Hat in the Hat: the Design Process & First Giveaway!

Did I put my foot in my mouth when I said I could crochet a hat for any character as long as I had a good picture of the character? This one was a real challenge!

Normally I HATE swatching. Seems like such a waste of time and material–I want to get right to the project. But shaping and color changes in this project didn’t lend themselves to my usual “make the basic plain hat and add features” way of doing character hats. So I started with a miniature to test my solution to the the main challenges.  Here’s my mini Cat in the Hat finger puppet:

Cat in the Hat finger puppet

 

Things I learned: to shape the floppy top of the Cat’s hat, the top white stripe has a slight decrease in the round. Face shaping is done with increases and decreases.  The vertical color change from black to white couldn’t be worked tapestry style because the contrast showed through the stitches. So I worked those rows back and forth, slip stitching them together at the change point.Here’s the finished Cat in the Hat Character Hat:

 

Cat in the Hat character hat

 

Normally, my character hats sell for $10.Of course, the Cat is essentially a “double hat” so he’ll be priced at $15.

On Sunday, March 3, 2012, one lucky reader will win the Cat in the Hat finger puppet. To enter, just tell your Facebook friends, Pinterest followers, or blog readers about my character hats and comment below to let me know!

 

 

 

 

 

Free Crochet Pattern: Lover’s Knot Shawl

Today’s free pattern is for a lover’s knot shawl. It’s surprising how warm this lacy openwork shawl is! Takes less than 1 4 oz skein of worsted weight yarn (sample was made with Red Heart.) This shawl is a simple triangle. Once you get the hang of the knot stitch, these are quick and easy to make.

Lover's Knot Shawl

 

Materials
1 skein worsted weight yarn

4.00 mm crochet hook

Ch 161. sc in first ch. Work knot st as follows pull loop up about 1 inch, then sc back into the loop, pull up another 1 inch loop. Skip 3 ch on starting ch and sc into the next one. (Knot st made) Repeat across.

Row 2: sl st into sc in center of last knot st. Ch 1 sc in sc. Work knot st, sc into sc in center of next knot st. Repeat across, ending with sc in center of last knot st. (Each row will decrease by one knot st.)

Repeat row 2 until only 1 knot st remains. End off.

If you have trouble catching on to the knot st, here’s a tutorial:

How to Crochet: Knot Stitch

If you have any questions, email me at judy33873 at gmail dot com.

This week at Oak Hill:

Started a new separate blog for NameBlessings: http://nameblessings.blogspot.com  and added a custom option to put custom photos or graphics on NameBlessings;

Local Wal-mart finally restocked yarn so I can work on UFOs!

Filling orders for character hats, especially SpongeBobs;

Had several freelance writing assignments;

Coming soon: headband patterns in both knit and crochet.

 

 

 

Sesame Street Character Hats

Just finished my small character hats of Sesame Street characters. Have orders for 2 more SpongeBobs, so I’ll be working on those tonight.

 

Elmo

 

Bert

 

 

Ernie

 

 

Kermit

 

Still haven’t had much of a chance to play with my new camera, so still using the webcam. Just found out that our town’s monthly Friday Night Live event sometimes has craft booths. I’ll be looking into that for sure! Just have to talk Tim into helping me get there and set up. (I haven’t driven for over a year & he doesn’t want me to try yet. My bad knee makes it hard to brake.) Sent him to Walmart for yellow yarn while I waited here for electrician–we woke this morning to no power in the living room.

 

 

 

Free crochet pattern: Lavender Lace

When I first started looking up fingerless glove patterns online, I was kind of surprised. Where are the free patterns for pretty fingerless gloves? This lavender Simply Soft yarn demanded a pretty, lacy pattern. So here it is:

Lavender Lace Fingerless Glove

4.00 mm crochet hook

worsted weight yarn (sample made with Caron Simply Soft)

Make 2:

Ch 30, join without twisting. In same st as join, ch3,dc,ch2,2 dc (shell)*skip 3, in next ch work sc, ch3, sc, *skip 3, in next ch work 2 dc, ch2,2dc, skip 3, in next ch work sc ch3, sc* repeat around, join with sl st

Rnd 2:* in ch 2 loops work sc, ch3,sc in ch 3 sp work 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc* repeat around, join.

Rnd 3: repeat rnd 2

Row 4: continue in pattern but do not join. Turn at end of row (thumb hole start)

Row 5: repeat row 4

Row 6: repeat row 4. Join at end (thumb hole finish)

Rnds 7-10 work even in pattern. End off.

Ruffled cuff: join yarn in any ch. Working on opposite side of starting ch, work* 2dc, ch2,2dc,skip 1 ch, work sc, ch3,sc, skip 1 ch* repeat around, join. Work 2 more rounds in pattern. End off. Weave in ends.

 

The Rose Bag

Rose Bag

The Rose Bag crochet pattern is now available for sale ($3.50) as a pdf download by email. I’ll put in on Ravelry later this week. This bag is a perfect small purse, Bible bag, or netbook case. Construction is one-piece for durability and features my unique corners that help the unlined bag hold its shape. Center rose is an applique and smaller rosebuds are an easy embroidery technique.

