I needed a small hanging pot for a fern and found an old canning jar in my cupboard and some chain in a drawer. Viola! A pretty way to reuse an old canning jar! I used some steel wire to attach the chain to the lid hardware on the jar.
Having the lid hang down threw off the balance of the pot, so I wired it up onto the chain. The fern is now in a north facing window, so gets light, but not full sun. We’ll see how it does!
Not that it has been warm here, but my paperwhites (Narcissus) bloomed outside on Christmas day.
And just to balance, the dandelions are also blooming.
And yes, more hats. These berets are even easier! (American notation.)
Use a hook size recommended for the yarn you are using. Row 1: Crochet 10 double crochet (dc) in a magic circle. Slip stich (sl) in first dc. Row 2: Chain (ch) 2, dc in same stich, 2 dc in each stitch around, sl in first dc. 20 stitches in round. Row 3: ch 2, dc in same stitch, dc in next stitch, 2 dc in following stitch, repeat, sl in first dc. 30 stitches in round. Row 4: ch 2, dc in same stitch, dc in next X (X=2) stitches, 2dc in following stitch, repeat, sl in first dc. 40 stitches in round. Repeat Row 4, increasing the X number each round. Make rows until the diameter of the circle is 2-3” larger than the hat size. (A size 7 hat has a 7” diameter. For hats for me, I found that my handspan is also my hat size.)
Return: berets should lie flat when not worn, so now we will work in a similar manner but with decreases. Next Row: using the X value from the last row, ch2, dc in next X stitches, dc 2 together, repeat, sl to join. For each following row, decrease X by 1. Continue to add rows until the circle is slightly smaller than the desired hat size. Bind off.
Yup, still busting through that stash. But I have to mix it up or I get distracted, so here is a cloche style hat based on my beanie hat. (American notation.)
Use a hook size recommended for the yarn you are using. Row 1: Crochet 10 double crochet (dc) in a magic circle. Slip stich (sl) in first dc. Row 2: Chain (ch) 2, dc in same stich, 2 dc in each stitch around, sl in first dc. 20 stitches in round. Row 3: ch 2, dc in same stitch, dc in next stitch, 2 dc in following stitch, repeat, sl in first dc. 30 stitches in round. Row 4: ch 2, dc in same stitch, dc in next X (X=2) stitches, 2dc in following stitch, repeat, sl in first dc. 40 stitches in round. Repeat Row 4, increasing the X number each round. Make rows until the diameter of the circle is the hat size. (A size 7 hat has a 7” diameter. For hats for me, I found that my handspan is also my hat size.) For the next rows, dc in each stitch, sl to join. Make enough rows to reach the top of the ears.
Flare: Using the X number from your last increase round, repeat Row 4. Next Row: dc around, sl to join. Repeat these two rows until you reach the desired length for the hat. Flares that get too long can always be pinned up with a cute pin!
I’m using up all my acrylic yarn by making hats. I like making hats; they are useful and crochet up quick. My go-to pattern is easily adjustable to any hat size. I’ve had it memorized for so long that I don’t remember where I first learned it, and now there are thousands of variations. So here is what I do (American notation):
Use a hook size recommended for the yarn you are using.
Row 1: Chain (ch) 2, 10 double crochet (dc) in a magic circle. Slip stitch (sl) in first dc.
Row 2: ch 2, dc in same stitch, 2 dc in each stitch around, sl in end of chain. 20 stitches in round.
Row 3: ch 2, dc in same stitch, dc in next stitch, 2 dc in following stitch, repeat, sl in end of chain. 30 stitches in round.
Row 4: ch 2, dc in same stitch, dc in next X (X=2) stitches, 2dc in following stitch, repeat, sl in end of chain. 40 stitches in round.
Repeat Row 4, increasing the X number each round. Make rows until the diameter of the circle is the hat size. (A size 7 hat has a 7” diameter. For hats for me, I found that my handspan is also my hat size.)
For the remaining rows, dc in each stitch, joining at the end of each round. You can make the hat as long as you like: to stop above the ears, over the ears, or roll up. Bind off.
