Copy-Cat Cloche

Inspiration Hat

Copy Cat Cloche

My friend Meredith came to me with a knit hat that she absolutely loved. She asked if I could make her a replica in a different color. As we worked on it, we changed things so that we "improved" on the original hat, so that the new piece is exactly what she wanted.

Now Available on Ravelry!

Yarn: 2 strands worked together, I used Red Heart yarn from my stash
Hook: 6.5mm for hat, 5.0mm for Flower (hook not important for flower)
Special Stitches: FPDC & Magic Ring (follow the link to learn the stitch)
Additional Supplies: Safety pins or stitch markers, yarn needle

HAT:
Note: careful of the sts which get hidden behind the fpdc sts. You’ll be increasing your sts as you would with any other hat, but instead of *2dc in same st* being your increase, you’ll dc in the top of the fpdc, and then fpdc around the post also. Also, I DO NOT count the ch 3 that starts a round as a st in this pattern, I just work over top of them. You may have to fudge it with this, but you can always put the joining point in the back of the hat.

Begin with Magic ring (or ch 3 and sl st to form ring).
Rnd 1: ch 3 and dc 6 sts into ring, sl st to top of ch 3 to join.
Rnd 2: ch 3, dc in same st as joining. *FPDC around post of st immediately below the one you just made. Dc in next st* repeat from * to * around. Sl st in top of ch 3 to join.
Rnd 3: Ch 3, *dc in next dc and in top of fpdc from prev rnd. FPDC around FPDC of prev rnd. (creates increase)* repeat from * to * around. Sl st in top of ch 3 to join.
Rnd 4: Ch 3, *dc in each of the next 2 sts AND in the top of the fpdc from prev rnd. FPDC around FPDC of prev rnd. * repeat from * to * around. Sl st in top of ch 3 to join.
Rnd 5: Ch 3, *dc in each of the next 3 sts AND in the top of the fpdc from prev rnd. FPDC around FPDC of prev rnd. * repeat from * to * around. Sl st in top of ch 3 to join.
Rnd 6: Rnd 4: Ch 3, *dc in each of the next 4 sts AND in the top of the fpdc from prev rnd. FPDC around FPDC of prev rnd. * repeat from * to * around. Sl st in top of ch 3 to join.
Rnd 7: OPTIONAL – use this rnd if you want the hat to be wider/floppier. It can also be used to size it to a larger person’s head.
Ch 3, *dc in each of the next 5 sts AND in the top of the fpdc from prev rnd. FPDC around FPDC of prev rnd. * repeat from * to * around. Sl st in top of ch 3 to join.
Rnd 8: [If you did rnd 7, X=4. if you didn’t do rnd 7, X=3]
Ch 3, *skip next dc. dc in each of the next X sts AND in the top of the fpdc from prev rnd. FPDC around FPDC of prev rnd. * repeat from * to * around. Sl st in top of ch 3 to join.
Rnd 9-11: Repeat Rnd 8. You may repeat rnd 8 until the hat is as deep as you want it. Very little depth will be added with the following rnd.
Rnd 12: ch 1. Sc in each st around. Sl st to join.
This should snug up the bottom of your hat so that it fits. You can also add in another rnd of sc sts (with increases or decreases as needed) to help make you hat fit snugly.

Fasten off (or draw your loop up really big).

Pick the bottom of a fpdc line to serve as the center front of the hat. Mark this st, and fold your hat flat so that the st you marked is on the fold. Now mark a st, about 1/3 of the brim AWAY from the center st. Since you hat is folded and laying flat, you’ve got 2 layers of brim. Mark the st that is parrellel to that sts on the bottom layer. Try on your hat and check to make sure the width of the brim is as you like it. When you are happy with it, remove the center st marker.

BRIM:
I managed to work without fastening off, but if you have fastened off, re-join your yarn at one of the sts you have marked.

