that I put two dc in every SECOND stitch) join with ss

Rnd 4: ch3, 1 dc in the first dc from the last rnd, 2 dc in the next dc from the last rnd, *1 dc in the next dc from the last rnd, 1 dc in the next, 2 dc in the next dc from the last rnd*, repeat between *'s to the end. (total 44 dc) This rnd has a pattern that I repeat to myself of 1,2,3,3 (meaning that I put two dc in every THIRD stitch) join with ss

Rnd 5: ch3, 1.dc in the first dc from the last rnd, 1 dc in the next dc from the last rnd, 2 dc in the next dc from the last rnd, *1 dc in the next dc from the last rnd, 1 dc in each of the next TWO dcs, 2 dc in the next DC from the last rnd*, repeat between *'s to the end. (total 55 dc) This rnd has a pattern that I repeat to myself of 1,2, 3, 4, 4 (meaning that I put two dc in every FOURTH stitch) join with a ss

Rnd 6: ch3, 1 dc in the first dc from the last rnd, 1 dc in the next dc from the last rnd, 1 dc in the next dc from the last rnd, 2 dc in the next dc from the last rnd, *1 dc in each of the next FOUR dcs, 2 dc in the next dc from the last rnd*, repeat between *'s to the end. (total 66 dc) This rnd has a pattern that I repeat to myself of 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 5 (meaning that I put two dc in every fifth stitch) join with a ss

Rnd 7: ch3, 1 dc in the first dc from the last rnd, 1 dc in the next dc from the last rnd, 1 dc in the next dc from the last rnd 1 dc in the next dc from the last rnd, 2 dc in the next dc from the last rnd, *1 dc in each of the next FIVE DCs, 2 dc in the next dc from the last rnd*, repeat between *'s to the end. (total 77 dc) This rnd has a pattern that I repeat to myself of 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6,6 (meaning that I put two dc in every SIXTH stitch) join with ss

Rnd 8: ch3, 1 dc in the first dc from the last rnd, 1 dc in the next dc from the last rnd, 1 dc in the next dc from the last rnd, 1 dc in the next dc from the last rnd, 1 dc in the next dc from the last rnd, 2 dc in the next dc from the last rnd, *1 dc in each of the next SIX DCs, 2 dc in the next dc from the last rnd*, repeat between *'s to the end. (total 88 dc) This rnd has a pattern that I repeat to myself of 1,2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7, 7 (meaning that I put two dc in every SEVENTH stitch) join with ss

Rnd 9: ch3, 1 dc in the first dc from the last rnd, 1 dc in the next dc from the last rnd, 1 dc in the next dc from the last rnd,1 dc in the next dc from the last rnd, 1 dc in the next dc from the last rnd, 1 dc in the next dc from the last rnd, 2 dc in the next dc from the last rnd, *1 dc in each of the next SEVEN DCs, 2 dc in the next dc from the last rnd*, repeat between *'s to the end. (total 99 dc) This rnd has a pattern that I repeat to myself of 1,2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7, 8, 8 (meaning that I put two dc in every EIGHTH stitch) join with ss

INCREASE COMPLETE

Rnds 10-13: ch3, 1 dc in the first dc from the last rnd, 1 dc in the each remaining dc from the last rnd (total 99 dc) join with ss

CHANGE COLORS
Rnd 14: attach new color (white in sample) with a ss, ch 1, 1 sc in the first dc from the last rnd, 1 sc in the each remaining dc from the last rnd (total 99 sc) join with ss

RIBBING
Rnd 15: ch 3, 1 dc in the first sc from the last rnd, 1 dc in the each remaining dc from the last rnd (total 99 dc) join with ss

Rnd 16: ch 1, *1 dc in the FRONT POST of first dc from the last rnd, 1 dc in BACK POST of next dc from last rnd,* repeat pattern the each remaining dc from the last rnd (total 99 fp/bp) join with ss to top of first dc

Rnd 17-18: Repeat rnd 16, tie off, and weave in threads
Add pompom to top of hat.


CREATE A HANDCRAFTED POMPOM
 
http://rainbows2snowflakes.blogspot.com/2013/11/too-early-for-snow-not-this-type.html
Link to post with pompom tutorial
 

Hints and suggestions:

*I used DMC Cecelia cotton for the hat and merino for the pompom. Depending upon the age of your little one, they can help with creating the pompom for the hat by using the tutorial from an earlier post.
*When creating the ribbing, remember that each front post stitch belongs with another fp stitch; each back post stitch belongs with a bp stitch.
*For those of you (like me) that find endless steps tedious and somewhat confusing during the increasing rounds, I am adding a visual to assist with each round.

Rnd 1    Ià TOTAL 11
Rnd 2    Và TOTAL 22
Rnd 3    I Và TOTAL 33
Rnd 4    II Và TOTAL 44
Rnd 5    III Và TOTAL 55
Rnd 6    IIII Và TOTAL 66
Rnd 7    IIIII Và TOTAL 77
Rnd 8    IIIIII Và TOTAL 88
Rnd 9    IIIIIII Và TOTAL 99

Key: I equals 1 stitch in each stitch from previous round; V equals 2 stitches in each stitch from previous round
 
* Dolls by Berdine Creedy and Robert Tonner