Saturday, 26 May 2018

PREEMIE CAPS 14 : CUTE BIRDIE CAPS

free crochet pattern, free crochet beanie pattern, free crochet baby cap pattern, free crochet new born baby cap pattern, free crochet preemie baby cap pattern, free crochet turkey cap pattern, free crochet chick cap pattern, free crochet just hatched chick cap pattern, Oswal Cashmilon yarn,
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.

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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 and craft glue for sealing ends

For Indians : You could use Anchor , Red ros ; 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 :https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw
Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot :  https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs
What is a slip stitch : https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw
What is a crochet chain stitch ?  https://youtu.be/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
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 : here or here

Whipstitch to join : https://youtu.be/wZ-9LNzftMA
Single crochet to join : 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”. Please check the top of this blog for a sizing chart or the information below

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.

Magic circle : https://youtu.be/ISC39yOqWro 

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
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 free crochet pattern, free crochet beanie pattern, free crochet baby cap pattern, free crochet new born baby cap pattern, free crochet preemie baby cap pattern, free crochet turkey cap pattern, free crochet chick cap pattern, free crochet just hatched chick cap pattern, Oswal Cashmilon yarn,

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 go here

This is what I’ve done for the lil baby chick pattern. 

How can you resist this little chick with a bit of egg shell on its head??

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
free crochet pattern, free crochet beanie pattern, free crochet baby cap pattern, free crochet new born baby cap pattern, free crochet preemie baby cap pattern, free crochet turkey cap pattern, free crochet chick cap pattern, free crochet just hatched chick cap pattern, Oswal Cashmilon yarn,

This cute turkey cap is a free pattern from the stitching mommy here

With this pattern, I worked the pattern as given using my measurements (above) but the colours and ideas from the lovely free pattern.

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Have a great day and see you soon. 

Here are some of my other creations. 
































































































































































































































































































































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