I also offer completed Rose Bags for sale in your choice of colors for $10 plus $2 shipping US. Have to research shipping outside US for international orders. Don’t forget to specify both bag and rose colors.

Today’s recipe: “Ocky’s”

“Ocky” is a family word for enchiladas. When the kids were younger the older ones told the young ones these were “Ocky” so the little ones wouldn’t eat them and there’d be more for the big kids. It didn’t work. One of the little ones tasted them anyway and said “These aren’t ocky, They’re GOOD!”

1 pound hamburger, browned (can also use chicken pieces)

1/2 white onion, diced

1 can refried beans

10 flour tortillas

8 oz package finely shredded mild cheddar

8 oz can tomato sauce

small can enchilada sauce or red sauce

Spray (or line with foil) a 13×9 pan. In each tortilla, place a spoonful of meat mixture, beans, and cheese. Roll up tortilla, and place side by side in pan. Pour sauces over top. Top with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 until cheese melts.

Hats,Gloves and Pinterest

Trying to tidy up my work area a little. So I’ll be uploading LOTS of pictures this week! Also, am finally starting to figure out how to use my Pinterest boards. Pinterest is a really cool way to share pictures. I’ve found craft ideas, recipes and organizing tips along with a few funnies and decorating ideas that make me drool!

Finished my Angry Red Bird hat this morning.

Red Angry Bird Hat

I’ve also made some knit stocking caps. I’ve noticed how hard it is to find quality handmade gifts for guys so three of these hats were made with guys in mind.

Cactus Rib Hat

Ocean Wave Hat

Hothead Hat

Told hubby he should wear the orange hat when we’re driving in traffic to warn other drivers he’s a hothead (stitches look like flames). He didn’t think that was funny. Maybe because we were driving in traffic at the time…

I just love lacy knit patterns. So I made the snowflake hat with matching fingerless gloves.

Snowflake Hat

Snowflake Gloves

So what do you think of fingerless gloves? Maybe its because I was raised up north where you need nice warm mittens for below-zero wind chills, but at first I didn’t get the appeal of fingerless gloves. But they can be really cute, like my black lace crocheted ones with the flared cuff.

Black Lace Gloves

It’s hard to see in the picture but these have ribs of front post doubles to add texture.

Making pineapple upside-down cake for Valentine’s Day.

1 can pineapple slices

maraschino cherries

1/2 c or so of brown sugar

cake mix (yellow or pineapple)

ingredients required by cake mix

In a 13×9 pan, lay out pineapple slices

place a cherry in the center of each pineapple ring

sprinkle brown sugar over pineapple slices

mix cake as instructed on the box. Pour batter over fruit and bake as directed.

Hats, hats, and more hats

I spent most of the weekend making hats. I really like how the simple features bring out the personalities of the character hats.

Pikachu

A couple of the grandkids are really into Pokemon, so my first character hats are Pokemon. The smaller grandkids like SpongeBob.

SpongeBob

Great-grandson has claimed this one without even seeing the picture. Finally, my favorite SpongeBob character, Patrick Starr.

Patrick

 

I can make almost any character into a hat as long as I can see a good picture of the character. Hats are machine washable and can be made in any size from baby to adult. Reasonably priced at $10 (plus $2 for shipping).

Experimented a little more with the slipper pattern. A circular needle does NOT work for the toe. Thought about trying dpns but I don’t have any 8s and walmart quit carrying dpns. So it will be awhile before I can try that.

Uploaded my Caribbean Star hat pic to Pinterest and got several likes and re-pins. The pattern (with 7 total color variations) is for sale on Ravelry.

Caribbean Star Hat

This is a really neat pattern because simple color changes make the hat look totally different. Using one color brings out the texture:

Aran Star Hat

White and any color, especially ombres, are a stunning combination:

Ombre Bright Star Hat

The hat is also stunning with ombre yarn and two coordinating solids:

Sunset Star Hat

Several granddaughters got these tone-on-tone variations for Christmas:

Shadow Star Hat

 

Alicia’s Dishrag Sweater

I usually prefer to make small things, but a few weeks ago my friend Alicia asked me to make her “a sweater”. I had just crocheted a mint green dishrag with a new stitch that I really liked, so I showed it to her and asked if she liked the stitch. “Yes,” she said ” and I like that color too!” She was a little vague in her description of what she wanted–long, oversized, but  not too bulky.

The sweater is crocheted in one piece from side to side (remember how I said I hated piecing things together?) with just 2 seams to sew. I picked up edge and cuff stitches and knitted them, but it could also be bordered in crochet. Yarn is Lion Brand Pound of Love. 4mm hook, size 4 knitting needles.

Alicia's Dishrag Sweater

It took extra time to finish because I had to go back to Walmart for more yarn and they were out. So I went to a different Walmart and found it. It’s really aggravating that it takes so long for them to restock yarn.

That’s all for today. I have an order for slippers and I’m tweaking my old faithful slipper pattern.

