Sweet Nothings Crochet: PREEMIE CAPS 17 : THANKSGIVING INSPIRED CAPS

Tuesday 29 May 2018

PREEMIE CAPS 17 : THANKSGIVING INSPIRED CAPS

6 crochet preemie baby caps - free crochet patterns from Sweet Nothings Crochet

PREEMIE CAPS 17

THANKSGIVING INSPIRED CAPS

Thank you for joining me today as we make some Thanksgiving inspired caps. There are Christmas caps and Easter bunny caps – so I thought let’s make this set too. 😀

Today we’ll create four different pumpkin inspired caps, one apple cap, and one candy corn cap.

Look for my turkey new born baby cap in my blog write up for Preemie Caps 14 (Cute birdie caps) to complete this Thanksgiving series.

These caps have been made for and donated recently over three charities in Australia. As I was making them for newborns and preemies, I have adapted the pattern to suit my needs a bit. You can use any yarn with a suitable hook to make this to any size.

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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 ; a light metal headband ; embroidery needle

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

Skill level : Easy to intermediate. Basic sewing skills needed.

Abbreviations used : Using U.S. terminology

ch : chain ch-sp : chain space

sp : space rep : Repeat

fsc : Foundation single crochet

dc : Double crochet

Stitches used : Using U.S. terminology

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 chain stitch ? 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

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 : https://youtu.be/ISBZK7Du7yE

Here is a sizing chart for general head sizing :

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

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

Whipstitch to join : https://youtu.be/wZ-9LNzftMA

Invisible join : https://youtu.be/a6XZQ6VzJFM

Single crochet to join : https://youtu.be/6FXoW_47_dI

Instructions using U.S terminology

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.

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.

I have worked in hdc all through for all my preemie caps.

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 1^st hdc. (10)

Round 2 : (Increase round ) :

2 hdc in the 1^st hdc and in each hdc all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1^st hdc. (20)

Round 3 : (Increase round ) :

hdc in the 1^st 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 1^st hdc. (30)

Round 4 : (Increase round ) :

hdc in the 1^st 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 1^st hdc. (36)

Check that your hat circumference is about 12” for preemie.

Round 5 : hdc in the 1^st hdc and in each hdc all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1^st hdc. (36)

Rep Round 5 till you have a finished length of 4”.

After making all these caps, I found that 36 hdc give me the circumference I need and then I work without any increase till I have about 4 – 4.25” for my preemie babies.

Below are the inspiration blogs / pattern links. What I did was check to see if the pattern link works for me (using my yarn and hook) – if it did not, then I worked my pattern above and them embellished as instructed.

With the embellishments too, if I had to reduce size (as my cap is so tiny), then I reduced my hook size and/or tightened my stitch. I have also opted not to use any poly fill stuffing (as these are for preemies) – but found that tightening the stitch did hold the part up quite well. Hope this works for you too.

Turkey & Candy Corn crochet preemie baby caps - free crochet patterns from Sweet Nothings Crochet

The turkey cap is in an earlier blog as mentioned before.

1. Cute apple cap

Cute apple crochet preemie baby cap - free crochet patterns from Sweet Nothings Crochet

An apple a day.. and all that cuteness ;) Get this free pattern at https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/red-apple-crochet-baby-hat or http://www.lakeviewcottagekids.com/2014/04/red-apple-crochet-baby-hat-free-pattern.html

Materials used : Oswal Cashmilon 4-ply acrylic yarn with a 3.5 mm & 4mm crochet hook

Skill level : Easy

For this cap, I worked per pattern till Round 3 (36 sts) and worked in hdc all through. I worked the leaf pattern (using a 3.5mm crochet hook) as given and it worked right.

And now let's make four cute pumpkin inspired caps..

4 pumpkin crochet preemie baby caps - free crochet patterns from Sweet Nothings Crochet

2. Pumpkin cap

First pumpkin crochet preemie baby cap - free crochet patterns from Sweet Nothings Crochet

I thought thanksgiving needed a special preemie baby cap page.

Get this free pattern at https://www.allfreecrochet.com/Baby-Hats/Pumpkin-Crochet-Preemie-Hat

Materials used : Oswal Cashmilon 4-ply acrylic yarn with a 3.5 mm & 4mm crochet hook

Skill level : Easy

For this cap , I worked per pattern all the way to the end, but worked in hdc all through. The only difference is that I ensured I got the length I needed using my yarn and hook.

3. Puff stitch pumpkin cap

puff stitch pumpkin crochet preemie baby cap - free crochet pattern from Sweet Nothings Crochet

This pattern uses puff stitches and gives you a soft light finish. It has a few holes all around, so probably not the best if you are looking for full head warmth.

Get this free pattern at https://www.thestitchinmommy.com/2012/09/pumpkin-hat.html

Materials used : Oswal Cashmilon 4-ply acrylic yarn with a 3.5 mm & 4mm crochet hook

Skill level : Easy

There is a small typo in Round 5 (Puff stitch round). You work a puff stitch and then ch-1 and sk the next st. This will still give you the stitch count of 20 sts, but will also give you ch-sps all around. You will work your next puff st (Round 6 and all other rounds as instructed) in these ch-1 sps.

I worked the pattern till I was a little short of 4” which is the length I need for my preemie cap. I then worked 2 rows hdc to make up the length I needed.

4. Pumpkin cap

3rd pumpkin crochet preemie baby cap - free crochet pattern from Sweet Nothings Crochet

This pattern is very similar to the earlier one (#2) just that the start stitch number differs. It’s a really cute pattern. Get this free pattern at

https://www.allfreecrochet.com/Baby-Hats/Pumpkin-Crochet-Preemie-Hat

5. Pumpkin cap

4th pumpkin crochet preemie baby cap - free crochet pattern from Sweet Nothings Crochet

This is a nice neat pattern worked in hdc and in back loops all through.

Get this free pattern at https://www.favecrafts.com/Crochet-Baby-Hats/Baby-Pumpkin-Crochet-Beanie

6. Candy corn cap

Candy corn crochet preemie baby cap - free crochet pattern from Sweet Nothings Crochet

This pattern uses puff stitches and gives you a soft light finish. It has a few holes all around, so probably not the best if you are looking for full head warmth.

Get this free pattern at http://eyeloveknots.blogspot.in/2014/10/crochet-newborn-candy-corn-hat-free.html

Materials used : Oswal Cashmilon 4-ply acrylic yarn with a 3.5 mm & 4mm crochet hook

Skill level : Easy

This pattern has a pointed top, so start with the same number of stitches as instructed, but if making a different size or using a different yarn, then just work it to the circumference you need first, and then extend it to the length needed.

I’ve had such fun creating these lovely hats here and I hope you have enjoyed it too.

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