Tag: acrylic

Wavy beanie

On By CarynIn Craft

Next on the hat docket: stripes! But with a twist, or rather, a wave. I started the beanie with rows of double crochet in white yarn, then used a combination of single, half-double, double and treble crochet stitches.

Photo description: white and red crochet beanie style hat

Technical details:

In a magic circle 12 double crochets (dc)

Row 1: 2 dc in each stitch (24 stitches)

Row 2: 2 dc, 1 dc around (36 stitches)

Row 3: 2 dc, 1 dc, 1dc around (48 stitches)

Row 4: 2 dc, 1 dc, 1 dc, 1dc around (48 stitches)

Row 5: 2 dc, 1 dc, 1 dc, 1dc, 1 dc around (60 stitches)

Row 6: chain (ch) 1, *half double crochet (hdc) in next stitch, dc, treble crochet (tc), dc, hdc, sc. repeat from * around. Before completing last hdc, join in new color. Slip stitch to the beginning of the round. Don’t cut old color, don’t carry the old color around.

Row 7: ch 3 (counts as tc), make all stitches in the back loop: *dc, hdc, sc, hdc, dc, tc. Repeat from * around. On last stitch join in first color.

Row 8: ch 1, *hdc, dc, tc, dc, hdc, sc. Repeat from * around.

Repeat rows 7 and 8 until desired hat length is reached.

Tips: when lining up the rows, the tallest stitch pairs with the previous shortest, so the tc will always go in a sc, and vice versa. Putting the stitches in the back loop gives a nice line to the wave.

Oops, it’s a beret

On By CarynIn Craft

I’ve drifted off firmly into the realm of experimentation in this round of crocheted hats. Because I had red, green, and white in the stash of acrylic yarn, I wanted to experiment combining the colors with a spike stitch. A spike stitch drops one loop of yarn down a row, making a long V shaped yarn embellishment. I stuck with my standard double crochet hat pattern, making spike stitches every three double crochets and switching colors every row. I did not think that one loop of yarn would change the width of the row, but it did. Instead of getting a nicely rounded beanie, I had a flat circle. Hm.

Photo description: flat crocheted circle with rounds of alternating red, green, and white acrylic yarn, the spike stitches mixing the colors like a star burst

Time to make it a beret instead. I switched to using just the white yarn with no spike stitches, and the fabric immediately made the turn without decreases. I didn’t have to make decreases until round three. Then I switched to a single crochet parallel rib for the last band. The ribbing is very stretchy and although it looks in the picture like a small opening, it expands to fit a head, and lays flat for storage (happy accident).

Photo description: under side of the beret all in white with three rows of double crochet and a band of single crochet rib

Finishing: woven scarf

On By CarynIn Craft

The warp I prepared for a local kid’s event has been on my tapestry loom for awhile. I did get to use it as a demonstration, and was hoping to use it again, but it didn’t happen this summer, and I want to use the loom for something else, so I finished it.

Photo description: weaving finished on a tabletop tapestry loom showing the string heddles and twined first and last row

The edges were wonky, so I decided to run a row of coordinating crochet stitches along the outer double warp. It helped hide the contrasting weft and gave it a nicer finish.

Photo description: top edge finished with a row of single crochet stitches, bottom edge unfinished. Missy the dog in the background.
Photo description: finished scarf with knotted fringe and crocheted edges
Photo description: entire scarf laid out on the floor showing the strong warp color and a much more subtle weft color shift

I think it is interesting that even though the warp and the weft are visible in the weave, the warp color shift is much more prominent, I was hoping for an even split.

White hats

On By CarynIn Craft

I did say that I have a boat load of acrylic yarn and am on a hat kick, right? And I mentioned that this an experimentation time, since I can’t do the same thing more than twice? Oh good, that established, here are more hats.

Photo description: white crocheted hat with woven band and ribbed edge

I tried the new-to-me crocheted ribbing technique combined with one of my favorite crochet textures: a woven stitch.

Technical summary: (American notation) Double crochet (dc) 12 into a magic circle. Increase 12 each row until diameter matches desired hat size. Switch to waffle pattern which is two front post crochet and two back post crochet for two rows. Offset the waffle pattern by two for the next two rows. Continue until the hat reaches the top of the ears. Chain 8, make single crochet back loop ribbing around the edge.

I also made Moogly’s Diamond hat in white.

Photo description: white acrylic hat with diamond pattern from crown and ribbed edge

I may be able to make an exception to the “only two” distractibility rule by interspersing different hats between making the diamond hat pattern. I like it that much.

Pattern Review: Diamond Hat

On By CarynIn Craft

It is that time again. I have a build up of gifted acrylic yarn, and a chorus craft fair coming up, so it is time to crochet hats. I can’t bring myself to make the same hat over and over, so it is also a time for me to explore patterns and techniques. Moogy is running a campaign with Warm Up America for a hats, scarves, and mitten drive. Moogy graciously provided some of their free patterns for the drive, including a Diamond Hat pattern. This pattern had two techniques that were new to me: using treble crochet stitches to make diamonds, and using back loop single crochet to make ribbing. I like both methods! This hat crochets up quickly because of the double crochets, but has a very classic look. It did take me a few rows to figure out exactly where to hook in the treble crochets: under the leg so all four legs have a single join point. The picture below is actually my second hat. The first did not have as much definition near the crown. There is a PDF version available of the pattern for a price, but unfortunately the designer included links for the special stitches in the PDF, which don’t work when you print the pattern (obviously).

Photo description: Diamond crochet hat in green acrylic using a pattern by Moogly

The hat is flexible, thick, and warm. I think I will make a few in different colors without getting distracted (much). This is definitely a pattern that I will keep in my repertoire.