Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Preemie Girls Baby Hat Free Crochet Pattern


Today I have a new preemie baby hat pattern to share. But before I get to the pattern, I want to share the story that inspired me to create these tiny preemie hats.





One of the customers from my Etsy shop bought all the preemie baby hat patterns that I have (shown on the photo below). She left me a note sharing that when her daughter was born she was quite small, but this Christmas she will turn twenty-one. 

So Janet is going to make twenty-one preemie hats, and on the Christmas Eve day, she will take them to the neonatal ward at the hospital where her daughter was born. 

I was touched by Janet's kindness and I also felt honored that she will be using my patterns. 






While there are lots of free or paid baby hat patterns on the web, there are not that many patterns for premature babies. I hope my pattern will be useful and will inspire crocheters for acts of kindness just like Janet's. 







For these hats I used Handicrafter crochet thread by Bernat. At the moment, it's my favorite thread to work with for baby and kids items. It's an acrylic thread that gives a soft and stretchy texture.  



Olga Poltava © March, 2016

This pattern may not be redistributed in any form. But you are welcome to make items for personal use, for charity, or for sale. 


Size: preemie

Measurements: about 12 inches in circumference (plus stretch) and 4 inches in height


Skill Level: Beginner

Materials:

1.75 mm steel hook


100% acrylic crochet thread size 5 (Handicrafter by Bernat)

Amount needed: about 100 yards


Premade satin ribbon flowers (optional)


Gauge: first 4 rounds = 2.5 inches in diameter


Abbreviations:

ch: chain

sl st: slip stitch

dc: double crochet

V-st: (dc, ch 1, dc) all in same space

* * Instructions between asterisks should be repeated as many times as there are stitches to accommodate them or as many times as stated.


Ch 5, join in ring with sl st.

Round 1: ch 4 (counts as 1st dc and ch 1), *dc in ring, ch 1* 11 times; join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch-4. (12 dc)

Round 2: sl st in next ch-1 space, ch 4, dc in same ch-1 space (counts as 1st V-st), V-st in each ch-1 space around; join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch-3. (12 V-st)

Round 3: sl st in next ch-1 space, ch 4, dc in same ch-1 space (counts as 1st V-st), ch 1, *V-st in next V-st, ch 1* around; join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch-4. (12 V-st)

Round 4: sl st in next ch-1 space, ch 4, dc in same ch-1 space (counts as 1st V-st), V-st in next ch-1 space, *V-st in next V-st, V-st in next ch-1 space* around; join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch-4. (24 V-st)

Round 5: sl st in next ch-1 space, ch 4, dc in same ch-1 space (counts as 1st V-st), V-st in each V-st around. (24 V-st)
Round 6: same as Round 3. (24 V-st)

Repeat Round 6 until the hat measures 4 inches in height.

Last Round: sl st in next ch-1 space, ch 3, 2 dc in same ch-1 space, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), 3 dc in same ch-1 space, *(3 dc, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, 3 dc) all in next V-st* around; join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch-3. (24 shells)

Fasten off.

Decorate the hat with premade satin ribbon flowers (optional). 



Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Shells and Roses Cloche Hat



I guess I now entered a summer hat making phase! Or should I say summer hat making frenzy?

With so many flowers blooming around here in California, I have tons of ideas. And I have tons of crochet thread too!



For this hat, just like for the previous one, I used Handicrafter by Bernat. This 100% acrylic thread is perfect for summer crochet projects. The finished items have a light and stretchy texture. 

I have a lot of Handicrfater thread in my stash, so there will be more crochet hats coming.  


This pattern is available in my Etsy and Craftsy shops.


I'm linking this post to
Linky Ladies Community Link Party @ Pattern Paradise 

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Simple Mesh and Irish Rose Crochet Hats for Little Girls


Here in California summer is just around the corner! The weather is warm and sunny, and roses begin to bloom. 

And here are Irish roses "blooming" on girls hats! 


The hat itself is very simple. It's made in a basic crochet mesh technique. It is decorated with a rose and two leaves, which are made in the Irish crochet technique. Nothing new really. 

And yet I fell like I've created something quite precious and unique. That's the beauty of the crochet art. There are endless ways to create new and exciting things using the old and time-tried techniques.


The hat is made using a steel hook size 1.75 mm and 100% acrylic crochet thread size 5 (I used Handicrafter by Bernat). Cotton crochet thread would work too, though acrylic would give you a softer texture.

The pattern is available in two sizes: 1-2 years old and 3-5 years old.





The pattern is very detailed and easy to follow. It's available in my Etsy and Craftsy Shops. 



Thursday, March 10, 2016

Crochet Shamrock Leaf Pin



Saint's Patrick's Day is actually my friend's birthday! So I made her a little something - a shamrock leaf pin. The pattern is quite simple. 


Ch 5, join in ring with sl st.

 Round 1: *sc in ring, ch 7, sl st in sc* four times, join with sl st to 1st sc.



Round 2: *sl st in next ch-7 space, in this ch-7 space makes the following: ch 1, sc, hdc, 4 dc, ch 1, hdc, ch 1, 4 dc, hdc, sc* four times; join with sl st to 1st petal.



Ch 8, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch; join with sl st. 


Fasten off, weave in ends.


Block if needed. Attach a pin to the wrong side. 

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Lace Puffs Crochet Prayer Shawl





I finished this shawl over a month ago, but it took me a while to add the fringe (that's such a tedious job), to photograph the finished shawl, and to put the pattern together. 

But now it's finished! I love that feeling of accomplishment when I finish a big project!


 I used Caron Simply Soft Party yarn (category 4) and a size G/6 (4.25 mm) hook. The open lace stitch with puffs works very quickly. 

The gauge in this pattern is not important, so other types of yarn would work too. 

The finished size of this shawl is approximately 74 inches wide and 34 inches long (not including the fringe).




I wrote a very detailed pattern and included close-up photos on how to start this shawl. I think even a beginner crocheter would be able to finish this project.

The pattern is available in my Etsy and Craftsy shops.

I'm linking this post to
Link Your Stuff @ Annamarie's Haakblog