Sweet Nothings Crochet: ROTARY CHARITY CAPS IV

crochet beanie, cute animal crochet beanies

ROTARY CHARITY CAPS IV

I am making these for a Charity Drive with Rotary India (Chembur) in conjunction with the Burns Clinic at Airoli, Navi Mumbai.

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These are not my patterns. All are free patterns that I’ve made and these are notes for Indians using locally available Indian yarns. Some of our yarns do not give the gauge required, so I have made notes as I make my projects.

Materials used : Today I’ve used our lovely Indian Oswal Cashmilon4-ply yarns with a 4 mm crochet hook ; fabric glue ; embroidery needle

For Indians : You could use Anchor , Red ros e or unbranded knitting cotton as well as Vardhaman acrylic yarns

General yarn info : The yarn used today is not specific to this pattern.

You can use any yarn with a suitable hook to make this project to any size.

International yarns : Among the international yarns I have used in this thickness, I’d suggest Aunt Lydia Cotton 10, Aunt Lydia Bamboo-Viscose 10, DMC Petra, Sullivans knitting cotton (Australia), Milford Soft, Hilaza Rustica Eclat , Alize cotton yarn and Alize bamboo yarn.

Stitches used :

Starting slip knot : Here’s how you start with a slip knot. https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw

Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : This is a neat new way to start your work without a slip knot. https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs

Foundation Single Crochet : fsc : To refresh your skill on the fsc, please view this video https://youtu.be/mcT85fwh4mA

Half Double Crochet : Hdc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk) ;

yo, draw through all 3 lps. One hdc made.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/sDiELJdB2Dg

Chainless start for Half Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 start, and this is what I do to start my row of hdc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/lWXpl1KdbZ8

What is a slip stitch : Here is a neat video tutorial at https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw

Double Crochet : dc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk);

[yo, draw through 2 lps] twice. One dc made.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/xdnjB27zpYo

Chainless start for Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of dc.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/wskv3iTjRx0

Here is a sizing chart for general head sizing :

https://in.pinterest.com/pin/470063279839058772/ OR

https://in.pinterest.com/pin/470063279837764548/

Abbreviations used : (Using U.S terminology)

lp(s) : Loop(s) sc : Single crochet

dc : Double crochet sp : Space

sl-st : Slip stitch ch : Chain

st(s) : Stitch(es) hk : Hook

yo : Yarn Over

Instructions using U.S terminology

Please note that I start all my rows with a ch 1, turning chain for ease.

Please check the top of this blog for easy video tutorials on all stitches used in today's pattern.

Please read through all my notes before you pick up your hook, so you know just where we're heading in our pattern.

I have used our Indian 4-ply acrylic for all the projects below, with either a 4 mm or a 3.5 mm crochet hook.

For head wear, I advise that you make the beret / beanie about an inch smaller than intended, keeping in mind the stretch of your yarn.

Check the head measurement charts at the top of this blog, and read the information below as well before you start working.

1. Hat circumference = measure around the head just above ears and subtract one inch for a nicely fitted finished hat.

2. Crown width = (this is a flat circular top of the hat) you need to divide hat circumference by 3.14 (pi).

3. Hat height = Head circumference / 10 x 4.

So you need to measure circumference of the head (round head measurement) and keep checking the outer circumference of your work.

There is another trick for measuring circumference (without running your measure tape all around the edge of your circle as you are working).

This works for a cap that you are working top down, from the crown of the head.

It works by dividing your round head measure by pi (3.14).

So say your head measurement is 22, divide 22 by 3.14 = 7.

Remember when calculating diameter, you must account for the stretch of your yarn too.

So once the ‘flat portion’ for the crown (or the first few rounds while you are still increasing) of your cap is 7” diameter, you can stop increases and start increasing just the length (without increasing stitches for the round)

Right then, back to the pattern sheet.

Cap # 1 – Cow hat

This cute free pattern is from the wonderful Sarah of http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2013/10/crochetcowhatpattern.html, who has the most exquisite collection of free crochet patterns!

I was inspired by this photograph

I worked this pattern for the 9-12 month size , using Indian Oswal 4ply yarn and a 4 mm crochet hook

Size : 6.7” (from crown to brim) ; Circumference 16” ;

For the eyes I worked a magic circle and 6 hdc in it. Pull it lightly closed and join with a sl-st to the 1^st hdc. As the designer had one button eye in white and black that look oh, so cute, I did one each too – and just to accentuate the centre of the eye, I put in a stitch with the opposite colour. (The designer has done that with the thread she’s used to hold the ‘eye’ button in place)

For the braids I cut about 6 strands each of black and white yarn ; divided them into two parts, and then twisted each part individually first. I then twisted them together with one another to get this super twisty braid. A knot at each end secures the twisty braid. This, as you may recall, is how we used to make hair braids when we were younger :)

You could, of course, do like Sarah has, and work a regular plait in either one or multiple colour too.

Cap # 2 - Polar bear hat

This free pattern was just too cute to miss. Get it at http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2013/12/crochetpolarbearhatpattern.

html and was inspired by this photograph

I worked this pattern for the Pre-schooler size, using Indian Oswal 4ply yarn and a 4 mm crochet hook

Size : 6.25” (from crown to brim) ; Circumference 16”

Cap # 3 – Penguin hat

This free pattern was just too cute to miss at inspired by this photograph

at http://www.thefriendlyredfox.com/2014/11/freepenguincrochethatpattern.html

For the nose, I used yellow our Indian Vardhaman Millennium, and I started with 8 fsc (as against 10 hdc) ; and I also could not work as many rows. It was working out too large and wide… so using the same idea, I just trimmed it a little faster.

So started with 8 fsc, (ii) worked 8 sc in the next row ; (iii) decreased to 6 sc ; (iv) decreased to 4 sc ; (v) decreased to 2 sc and (vi) decreased to 1 sc. I did not run a round of sc all around, though I wanted too.. because that too was making the nose too large.

Size : 6” (from crown to brim) ; Circumference 16”

Cap # 4 – Lamb Hat

I worked on this free pattern, http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2013/04/crochet-lamb-hat-pattern.html ; and was inspired by this photograph

I made the toddler / pre-schooler size using a 3.5 mm crochet hook and 4 ply Indian Oswal acrylic yarn

The pattern says repeat till Row 13, but I found it too wide and not as long at that row, so I’ve worked two more rows and worked till Row 15, working the same pattern as per designer all the way till the 15^th

For the ears : If you decide to start with fsc, then start with one stitch less for both the outer & inner ear.

So for this size, I started with 7 fsc for outer and 5 fsc for inner ear, and then worked pattern per designer.

For the eyes I worked a magic circle and 6 hdc in it. Pull it lightly closed and join with a sl-st to the 1^st hdc.

For the nose , I used a little bit of the black yarn to embroider in the little lines to mark a nose.

Size : 6.5” (from crown to brim) ; Circumference 18”

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I have a few pieces of headwear already made, and just in case you want a dekho at those free patterns … here you go