Sweet Nothings Crochet: PREEMIE CAPS 24

The Doraemon & Snoopy dog preemie crochet caps

Hi again and thank you for joining me in our fun creativity session today as we work on some really cute crochet preemie baby character caps. Continuing with our character caps, here are Doraemon and Snoopy the oh, so cute and happy dog.

These are intermediate crochet skill level and there are crochet video tutorials for all stitches needed so come along and let's 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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Oh as you know I've been donating these caps for a cause, and this set was divided between the Gold Coast Hospital Charity and Redlands Hospital Charity, Cleveland.

the staff at the Gold Coast hospital charity that I donated caps to

the Gold Coast hospital charity that enjoyed the caps I donated

The Redlands hospital charity that I donated caps to

Gold Coast Hospital Charity & Redlands Hospital Charity, Cleveland

Materials used : Today I’ve used some of our lovely Indian Oswal Cashmilon 4-ply acrylic yarns with a 4 mm crochet hook

You could use cotton as well – I just had acrylic ready in all the colours I wanted, so went with this selection.

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

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 – 5.5” and a circumference of 11 - 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.

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

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 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.

1. Doraemon preemie cap

This is a popular cartoon character and here’s the free pattern link here

As always, make the cap to the size you want and then try to adjust the facial features to match. I have started with 12 hdc and worked the whole white face patch in hdc. I made the increases as given and it worked great.

2. Snoopy preemie cap

If you’re wondering why you can’t see all of Snoopy.. he’s looking at the sky and doing a bit of a jig and this is what you then see ;)

And as usual, the wonderful Sarah has a freebie for this..

Check out the pattern here

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

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Have a great day and see you soon.

Here are some of my other creations.

https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2020/04/easy-slim-seeded-headband.html

https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2020/04/easy-slim-crossed-headband.html