Klutz Crochet Hat

Here are some directions to make a quick and easy crochet hat, thanks to Klutz! I find that the Klutz crochet and knitting books are hard to come by, but they are so helpful in teaching you a basis. This hat is so easy that I made on my way to the airport before my trip to Vietnam! And then realized I was doing something wrong and had to take it out and start over. Nonetheless, it still worked and my friend had a semi-weird shaped hat by the time we said goodbye. When I have used this pattern other times, it has come out perfect and looks great. Adorn it with some embellishments or flowers and you have yourself a super cute, stylish hat! 

Hat:

1. Start by making a chain of 4 stitches. Join the ends by making a slip stitch in the first stitch
2. Chain 3
3. Make 9 double crochets right into the center of the ring while weaving the end of the yarn into the ring (so you won’t have to sew it in later).
4. Use a stitch marker to mark the stitch that is currently on your hook (9^th dc)
5. Make 2 double crochets right into the space between the first string of chains and the first double crochet
6. Now make 2 double crochets in the next stitch and every stitch around. Stop when you get to the stitch marker
7. Move your marker to the loop on your hook and then repeat these stitches all the way around: *1 dc in the next stitch, 2 dc in the following stitch** There should be 30 stitches
8. Move marker to the loop on the hook and start the 4^th round. Follow this pattern: *1 dc in the next 2 stitches, 2 dc in the following stitch** There should be 40 stitches total
9. Move marker to the loop on your hook and start the 5^th round: *1 dc in next 3 stitches, 2 dc in following stitch** Total of 50 stitches
10. Move marker to the loop on your hook and start the last round (last round of increases, yippee!): *1 dc in next 4 stitches, 2 dc in the following stitch** Total of 60 stitches
11. Move your marker down a row so it is out of the way bit still marks the end of a round. DC in every stitch around now until you get to the right length. You can stop a ½ inch before and end the hat with a girly scallop edging.

Scalloped Edge:

1. If you want the trim to be a different color, then add the new yarn now. Make a SC in the next stitch
2. Skip a stitch then make 5 dc in the next one
3. Repeat this sequence all the way around: *skip a stitch, make a sc in the next one, skip a stitch, make 5 dc in the next one**
4. When you get to the beginning again, skip a stitch and make a slip stitch in the next one.
5. Cut yarn and weave into hat

Daisy Crochet Pattern

This crochet flower is out of the book “100 Flowers to Knit or Crochet” by Lesley Stanfield. At first glance, it looked as if there were so many flowers to make, but then I took a look at the patterns. My pattern reading is not up to par, so it is quite difficult for me to understand what is going on in most of the flower patterns! And forget even attempting to decipher the knit ones (although they are really beautiful)! The “Lazy Daisy” flower is my first attempt at one of these 100 or so flowers. I also made a fern leaf to go along with it (which will come next week) to help accentuate the flower. I intend to sew it onto a purple hat for wintertime. Enjoy! I hope this pattern and the images on the book cover pique your interest and you go out to purchase it to make more great flowers (and even vegetables) for your projects!

Yarn “A”: Yellow

Yarn “B”: White

Method

Center Using A, make 6ch, join with ss into a ring.

1^st round (RS) 1ch, 11sc in ring, using B ss in 1ch. 12 sts.

Petals Continue with B.

2^nd round [11ch, ss in next sc] 12 times, ending ss in ss of first round.

Fasten off invisibly.

Seems easy, right? Let me know how yours turns out, I’d love to see your daisy results! 

Abbreviations according to the author:

ch=chain

ss=slip stitch

sts=stitches

sc=single crochet

Crochet: Birthday Shawl

For my 21^st birthday I had decided to make myself a shawl. I went into the city to see Chicago the Musical on Broadway and wanted to wear something special with my fancy dress. I had found this pattern a few months ago on a skein of Red Heart “With Love” yarn. I usually don’t buy Red Heart yarn, as I love Caron Simply Soft, but I could not pass up this great shawl/scarf pattern. (Except I never wore it on my birthday because it was too cold!)

            I first used the pattern to make a nice lavender scarf that didn’t take much time at all. I got a little confused with the pattern at first, but now that I have worked with it a few times, it is much easier to decipher. Red Heart gives it an “easy” grade, and once you get past the first few rows, you will be crocheting without even looking at your work!

            Since I got so many compliments on the initial lavender scarf, and since the pattern was so easy, I decided to use it to make a larger version and into a shawl. I chose black yarn since that would go with more outfits and always will look nice. I am pleased with the results and think I will receive many compliments.

You can find the pattern by Kathleen Sams on the Red Heart website here: http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/romantic-lacy-shawl