Sunday, 10 June 2018

PREEMIE CAPS 27 - TOM N JERRY CARTOON CHARACTER CAPS

Two awesomely cute preemie crochet caps showing Tom the cat and Jerry the mouse
As I was going through inspiration for my preemie crochet caps, how could I go through cartoon characters and not make this famous duo.  Here’s Tom ‘n Jerry crochet caps for you today.  Aren't they just totally adorable? 
Today I’ve used some of our lovely Indian Oswal Cashmilon 4-ply acrylic yarns with a 3 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 are easy patterns for even beginners of crochet with intermediate crochet skill levels. Thank you for joining me.

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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.
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 : Intermediate to 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
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
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.

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)

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. 

1.        Tom (cat) preemie cap
Tom the cat crochet cap
I did not find any patterns for Tom, so here are my notes on what I’ve done. 
I did find this paid pattern here, so do feel free to check it out.

What I’ve done is just use my basic preemie cap pattern in grey yarn. 
Here’s what I’ve done for the eyes and ears.

Nose “patch” :
Foundation Single Crochet : fsc : https://youtu.be/mcT85fwh4mA 
Start (using light grey) : with 7 fsc. Turn.

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
Row 1 : 2 sc in the 1st fsc ; sc in the next 2 fsc ; 2 sc in the last fsc.  Turn. (9)

Rows 2 - 11 : sc in the 1st sc and in each sc till end.  Turn. (9)

Single crochet 2-together : sc 2-tog :  

Insert hk into st, yo and pull up a lp (2 lps on hk) ; insert hk into next sc, yo and pull up a lp (3 lps on hk); yo and draw through all 3 lps.  One sc 2-tog complete.  Visit this video tutorial at https://youtu.be/whlsMemDHLc
Row 12 : sc 2-tog over the 1st 2 sc ; sc 2-tog over the last 2 sc.  (7)

Row 13 : sc 2-tog over the 1st 2 sc ; sc in the next 2 sc ;
 sc 2-tog over the last 2 sc.  (5)

Row 14 : sc 2-tog over the 1st 2 sc ; sc in the next sc ;
 sc 2-tog over the last 2 sc.  (3)
Fasten off and leave a long tail for attachment.

Eyes :
Part 1 : Make two
Start (using black) : with a magic circle and work 12 hdc into that circle.  
Pull together and join with a sl-st to the 1st st.
Fasten off and leave a tail for attachment

Part 2 : Make two
Start (using light yellow) : with 4 fsc.  Turn. (4)

Row 1 : 2 sc in the 1st fsc ; sc in the next 2 fsc ; 2 sc in the last fsc.  Turn. (6)

Rows 2 - 7 : sc in the 1st sc and in each sc till end.  Turn. (6)

Row 8 : sc 2-tog over the 1st 2 sc ; sc in the next 2 sc ; sc 2-tog over the last 2 sc.  (4)

Row 9 : sc 2-tog over the 1st 2 sc ; sc 2-tog over the last 2 sc.  (2)

Fasten off and leave a long tail for attachment.

Ears :
Here’s where this is interesting.  You can make two parts for your ear. The outer ear in grey and the inner ear in light pink and then sew these two parts together.  You will make two parts of grey and two parts of light pink, obviously – one for each side.
The pattern is the same.  Be creative.

Part 1 : Make two (sets)
Start Row 1 : (using grey or pink) : with a magic circle and work 3 hdc into that circle.  Turn.  Do not join.  (3)
We will work in rows all through.

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

Row 5 : 2 dc in the 1st dc ; dc in the next 2 dc ; hdc in the next 5 hdc ; 2 hdc in the last hdc.  Turn. (11)

Row 6 : hdc in the 1st 6 hdc ; dc in the next 3 sts ; dc 2-tog over in the last 2 dc.  Turn. (10)

Row 7 : dc in the 1st 4 sts ; hdc in the last 6 hdc.  Turn. (10)
Fasten off and leave a long tail for attachment.

Note : A neat way to finish and join the pink and grey triangles for each ear is to join them with sc through both parts just before you finish off with the grey yarn.  So hold pink and grey portions, and when finishing grey work a round of sc all around.  That said, this is not critical to the pattern – so go ahead and choose your finish.

Tom finishing :
1.  Keep a photo / picture of Tom handy to check placement.
2.  Nose patch : Place the light grey nose patch in the centre of the face. Pin and fasten down.
3.  Eyes : Put eye together. Place the black eye circle at the bottom of the yellow eye bit.
4.  Place the two eyes along the two edges of the nose patch. Pin and fasten down.
5.  Eyebrows : Using the embroidery needle and black yarn, embroider eyebrows on top of the eyes.
6.  Ears : If you have made one pair each of grey and pink, attach one grey and one pink together for each side.  Ensure that the curved sides match.  The curved sides are those that we have worked the dc along.
7.  Place ears on either side of head, pin and fasten down.
One cute lil Tom cat all ready to show off.

2.    Jerry (mouse) preemie cap
Jerry the mouse crochet cap
Once again, feel free to check out this paid pattern here

What I’ve done is just use my basic preemie cap pattern. 
I’ve worked the same pattern for the eyes as Tom’s eyes.  I just used white and black (so instead of yellow for Tom, used white for Jerry).
Jerry has no nose patch.
For the ears, I tweaked Tom’s ears a bit.

Ears Part 1 : Make two (sets)
Start Row 1 : (using brown or pink) : with a magic circle and work 5 hdc into that circle.  Turn.  Do not join.  (5)
We will work in rows all through.

Row 2 : 3 hdc in the 1st hdc ; hdc in the next 3 hdc ; 2 hdc in the last hdc.  Turn. (8)

Row 3 : 2 dc in the 1st st ; dc in the next st ; hdc in the next 4 hdc ; 2 dc in the last 2 hdc.  Turn. (11)

Row 4 : 2 dc in the 1st dc ; dc in the next 3 sts ; hdc in the last 7 hdc.  Turn. (12)

Row 5 : hdc in the 1st 8 sts ; dc in the next 2 dc ; 2 dc in the last 2 dc.  Turn. (14)

Row 6 : 2 dc in the 1st 2 sts ; dc in the next 4 sts ; hdc in the next 6 sts ; sc 2-tog over the last 2 sts.  Turn. (15)

Row 7 : sc 2-tog over the 1st 2 sts ; hdc in the next 6 hdc ; dc in the next 4 sts ; 2 dc in the last 3 dc.  Turn. (16)
Fasten off and leave a long tail for attachment.

Note : A neat way to finish and join the pink and grey triangles for each ear is to join them with sc through both parts just before you finish off with the grey yarn.  So hold pink and grey portions, and when finishing grey work a round of sc all around.  That said, this is not critical to the pattern – so go ahead and choose your finish.

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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