PREEMIE
CAPS 14
CUTE
BIRDIE CAPS
I
can see you are enjoying this series of donation caps as much as I am .. and I
am just starting out on the series ;)
I’ve
just finished sharing patterns for my angry bird series, and here are two more
cute bird caps.
Thank you for joining me.
In case you have just joined me, know that you can access all of my earlier creations by checking under ‘categories’ on the right hand side of this blog under “Labels”. Then, for your convenience, follow me here or on Facebook, You Tube, Pinterest, Twitter or Instagram.
Check out all my social media handles at the bottom of this blog
Oh, and may I add that the fastest way to find any of my blogs is via Pinterest.
All my blogs can be printed. Find the printer friendly (green) link at the bottom of this blog. You can also hit Control P (or Command P for Mac) on your keyboard, and the blog will go directly to the connected printer.
Remember that you only print if absolutely essential. Save paper – Save Our Earth.
Do remember to add my blog URL when you make and show off your creation.
Just copy the link on the search bar above - that's the blog URL.
To purchase this or similar yarn online, click here to buy your yarns online via Amazon. While you will still pay the same, I may get paid by Amazon as well.
This is a free blog - so do pay it forward for me. Cheers.
Materials used : Today I’ve used some of our lovely
Indian Oswal Cashmilon 4-ply acrylic yarns with a 3 mm crochet hook ; embroidery needle
For Indians : You could use Anchor , Red rose ; Red rose metallic or unbranded knitting cotton as well as Vardhaman acrylic yarns
Skill level : Easy to intermediate. Basic
sewing skills needed.
Abbreviations used :
ch
: chain ch-sp : chain space
sp
: space rep
: Repeat
fsc : Foundation single crochet
dc : Double crochet
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
Single Crochet : Sc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (2 lps on hk); yo, draw through both lps. One sc made. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/ghACqBpA-3k
First stitch for Single Crochet : This is how I like to start my row of sc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/6pVYRfsf4_M
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
Crab Stitch or Reverse Single Crochet stitch : Here’s an easy video tutorial at https://youtu.be/cG3crwyHPnk
Front post single crochet : fpsc : Post stitches are stitches worked around the post of a stitch on the row below. Here is an easy video tutorial for the fpsc at https://youtu.be/OQa8YLpkdXs
Back post single crochet : bpsc : Post stitches are stitches worked around the post of a stitch of the row below. Here is an easy video tutorial for the bpsc at https://youtu.be/L1K_MMLl-D4
How to seamlessly crochet in rounds : When working with head wear, this is a really neat way to seamlessly end each round. Here’s an easy video tutorial to show you how to this at https://youtu.be/ISBZK7Du7yE
Here is a sizing chart for general head sizing :
Whipstitch to join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the whipstitch at https://youtu.be/wZ-9LNzftMA
Invisible join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the embroidery needle and whipstitch to get an invisible join at https://youtu.be/a6XZQ6VzJFM
Single crochet to join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the single crochet at https://youtu.be/6FXoW_47_dI
Instructions using U.S terminology
Please note that I start all my rounds with a ch 1 turning chain for ease.
Please check the top of this blog for video tutorials of all the stitches used in today’s pattern.
Please note that I take a lot of trouble to give loads of tips through my pattern sheet, so please read through the full sheet before you pick up your hook n yarn.
I
am making preemie hats for donation and in the patterns below, I am using a
free inspiration pattern.
I
do not have the yarns specified by the designer most of the time – but what I
always do is keep my head sizing chart handy and then work the pattern as given
by the designer till the size I need. I
always start with the same number of stitches, using whatever yarn I have in hand,
in the color specified (if possible).
Then I keep tabs first on the circumference I need. For a preemie hat, you need a (maximum)
circumference of 12”. Once I get that
circumference, I stop increases and start working down for the length. I need a total length of (maximum) 4”.
Once
I have the basic hat/cap done, then embellishments need a little tweaking,
sometimes. The simplest way to tweak embellishments (nose, eyes etc) is to work
with a smaller hook. I also try to
tighten the stitches a little bit. The tightening not only makes the
embellishment smaller, but also allows it to hold shape without polyfill
filling (if that’s what’s asked by the designer). As I am donating to the NICU preemie baby
ward, I do not want to muck around with polyfill and possible allergens. I also prefer not to have ‘under-the-chin’
ties – so these are the two basic differences that you will see in my finished
projects.
So
what is my basic hat pattern for preemies ?