Row 1: Ch 1, do NOT sc in the same st as joining. SC in each of the next 2 sts. Hdc in each st across until you are 3 sts away from your next marker. Sc in next 2 sts, sl st into marked st. TURN
Row 2: Ch 1, sl st in the first sc of prev rnd. Sc in each of the next 2 sts. Hdc in each st across until you are 4 sts away from your next marker. 2sc in next 2 sts, and sl st into last sc of prev rnd. TURN
Row 3: Ch 1, sl st in the first sc of prev rnd. Sc in each of the next 2 sts. Hdc in each st across until you are 5 sts away from your next marker. 2sc in next 2 sts, and sl st into last sc of prev rnd. DO NOT TURN

Finishing Rnd: At the end of the brim, continue on with a sc in each st around the hat. This helps to smooth the shape of the brim and finish it off. Sl st to join, and fasten off.

FLOWER:
Begin with center color and a Magic Ring (or ch 2 loosely and work rnd 1 into the 2^nd ch from hook).
Rnd 1: Ch 1, 5sc into ring. Sl st to join.
Rnd 2: Ch 1, work 2 sc into each st of prev rnd. Using petal color, sl st to join.
Rnd 3: Using petal color, ch 1, *sc in next st, and 2 sc in following st* repeat from * to * around. Sl st to join.
Rnd 4. *Ch 4, skip next 2 sts. Sl st into following st* repeat from * to * around. Sl st to join.
Rnd 5: In each ch 4 space [ sc, ch 1, 3dc, ch 1, sc]. Fasten Off.

Use petal color and yarn needle to apply flower to hat where desired.

Baby Basketweave

Just finished another baby blanket! Another one of my friends from grad school & his wife are expecting a baby girl in mid-March.

I knew they were expecting a girl, so I picked up the pink yarn on the Michael's Black Friday sale (which I actually go to at 8pm on Thanksgiving day). It was one of the uber-skeins of Red Heart, and unfortunately I didn't have enough to add a border. Lucky for me, however, that this stitch looks just fine around the edges without it.

I actually found this Basketweave Stitch Tutorial on Pinterest, but it is also available on Ravelry.

If you're not familiar with how to do the FPdc and BPdc sts, check out my tutorial here.

I love the way this works up! Its so warm and comfy, plus the texture looks SO COOL for being such a simple stitch! Plus I found that the little sets of 3 make it pretty brainless and I never lost count. (I HATE it when I am off count at the end of a row and have to figure out where I goofed up.)

Moral of the Story: Cute, Simple, Easy, Fun, and definitely a stitch I'm glad to have in my toolkit!

Random Acts of (Crafty) Kindness

So I have been inspired by this cute post from a fellow blogger. I firmly believe in Random Acts of Kindness, especially when you start to lose faith in the human race. So here's my list, both to inspire you and to remind myself of how easy it is, and how many little things we can do for others. Lets keep the kindness going around to everyone, regardless of their religion, race, or creed.

