» photos: Brandy Fortune

Celebrate - Crochet

By Carey Huffman

Party time! Did you know that Petite Purls and my son just turned one? What better way to celebrate than with a simple, fun, handmade gift? The hat will last long past the cake so you can bring it out for each birthday and start a new tradition.

View the knit version

Size

Height: approximately 7 inches
Base: 14" circumference
Size Shown in Picture: one size fits all

Materials

Blue Sky Alpacas™ Worsted Cotton [100% Cotton; 150 yards/137 meters per 3.53 ounce/50 gram hank];

#628 Azul - ¹/₂ hank
#629 Ladybug - ¹/₂ hank

Recommended hook size

US size G-7 (4.5 mm)

Notions

yarn needle
embroidery needle
embroidery floss
plastic canvas at least 14 x 7 inches
printer
marker
scissors
12 inches of ¹/₄ inch wide elastic ribbon

Gauge

16 sc and 20 rows = 4 inches

Pattern Notes

Safety Notice: Do not let small children under the age of 3 play with the hat unsupervised because chin straps could pose strangulation risk.
This hat is crocheted in two layers and then joined together with a plastic canvas core for stability.
Unless otherwise noted, all pieces are worked in spiral rounds, Amigurumi style. Always work first stitch of new round into the first stitch of the previous round. Do not turn work. Use a split ring marker to keep track of the first stitch of each round.

Double Ring (Amigurumi) Start: Tie a slip knot around your crochet hook leaving a 10 inch tail. Wrap the tail end of the yarn around 2 fingers directly below the hook to form two large loops. Sc the number of times indicated in the pattern through both loops, placing a marker in the last st from hook. Pull both loops tight. These stitches are your first round.

Skills Required

Single crochet, double crochet, slip stitch

INSTRUCTIONS

OUTER HAT

Rnd 1 (RS): With MC and using double ring start, 4 sc in rings.
Rnd 2: Sc in each sc around.
Rnd 3: 2 Sc in each sc around: 8 sc.
Rnds 4 and 5: Sc in each sc around.
Rnd 6: * Sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around: 12 sc.
Rnd 7: Sc in each sc around.
Rnd 8: * Sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around: 16 sc.
Rnds 9 and 10: Sc in each sc around.
Rnd 11: * Sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around: 20 sc.
Rnd 12: Sc in each sc around.
Rnd 13: * Sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around: 24 sc.
Rnds 14 and 15: Sc in each sc around.
Rnd 16: * Sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around: 28 sc.
Rnd 17: Sc in each sc around.
Rnd 18: * Sc in next 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around: 32 sc.
Rnds 19 and 20: Sc in each sc around.
Rnd 21: * Sc in next 7 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around: 36 sc.
Rnd 22: Sc in each sc around.
Rnd 23: * Sc in next 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around: 40 sc.
Rnds 24 and 25: Sc in each sc around.
Rnd 26: * Sc in next 9 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around: 44 sc.
Rnd 27: Sc in each sc around.
Rnd 28: * Sc in next 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around: 48 sc.
Rnds 29 and 30: Sc in each sc around.
Rnd 31: * Sc in next 9 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around: 52 sc.
Rnd 32: Sc in each sc around.
Rnd 33: * Sc in next 10 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around: 56 sc.
Rnds 34 and 35: Sc in each sc around.
Rnd 36: Change to CC, sc in each sc around.
Rnd 37: * Skip next sc, 5 dc in next sc, skip next sc, sc in next sc; repeat from * around; slip st in next st, fasten off and set aside.

Small Spots (make 2)

Rnd 1 (RS): With CC and using double ring start, 6 sc in rings.
Rnd 2: 2 Sc in each sc around, fasten off leaving a 20 inch tail: 12 sc.

Medium Spots (make 2)

Rnd 1 (RS): With CC and using double ring start, 6 sc in rings.
Rnd 2: * 2 Sc in each sc around: 12 sc.
Rnd 3: * Sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around; slip st in next sc, fasten off leaving a 20 inch tail: 18 sc.

Large Spots (make 2)

Rnd 1 (RS): With CC and using double ring start, 6 sc in rings.
Rnd 2: * 2 Sc in each sc around: 12 sc.
Rnd 3: * Sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around: 18 sc.
Rnd 4: * Sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around; slip st in next sc, fasten off leaving a 20 inch tail: 24 sc.

LINER

Rnd 1 (RS): With CC and using double ring start, 8 sc in rings.
Rnds 2 and 3: Sc in each sc around.
Rnd 4: * Sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around: 12 sc.
Rnd 5: Sc in each sc around.
Rnd 6-33: Work same as Rnds 8-35 of Outer Hat; slip st in next sc, fasten off leaving a 10 inch tail.

FINISHING

Using yarn tails, sew all 6 spots on the hat.
Print template out and cut along lines. Trace shape out with marker on plastic canvas and cut out. Roll canvas into a tight cone and place inside cap. Relax your grip on the cone and let it unfurl until it fills the hat. There should be approximately 2¹/₂ inch overlap at the base. Make a mark to show how much overlap you need. With embroidery floss and needle, use a running stitch to sew the plastic canvas into the cone shape. Place cone back inside Outer Hat.
Flip Liner inside out and then place it inside the cone. Using a whip stitch, sew the bottom edge of the Liner along the inside of the hat where the color changes from MC to CC.

Weave in all ends. Add a 1³/₈ inch CC pompom to the top of the hat.
Cut 12 inches of elastic ribbon. Using sewing needle and thread, sew ends of ribbon to the liner on opposite sides inside the hat ¹/₂ inch from the edge.

Carey Huffman is obsessed with making fun things. Toys are her passion and she has participated in several plush art exhibits. Recently becoming a mother has inspired her to make fun and practical children's clothing. You can read more about her crafting and her family life on her blog.