Monday 23 January 2017

SIS ‘N ME BEANIES

sis n me beanies
SIS ‘N ME BEANIES
( #Blogaday 23/365 )

I have a really good friend who’s off to the UK shortly and as she’s visiting her son and 3 grand daughters and one grandson, I thought this would be the ideal gift for the young ladies of that family.

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Materials used : Today I’ve used our lovely Indian Oswal Cashmilon 4-ply yarn and Indian ICE Batik acrylic 4-ply yarn with a 4 mm crochet hook
You also need fabric glue ; embroidery needle 

In general : Use any yarn with a suitable hook to make these projects. 
For Indians : You can use Red Rose knitting cotton or Red Rose metallic cotton as well as Vardhaman acrylic yarns

International yarns :  Among the international yarns I have used , 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.


Abbreviations used :
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

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

What is a chain stitch ? Here is an easy video tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXx5ukBjKkY

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

Magic circle : To refresh your skill, please view this easy video https://youtu.be/ISC39yOqWro

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

Abbreviations used :
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.
In my patterns I work with the principle of stitch count and body measurement.  This means that you need to work the stitch count in pattern, till you get the measurement (length and/or width) that you need for your project. 

In keeping with the new trending article in headwear, I thought the young ladies should get the trendy pony tail or Messy Bun cap.  Come along and let’s see what we have here.

1.       Shelled toddler Pony tail cap for Sarah

sis n me beanies


This cap is also called the Messy Bun cap, but with a little baby girl, I thought the words “Pony Tail Cap” worked better – and if I am not mistaken, this was the earlier messy bun cap anyway.. this is just the new trending thing, so one seems to have forgotten pony tails and the caps to ease their sticking out at the top of the head ! J

I am going to make a few pieces of headwear, and I thought I’d go through a range of freebie patterns, testing them for and with Indian locally available yarns.
For my first pattern, I have used the brilliant free pattern from Sarah of RepeatCrafterMe at http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2016/12/crochet-mommy-and-me-messy-bun-hats.html


Do check her blog for an awesome range of other free crochet stuff as well.

For this pattern, I’ve used a combination of Oswal Cashmilon 4-ply acrylic in white, and Indian ICE Batik 4-ply acrylic yarn in shaded pink with a 4 mm crochet hook. 

I’ve used the pattern as written and achieved a size of 5.5” length from crown to forehead and a circumference of 17” which is perfect for the 3 yr old toddler I’m making this for.


2.     Shelled toddler Pony tail cap for Sriya 

sis n me beanies

sis n me beanies

This second cap is also a Pony Tail cap, and I’ve taken an existing pattern from Bethany of Whistle & Ivy and have tweaked it a bit to get this cap.

For my second pattern, I have used the brilliant free pattern at http://www.whistleandivy.com/2015/09/diagonal-hatch-slouchy-hat.html


I’ve made this for a 9 yr old child, so as per the chart above, I have worked it to the dimensions given there.
For this pattern too I’ve used the same combination of yarns I used for the first project and a 4 mm crochet hook.

Small changes I made as the original pattern is intended for an adult sized cap.

I started with 6 fsc and worked an sc-blo (single crochet back loop only) in each fsc back and forth.  I then worked sc-blo in each sc making this little band till it was about 18”, which is the circumference I needed for my 9 yr old child cap.  I then joined the two sides of this band, and started working the linen stitch for the body of the cap.
For my child cap length, I need about 6”, so including the width of the band, I worked the body pattern till I had about 5” as I am making a pony tail cap, and that means at least 1-1.5” off the top of the head should work.
I finally followed the instructions for the sl-st pattern all the way diagonally across the cap.  To get the diagonal accent, I have used the brighter pink (also Indian Oswal Cashmilon with the 4 mm crochet hook)

sis n me beanies

sis n me beanies

sis n me beanies


The stitch used for the body of this cap is the Linen stitch which I have used in my http://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2016/12/strawberry-n-cream-reversible-linen.html. Just for a difference, I’ve alternated with the white and variegated yarns every 2 rows, and then for the accent used the brighter pink.

Finishing ideas
For this beanie especially, we need to bring the cylinder like top to a close.  Now if we’re making a regular cap, you just pass a needle through that top bit and cinch it close.  In this case, what I’ve decided to do is get a small elastic band, and attach that to the top of the crown opening, to get it cinched close, but still leave a small gap where the pony tail or bun can peep out of.  I think this is also a great idea for all other caps that do not have this finish – i.e for Caps 1 above and the Shelled cap below, which have been started from the crown.  I feel that using the elastic around the top will give it a close finish and will still allow a good stretch around the pony tail.  Try it out and let me know how that works for you.

Have fun creating something beautiful and hope the recipient loves it too.

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Have a great day and see you soon

Here are some of my other headwear creations.  Have fun with these patterns too