More crocheted purses

Finally feel like we made it through the Plague. Tim and I have been sharing the Cold from Hell all week! Kept Nyquil in business for a few more months, anyway!So now I have to play catch-up with everything–crafting, blogging, cooking, the House. . .in that order, of course! #1 grandson requested a hat of his fave Pokemon character. The basic hat is done, just need to add features. I’ve also designed a few 2-needle knit stocking caps, and still going strong on purses. I did the Rose Bag in black with red roses. Then I did a diamond design and a heart design (Hearts, flowers, and diamonds for Valentine’s day!) Both patterns and finished bags will be for sale–email me for info! Also trying my hand at fingerless gloves.

Heart Purse

 

Diamond Purse

Yay! hubby got me an early Valentime’s present–a new digital camera! So hopefully I can start posting better pictures since I’m not limited to the webcam!

Later this week, I’ll post pix of the 2-needle knit hats as well as some of my beadwork.

 

What types of patterns would y’all like to find here? Let me know!

Recipe: Simple fruit salad

1 banana, sliced

1 can pineapple chunks

1 can mandarin oranges

1/2 bag miniature marshmallows

Mix together, chill, and enjoy!

Free Crochet pattern: Butterfly hat

Today’s free pattern is a quick and easy hat. I see dozens of hats online with appliqued flowers, so I HAD to do something a little different!

Butterfly Hat

Materials:

1 skein RedHeart SuperSaver, MC (black)

few yards CC1 (bikini)

few yards CC2 (shocking pink)

Crochet hook, size G (4.25mm)

Rnd 1: Ch2, dc in 3rd ch from hook, ch2 (2 dc, ch 2)4 times, join. (5 ch-2 clusters with ch 2 between)

Rnd 2: Sl st into ch 2 sp, ch2, dc, ch2,2 dc in same sp (ch 2, work 2dc ch2 2dc in next ch 2 sp) repeat around, join.(10 clusters)

Rnd 3: sl st into ch 2 sp, ch2, dc, ch2, 2 dc in same sp (ch2, 2 dc in next ch2 sp, 2dc,ch2,2dc in next ch2 sp) repeat around, join.(15 clusters)

Rnd 4:sl st into ch 2 sp, ch2, dc, ch2, 2 dc in same sp (ch2, 2 dc in next sp, ch2, 2 dc in next sp, ch2, 2dc, ch2,2dc in next sp) repeat around, join (20 clusters)

Rnd 5: sl st into ch 2 sp, ch2, dc ch2, 2 dc in same sp* (ch2, 2 dc in next sp)3 times (2dc, ch2, 2 dc in next sp)*repeat around, join. (25 clusters)

Rnd 6: sl st into ch2 sp, ch2,dc, ch 2,2 dc in same sp*(ch2, 2 dc in next sp) 4 times (2 dc, ch2, 2 dc in next sp)* repeat around, join (30 clusters)

Rnd 7: sl st into ch2 sp, ch2, dc,ch2,2 dc in same sp *(ch2, 2 dc in next sp) 5 times (2 dc, ch2, 2 dc in next sp)* repeat around, join (35 clusters)

 

Rnd. 8: sl st into ch 2 sp, ch2, dcch2,,2 dc in same sp *(ch2, 2 dc in next sp)6 times (2 dc, ch2, 2 dc in next sp)*repeat around, join (40 clusters)

 

Rnd 9: sl st into ch 2 sp, ch2,dc, ch2, 2dc in same sp *(ch2, 2 dc in next sp) 7 times (2 dc, ch2, 2 dc in next sp)*repeat around, join (45 clusters)

 

Rnd 10: sl st into ch 2 sp, ch2, dc, 2, 2 dc in same sp *(ch2, 2 dc in next sp) 8 times (2 dc, ch2, 2 dc in next sp)*repeat around, join. (50 clusters)

 

Rnd 11: sc in each dc around, join (100 sc)

 

Rnd 12: *sc in 3 sc, sc dec over next 2 sc* repeat around, join (80 sc)

 

Rnd 13: repeat rnd 12 (64 sc)

 

Rnd 14: *sc in 2 sc, sc dec over next 2 sc* repeat around, join (48 sc)

 

Rnd 15: repeat rnd 14 (36 sc)

 

Rnd 16: sc in each sc around. End off.

 

Butterfly Applique

 

With MC, ch 2. In 3rd ch from hook, work 3 sc, hdc, 3sc, sl st to join. End off.

 

With CC1, join in 1st sc, ch7, sl st in 3rd ch from hook (picot made) in same sc work 6 trebles, sc in front loop of next sc, fasten off.

 

With CC2, join in back loop of same st, sc in same loop, work 5 dc in next sc, sc in hdc, work 5 dc in next sc, sc in back loop of next sc. end off.

 

With CC1, join in front loop of same sc, ch 4, work 5 trebles in same st, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook (picot made) treble in same st, fasten off.

 

Pattern copyright 2012 by Judy Cox. You may NOT sell the pattern in any form. You MAY link to this pattern page. You MAY NOT sell finished items from this pattern online; you MAY sell finished items in local venues (craft shows, retail outlets, personal contacts).