Head Size Chart

Hey Rockers,

If you've been following the blog you know my last few patterns have been hats. While I was working on my Pretty Baby Beanie and Strawberry Slouchy (and a few other patterns I'll be adding soon) I looked around the Internet for a clear head & hat size chart so I would know the average sized head for each age, baby through adult. I was stumped. I found a few good ones, but no one chart had everything I wanted all in one place, in an easy organized sheet.

I took matters into my own hands and decided to create my own version to use as a reference chart and thought you might like one too - I am all about sharing!

Here is my head size chart. (This is based on averages. Always measure for size if possible...especially little kids. I can't tell you how many times I've made a special order hat for someone's baby or toddler and ended up having to make a duplicate because the first one didn't fit. Bogus.)

I like having my charts close at hand and I keep a copy in my crochet bag too. I've included a pdf version below for easy access. (Did you know you can add pdf docs to Evernote and other readers for your tablets or iPads?)

Here is the PDF version.

You can find my Foot Size Chart and Hand Size Chart here. 

Rock the hook.
xx

Don't forget to rock with me over at Facebook, Pinterest and on Ravelry.

I Love Yarn Day

Hey Rock Stars,

So, there's this holiday called I Love Yarn Day...yes, it's a real thing. Seriously. I don't really know much about it, cuz I still consider myself a newbie among crochet bloggers. I know you can participate. I don't know who the I Love Yarn Day people are. I probably should.

I know I love yarn. It helps me not want to hurt people.

Anyway, there's this Craft Yarn Council. They must be pretty popular because I can't get their website to load myself. But if you happen to get past the internet gatekeeper, I'm sure it'll be a pleasant experience. Also, I'm told they have free patterns to browse as well as other swaggy artwork and I Love Yarn Day paraphernalia. If they are anything like the Parks and Rec city council, I'm not sure we can be friends. (I love Leslie Knope too much.) But I'll give them a go.

I Love Yarn Day has it's own Facebook page. They (the yarn council) encourage people to show yarn love by throwing parties, knitting or crocheting in public, supporting local yarn stores (LYS), yarn-bombing and other crazy fiber-themed activities.

So the details are still a little vague for me. What's with I Love Yarn Day? Is it more like Mardi Gras with beads, topless knitters and crochet Jello shots? Or more reserved like Thanksgiving dinner where we all take turns saying which yarn company we are most grateful for and say a blessing for the bounty of sheep?

This year I Love Yarn Day is celebrated Friday, October 11. All day. Let the fiber fiestas commence.  

Rock the hook,
xx

Don't forget to rock with me over at Facebook, Pinterest and on Ravelry.

Blueberry Beanie

 
Blueberry Beanie with optional Earflaps

It’s October! And you know what that means? Pumpkins…and blueberries! (Well, sort of.) I designed this hat for my sweet friend as part of her middle daughter’s Halloween costume. (Shout out to Brooke & Ava for the inspiration!) This hat will fit most preschoolers and elementary age kids.

There are tons of free patterns on the internet for beanie hats. I love this beanie pattern because it’s simple and can be adapted for character hats or other themed hats (such as grapes, apples or even pumpkins). You can crochet this beanie with or without the earflaps - it's adorable either way!

Add this pattern to your Ravelry Queue.

Size: Preschool/Child

Skill Level: Easy

Materials:
Worsted weight yarn
Yarn/tapestry needle

Hook size: I/5.50mm

Key:
CH = chain
SC = single crochet
DC = double crochet
SL ST = slip stitch
JOIN = use a slip stitch to join to first stitch in round
CC = change color
RND = round

Gauge:
4 DC = 1" (length)
2 Rows = 1" (height)

Notes:
Start your first stitch of each round in the same space as your chain.
Join your round to the first HDC, not your chain.
Chains do not count as stitches in this pattern.


Instructions:
CC = Blue.
Rnd 1: Magic Ring, Chain 2, 10 DC in magic ring, join to first DC, ch 2
Rnd 2: 2 DC in each around, join to first DC. (20 DC)
Rnd 3: Ch 2, 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next, repeat around, join. (30 DC)
Rnd 4: Ch 2, 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 2, repeat around, join. (40 DC)
Rnd 5: Ch 2, 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 3, repeat around, join. (50 DC)
Rnd 6: Ch 2, 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 4, repeat around, join. (60 DC)
Rnd 7: Ch 2, 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 11, repeat around, join. (65 DC)
Rnd 8 – 14: Ch 2, DC in each stitch around, join.
Finish, weave ends for plain beanie.


Earflaps:
(Continue from Rnd 14)
Row 1: Ch 2, dc 12, turn. (12 DC)
Row 2: Ch 2, dc2tog, dc 8, dc2tog, turn. (10 DC)
Row 3: Ch 2, dc2tog, dc 6, dc2tog, turn. (8 DC)
Row 4: Ch 2, dc2tog, dc 4, dc2tog, turn. (6 DC)
Row 5: Ch 2, dc2tog, dc 2, dc2tog, turn. (4 DC)
Row 6: Ch 2, dc2tog twice. (2 DC)
Finish, weave end.

Count/skip 24 stitches around front of hat, join yarn to hat to begin second earflap. Repeat earflap pattern from above.

Finish Edge & Curly-Cues:
Find the back of hat.
CC = Green
Ch 1, SC around to first earflap, sc along edge of earflap to tip.
Ch 40. 2 SC in second chain from hook, 2 SC in each chain back to tip of earflap.
SL ST to earflap, sc along edge of earflap down to hat.
SC around to second earflap, SC along edge of earflap to tip.
Ch 40. 2 SC in second chain from hook, 2 SC in each chain back to tip of earflap.
SL ST to earflap, sc along edge of earflap down to hat.
SC around to first sc, join.
Finish, weave ends. Or continue to optional leaf edge.

