Monday, 4 June 2018

PREEMIE CAPS 22 - BUBBLES POWER PUFF GIRL CAP

The Bubbles Power Puff girl preemie baby cap all done
If you’ve been following me, you’ll know I’ve been on a crochet preemie baby cap making spree.  This has taken on a momentum of it’s own now – and I have friends chipping in with ideas and donations too and this friend wanted me to make the Power Puff girls - so this is the one where we make Bubbles.  Remember to click on the link given below to get to Blossom and Buttercup too.  This is an intermediate crochet skill level project and there are crochet video tutorials for all stitches needed so come along and lets work on this together.   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.  Thank you for joining me.

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This is the third and the last of this series of Power Puff girls – so here comes Bubbles.  In case you missed the earlier ones from this series, check the side of this blog for “Labels” and check under “crochet beanies” or “crochet headwear” patterns for lots of fun patterns.
The three Power Puff girls all done
Materials used : Today I’ve used some of our lovely Indian Oswal 4-ply yarn  with a 4 mm crochet hook ; embroidery needle
You could use cotton as well – I just had acrylic ready in all the colours I wanted, so went with this selection.
Materials used : Today I’ve used some of our lovely Indian  acrylic yarn with a 3 mm crochet hook ; a little embroidery thread ; embroidery needle fabric glue to seal ends ; crochet stitch markers ; poly-fill stuffing ; stocking net ; beads n   more ; satin ribbon
For Indians You could use Anchor , Red rose , Vardhaman  4-ply knitting cotton , or unbranded knitting cotton or White Rose or bamboo knitting cotton , Milk cotton ; Silk yarns as well as   ; 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
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
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 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. 
If you are making this for a bigger child, you could use dc.  I am working in hdc as I feel dc for a hat this tiny will have too many ‘holes’ (be too lacy) and not really provide warmth.

In general the pattern I’ve used for my caps is as follows.
Using this general idea, you can make it to any size using any yarn with a suitable hook.

Basic cap pattern :
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 : 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)

If you are making this for an older child, please continue with increase rounds till you have the head circumference needed. 
How do you check head circumference? You measure all around the round you’ve made and confirm sizing against the handy chart given at the top of this blog.
If working for a preemie, please follow on with me.

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”.
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.

For the three girls, what I plan on doing is working the ‘face’ in skin colour, and then working a cap of hair using the same pattern in black.  We will then attach the hair cap onto the ‘face’.  We will finally add on the eyes and mouth and we’ll have a cute little hat.

So first let’s go ahead and make the basic ‘face’ with the pattern above and then join me for the rest of the additions.

Today we’ll make a Bubbles Power Puff girl inspired cap.
Bubbles, the Power Puff girl all done
Hair
Work Rounds 1 - 5 as we did for Blossom, using yellow yarn.

Now place markers like we did for Blossom.
Row 6 : hdc in the 1st marker and in each hdc all around till the next marker.
Fasten off and leave a tail for attachment.

Eyes : Make like we did for Blossom.
When you place the white of eyes over black, look at Bubble’ picture - place it slightly off-centre. Bubbles eyes are white, black with a line of blue all around (not pink like Blossom)

If you want a slightly wider bit of blue then here’s what I’ve done in the final round.
Round 4 : (using blue yarn) sc in the 1st 3 hdc ;
sc + hdc in the next hdc ; 2 hdc in the next hdc ;
hdc + dc in the next hdc ; 2 dc in the next hdc ;
dc + hdc in the next hdc ; 2 hdc in the next hdc ;
hdc + sc in the next hdc ; sc in each hdc till end.
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. 

Pony tail :
Make four pieces.  We will attach 2 pieces together to make one ponytail.

Foundation Single Crochet : fsc : https://youtu.be/mcT85fwh4mA 
Start Row 1 : (using yellow yarn) with 3 fsc. Turn.  (3)

Row 2 : 2 hdc in the 1st fsc ; hdc in the next fsc ; 2 hdc in the last fsc. Turn.  (5)

Row 3 : 2 hdc in the 1st hdc ; hdc in the next 3 hdc ;
2 hdc in the last hdc. Turn.  (7)

Row 4 : 2 hdc in the 1st hdc ; hdc in the next 5 hdc ;
2 hdc in the last hdc. Turn.  (9)

Rows 5 - 8 : hdc in the 1st hdc, and in each hdc till the end. Turn.  (8)

Half double crochet 2-tog : hdc 2-tog : [yo, insert hk in st or ch-sp, yo and pull up a lp] (3 lps on hk) ; insert hk in st or ch-sp, yo and pull up a lp (4 lps on hk) ; yo, draw through all 4 lps on hk.  One hdc 2-tog made.

Check the video tutorial at https://youtu.be/jdaXTr7Lcig
Row 9 : hdc 2-tog over the 1st 2 hdc, hdc in the next 5 hdc ;
hdc 2-tog over the last 2 hdc. Turn.  (7)

Row 10 : hdc 2-tog over the 1st 2 hdc, hdc in the next 3 hdc ;
hdc 2-tog over the last 2 hdc. Turn.  (5)

Row 11 : hdc 2-tog over the 1st 2 hdc ; hdc in the next hdc ;
hdc 2-tog over the last 2 hdc. Turn.  (3)

Row 12 : sc 3-tog over all 3 hdc. 
Fasten off and leave a tail to attach pony tail onto side of head cap.

Attachment :
In Bubble’s case, we will first place the eyes and then attach the hair. 
1.  Hair : Place the hair onto the top of ‘face’ cap.
2.  Pin but do not attach the hair on as yet.
3.  Eye : Place the white part of eye over the black/blue edged one and sew together. 
4.  Place the eyes at a slight angle over the “face” of your cap, pin it down and neatly sew up. Ensure that you have placed both eyes before you sew down.  Ensure that the top of the eyes goes under the hair.
5.  Hair : Attach the hair on , with it ‘falling’ over the eyes.
6.  Mouth : Embroider a small mouth using black yarn.
7.  Hair bow : Place the bow on the top centre (of crown of cap) and neatly pin down.  Sew securely. Weave in and glue down ends.

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. 
































































































































































































































































































































1 comment:

Thanks for taking the time to stop by. Do tell me what you think. Cheers