• Got a craft that you've quit? (Ahem, scrapbooking...) Donate items to a local classroom or mom's group.
• Pick up a piece of trash you see on the ground, its kindness to the planet as well as its inhabitants
• Buy a hot cocoa or latte for Salvation Army bell ringers at the holidays.
• Purchase toys for kids in need
• Tip your waitress an extra $2 on top of your regular tip. Its small to you, but it adds up for her!
• Offer to buy a pack of gum or mints for checkout clerk at grocery store
• Donate Blood (Check out the American Red Cross for locations)
• Bake cookies for the people who serve you. Bank tellers, Landlords, Teachers, Receptionists, anyone!
• Pay for someone else's lunch at the drive-thru
• Collect canned goods for a food pantry
• Participate in Operation Beautiful, by leaving a post-it note of little affirmations for someone else to find.
• Shovel the neighbor's sidewalk after it snows
• At the grocery store, grab a cart from the middle of the parking lot and take it into the store. When you're done shopping, put your cart in the corral. 
• Make a donation to an animal shelter. You can craft something using scraps of yarn/fabric (Cage Covers, Blankets, or beds) or purchase exactly what your shelter needs. (Check out the MI Humane Society Wish List)
• Buy coffee for stranger at Starbucks
• Make a stuffed animal for a child in need (Check out the Mother Bear Project).
• Crochet/Knit a hat for a child with cancer. It only takes scraps! (Check out Knots of Love)
• In the summer, get your car washed by the school groups rather than at the automatic car wash. Remember that they're fund-raising, so throw in an extra few dollars!
• Volunteer to help with a local 5k or 10k race, such as the Race for the Cure. Even if you're not an athlete, volunteers are needed for water stations, registration, and cheering on the participants.
• Call someone you haven't spoken to in a while and tell them you miss them. Something so simple will brighten their day.
• When you spring clean your closet, don't throw everything away. Donate any items that are in good shape to an organization such as Goodwill or Salvation Army. 
• Are you an aspiring photographer? Animal rescue organizations can always use nice photos of the animals to aid with adoptions. Plus you get great shots to add to your portfolio. (Check out HeARTs Speak)
• Let someone cut ahead of you in line. (If you're a saint, do this at the DMV or Secretary of State!)

Please feel free to add on your ideas and keep the kindness going :)

New Projects 2012

So, no, I don't have any new pictures to share. Most of the projects for 2012 are bigger: sweaters, blankets, wraps, etc. They're either finished and not-yet-gifted or they're still WIPs. Its a process people!  I will try to get some more new patterns up this year, but as it stands, I have no idea what those will be :P

Craft Recap: Christmas Gifts 2011

So here are all of the projects that I made for gifts in 2011 (that weren't one of my original patterns). I found all of them through Ravelry, and they all worked up very well.

Steampunk Gauntlets
Pattern: Gauntlet Style Fingerless Gloves (available as a Ravelry download, since the website doesn't work)
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver in Cafe
Hook: 5.0 mm
Modifications: (For the “wrist” portion)

Row 7, 9, 11, 13: sc 2x in the last st of the row
Row 14, 16, 18, 20: sc2tog over first 2 sts of row

Sophie Had a Little Lamb
Pattern: Sheep Toy
Yarns: I Love this Cotton (Black) 4oz &Yarn Bee Boucle Traditions (150 yds)
Hook: 4.5mm
Modifications:
I used a larger hook to accommodate the boucle yarn, which made the body very fat. I freehanded the head. Then I ran out of the white fluffy stuff when I got to the head and tail poofs, so buy more than you think you need. I made the feet without the legs, because it looked better with the fat body.

Homespun Bolero
Pattern: Crochet Bolero
Hook: 9.0mm
Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun
Size: Followed measurements for a sz small, ended up with an XS due to less bulky yarn.
Notes: Due to the thinner yarn (bulky as opposed to super bulky) I added some stitches so the measurements would come out correctly.This looks SOOO much cuter when worn. I definitely have to make one for myself!

Ski Trip Snow Hat
Pattern: Talini Hat Pattern for color pattern and Funky Flower Hat for actual stitch count at the top
Hook: 5.0mm
Yarns: Remnants of Red Heart Super Saver and Caron One Pound skeins
Modifications:
Its true, I didn't buy the pattern for the Talini Hat, since I already knew how to make a puff stitch hat, but I did love the stripe pattern, and it was a major inspiration. When I got done with the first stripe pattern, I switched to hdc sts for the remaining rows. The ear flaps are also hdc sts.

Lavendar Ski Hat
Pattern: Ron Weasley Animal Crackers Hat
Hook: 5.0mm
Yarn: Remnants of lavendar baby yarn, and red heart super saver
Notes: This hat was for a friend from my craft circle, who saw a similar hat at a craft fair, and I told her not to spend her money on it when I could make her one. She's also a big Harry Potter fan, so that didn't hurt. It would be nice to make on in the Ron Weasley colors too though. No pattern modifications.