Friday, 1 June 2018

PREEMIE CAPS 19 - MINION CAPS

Five lovely minion-inspired preemie crochet caps
This is my 19th blog on the preemie crochet caps that I’ve recently donated over three charities in Australia.  I started, as you know, with the idea of donating 50 caps, and ended up donating 200 caps.  This lot of minion caps were distributed between the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation and Redlands Hospital Charities, Cleveland.  Today I’ve used some of our lovely Indian Oswal Cashmilon 4-ply acrylic yarns with a 4 mm crochet hook but this yarn is not specific for the project.  Use any yarn with a suitable hook to create your own project.  These minion caps are an intermediate crochet skill level but there are video tutorials for all stitches needed so come along and try them out. This is also a great way to learn to work with multiple colors of yarn. This set of minion caps are a request from a friend, who has sponsored the yarn.  If you’ve been following me, you’ll know that I’ve been having a load of fun creating all kinds of character caps. Thank you for joining me. 
caps donated to the Redlands Hospital charitythe staff at Redlands charity wowing the capPreemie cap 10 - minion caps
Redlands Hospital Charity, Cleveland & Gold Coast Hospital Foundation  

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Materials used : Today I’ve used some of our lovely Indian Oswal Cashmilon 4-ply acrylic yarns with a 4 mm crochet hook ; a light metal headbandembroidery needle
For Indians You could use Anchor , Red rose , 4-ply knitting cotton , or unbranded knitting cotton or White Rose or bamboo knitting cotton , Milk cotton ; Silk yarns as well as  Oswal 4-ply yarn ; Baby soft acrylic yarn , Ganga Spectrum as well
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 , Lily Sugar n' Cream cotton yarn, Caron Simply Soft , Bernat Softee chunky.
Skill level : Advanced.

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 chain stitch ?  https://youtu.be/pXx5ukBjKkY
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
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 between 4” – 5.5” and a circumference of about 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 minion preemie cap is as follows.
In case you are making this for any other size, check the links just after these preemie cap instructions.

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 :  https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw

Start Round 1 : (using yellow) : with a magic circle and 10 hdc in that circle.
Join with a sl-st to the 1st hdc. (10)

Round 2 : (using yellow) : (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 : (using yellow) : (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 : (using yellow) : (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.

Rounds 5 - 8 : (using yellow) :
hdc in the 1st hdc and in each hdc all around.
Join with a sl-st to the 1st hdc. (36)

Rounds 9 - 10 : (using black) :
hdc in the 1st hdc and in each hdc all around.
Join with a sl-st to the 1st hdc. (36)

Rounds 11 - 16 : (using yellow) :
hdc in the 1st hdc and in each hdc all around.
Join with a sl-st to the 1st hdc. (36)

Round 17 : (using yellow) :
Crab stitch in the 1st hdc and in each hdc all around.
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. (36)

Crab Stitch or Reverse Single Crochet stitch :  https://youtu.be/cG3crwyHPnk

And now for Minion ideas
the one-eyed spectacled minion capthe two eyed spectacled smiling minion capthe two eyed spectacled astonished minion cap
If making a girl minion, try some nice ‘girly’ colour for this last round – a nice pink, lavender will work great.
the two eyed girl minion cap with a pink bow in her hairthe one eyed spectacled girl minion with purple bow in her hair
Eyes :
Part 1 :
Make two of each part.
Start Round 1 : (using black yarn) with a magic circle and 6 hdc. 
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st.
Fasten off and leave a long tail to attach.

Part 2 :
Start Round 1 : (using white yarn) with a magic circle and 6 hdc. 
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

Round 2 : (using white yarn) 
2 hdc in the 1st hdc and in each hdc all around. 
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. 

Round 3 : (using white yarn) 
2 hdc in the 1st hdc ; hdc in the next hdc ;
*2 hdc in the next hdc, hdc in the next hdc* ;
rep *to* all around. 
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. 
Attach grey yarn.  Fasten off white yarn.

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

Round 4 : (using grey yarn) 
2 sc in the 1st hdc ; sc in the next 2 hdc ;
*2 sc in the next hdc, sc in the next 2 hdc* ;
rep *to* all around. 
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. 

Round 5 : (using grey yarn) 
sl-st in the 1st sc and in each sc all around. 
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. 
Note : In some of the photos there is a bit of yellow around the top n bottom of eyes – I just embroidered that in with yellow yarn.

For mouth : I looked at the pictures of minions online and just used a few inspirations.  Basically embroider the mouth in. 
For a semicircle open mouth, 6 hdc in a magic circle that is not pulled tight worked for me.  Of course, you can also just embroider it in.

For hair :
For the girls : I did what we usually do for tassels : Roll a bit of yarn around my fingers, and then join them up neatly either at the top of the head or two on the sides for two lil pig tails.
For the boy : I added a little fluff of hair on top of one of them, and for this (a bit more painful than tassels L ), I individually added each bit of hair.  So basically knot under work, and a small piece of yarn that just sticks out of it.  You need to ensure that that knot is really well done, else your lil minion will slowly go bald ;)

I found this and this link for minion caps.. one of them is a paid pattern.  Enjoy.
I’ve had such fun creating these lovely hats here and I hope you have enjoyed it too.

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Here are some of my other creations. 
































































































































































































































































































































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