For
my preemie caps I have worked the pattern ensuring I have a total length of 4”
and a circumference of 12”.
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.
In
general the pattern I’ve used for my caps is as follows.
Start Round 1 : with a magic circle and 10 hdc in that circle.
Join with a sl-st to the 1st hdc.
(10)
Round 2 :
(Increase round ) :
2 hdc in the 1st hdc and in each hdc all around.
Join
with a sl-st to the 1st hdc. (20)
Round 3 :
(Increase round ) :
hdc in the 1st hdc ; 2 hdc in the next hdc ;
*hdc
in the next hdc ; 2 hdc in the next hdc* ;
rep
*to* all around.
Join
with a sl-st to the 1st hdc. (30)
Round 4 :
(Increase round ) :
hdc in the 1st 3 hdc ; 2 hdc in the next hdc ;
*hdc
in the next 3 hdc ; 2 hdc in the next hdc* ;
rep
*to* all around.
Join
with a sl-st to the 1st hdc. (36)
Check
that your hat circumference is about 12” for preemie.
Round 5 :
hdc in the 1st hdc and in each hdc all around.
Join
with a sl-st to the 1st hdc. (36)
Rep
Round 5 till you have a finished length of 4”.
Some
patterns directly have worked for me, so I have used the instructions given by
the individual designers. So come along
and let’s create some cute caps today.
1. Just-hatched baby chick cap
I
just love Sarah of Repeatcrafterme’s various patterns – and they’re all free. I’ve been inspired by many of her creations in
my projects.
Just
like I was, Leftinknots was also inspired by Sarah and has created this awesome
baby chick cap using the pattern from the snowman.
If
you are able to work it on your own, please visit http://repeatcrafterm.wpengine.com/2012/10/crochet-snowman-hat-pattern.html
This
is what I’ve done for the lil baby chick pattern.
Materials used : You need to have a little bit of yellow, white
, an orange or red for beak and black for eyes for this. I’ve used Oswal Cashmilon 4-ply acrylic yarn
with a 4mm crochet hook.
Skill level : Easy
For
the baby chick, the top bit of the cap has two parts – the white shelled bit
and then the little yellow chick.
So
for my baby chick, I followed Sarah’s Snowman hat pattern till Round 4 (36
sts). I then created the broken egg
pattern.
I’ve
been inspired by Sarah’s Crochet’ shark pattern (teeth) for this.
Triple Crochet : trc : wrap yarn twice around hook, insert hk into st ; yo (4 lps on hk); [yo, draw through 2 lps] three times. One trc made.
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/A0y4BbgDTbs
Next row :
(Using white / egg shell colour)
ch
4, 3 trc in the 4th ch from hk (on the ch-4 you just worked) ;
sk
next 2 sts, sl-st in the next st ;
*[ch
4, 3 trc in the 4th ch from hk] ;
sk next 2 sts, sl-st in the next
st* ;
rep *to* all around
and join with a sl-st to the 1st st.
Keep
a long tail to attach this white shell onto the yellow chick.
Now
I repeated the pattern all the way from start to end using the yellow (or
whatever colour you want for your chick) colour.
Once
done, with the little chick, I attached on the shell to the top.
For
the eyes, I worked 8 hdc into a magic circle and left a long tail to attach.
For
the little beak, I used the carrot idea from the Snowman pattern.
2.
Turkey cap
This
cute turkey cap is a free pattern from the stitching mommy at
With
this pattern, I worked the pattern as given using my measurements (above) but
the colours and ideas from the lovely free pattern.
If you're visiting me here for the first time, and have liked the experience, do add me to your mailing list (for your convenience) , and all my future free patterns will come straight to your mail box.
I’d appreciate if you could credit my blog (and link the original pattern link) when you make your own creation. Thanks.
Check out my awesome pins on Pinterest at https://in.pinterest.com/shyamanivas/
OR just my free patterns at https://in.pinterest.com/shyamanivas/free-patterns-made-by-me/
Join me on YouTube at http://youtube.com/shyamanivas
And on my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Sweet-Nothings-Crochet/ for more patterns.
Do follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/ShyamaNivas
Do follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sweetnothingscrochet/
Find me on Ravelry at ravelry.com/projects/shyamanivas/
Do also visit me at http://www.craftsy.com/user/2573073/pattern-store?_ct=cx-buvjdql&_ctp=my-pattern-store,manage
Have a great day and see you soon.
Here are some of my other creations.