Leaf Edge:

CC = Green
You'll work in the SC's from the finished edge until you reach the first row of the earflaps. Then you'll slip stitch and chain your way across to the other side according to the instructions below, creating your base for the leaves to go right over the top of your earflaps. (Clear as mud right? See the image above as an example.)
Rnd 1: Ch 6, skip 4 spaces, sl st to next sc from previous row, [Ch 5, skip 4 spaces, sl st to next sc] repeat around, join to 1st ch of round.
Rnd 2: Ch 1, [sc, hdc, dc 3, ch2, dc 3, hdc, sc] in each ch 4 space around, join to 1st ch of round. (12 leaves)
Finish, weave ends

You are all done! If you have ANY questions about constructing this hat or find any errors in the pattern, please let me know in the comments, e-mail, or on Ravelry! Enjoy!

Rock the hook.
xx

Don't forget to rock with me over at Facebook, Pinterest and on Ravelry.

Pretty Baby Beanie

Hey Crochet Rockers! We’ve reached 450+ likes on FB, so I thought “hey – I’m gonna spread the crochet love to all these new friends!” Here’s my version of a simple baby beanie that is easy to crochet and works up in an evening (even for beginners). I hope you all like it. As always, should you have any questions about this pattern – please email me, message me on Ravelry or comment on this post.

This sweet baby beanie was a special order for a baby shower gift and I think it turned out to be so precious! (Shout out to Irma A. for the request and inspiration!)

I've also created a post for the Pretty Girl Beanie here (a larger version of this beanie). It has instructions for sizes 6 months - Adult.

Add this pattern to your Ravelry Queue.

Size: 0 – 3 months

Skill Level: Easy

Materials:

Caron Simply Soft yarn (any two colors)

Yarn/tapestry needle

Hook size: H/5.00mm

Key:

CH = chain

SC = single crochet

DC = double crochet

SL ST = slip stitch

JOIN = slip stitch to first st of round
MR = Magic Ring (tutorial here)

RND = round

CC = change color

Gauge:

5 DC = 1 inch
2 rows = 1 inch

Notes:

Start your first stitch of each round in the same space as your chain.

Join your round to the first DC, not your chain.

Chains do not count as stitches in this pattern.

Instructions: 
 

Newborn
Rnd 1: MR, chain 2, 10 dc, join.
Rnd 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in each st around, join. (20 DC)
Rnd 3: Ch 2, [2 dc in next stitch, dc 1] around, join. (30 DC)
Rnd 4: Ch 2, [2 dc in next stitch, dc 2] around, join. (40 DC)
Rnd 5: Ch 2, dc around, join. (40 DC)
Rnd 6 – 8: Repeat Rnd 5.

CC = alternate color (Mine is pink in the image.)

Rnd 9 – 12: Ch 1, SC around, join (40 SC)

CC = primary color (Mine is gray in the image.)

Ch 1, skip next st, 5 DC in next st, skip next st, [sl st in next, skip 1, 5 DC in next, skip 1] repeat around. SC in last sp, join

Finish, weave ends.

3 months
Rnd 1: MR, Chain 2, 10 DC, join.

Rnd 2: Ch 2, 2 DC in each around, join. (20 DC)

Rnd 3: Ch 2, [2 DC in first stitch, DC in next] around, join. (30 DC)

Rnd 4: Ch 2, [2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 2] around, join. (40 DC)

Rnd 5: Ch 2, [2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 3] around, join. (50 DC)

Rnd 6: Ch 2, DC around, join. (50 DC)

Rnd 7 – 8: Repeat Rnd 6.

CC = alternate color (Mine is pink in the image.)

Rnd 9 – 12: Ch 1, SC around, join (50 SC)

CC = primary color (Mine is gray in the image.)

Ch 1, skip next st, 5 DC in next st, skip next st, [sl st in next, skip 1, 5 DC in next, skip 1] repeat around. SC in last sp, join

Finish, weave ends.

6 months
Rnd 1: MR, chain 2, 10 dc, join.
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 dc in each st around, join. (20 DC)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, [2 dc in next stitch, dc 1] around, join. (30 DC)
Rnd 4: Ch 1, [2 dc in next stitch, dc 2] around, join. (40 DC)
Rnd 5: Ch 1, [2 dc in next stitch, dc 3] around, join. (50 DC)
Rnd 6: Ch 1, [2 dc in next stitch, dc 4] around, join. (60 DC)
Rnd 7: Ch 1, dc around, join. (60 DC)
Rnd 8 – 9: Repeat Rnd 7.

CC = alternate color (Mine is pink in the image.)

Rnd 10 – 13: Ch 1, SC around, join (60 SC)

CC = primary color (Mine is gray in the image.)

Ch 1, skip next st, 5 DC in next st, skip next st, [sl st in next, skip 1, 5 DC in next, skip 1] repeat around. SC in last sp, join

Finish, weave ends.

Optional Embellishment:

I crocheted two different styles of flowers that my friend could include with her baby shower gift. One flower was larger, more full and sassy, while the other was smaller, less full and more subdued. That way, mommy has options! (Some mommies like the larger flowers, some like a little “less.”)

Here are the links to the two free flower patterns I used.

Crocodile Stitch Flower, Free Pattern from B.hooked Crochet

Easiest Headwrap EVER & Flower Pattern, from Frayed Knot

You could also use buttons, silk flowers, fabric flowers, ribbons or other fun accents to adorn this sweet little beanie. Be creative!

Rock the hook.

xx

Don't forget to rock with me over at Facebook, Pinterest and on Ravelry.