Earthy Striped Baby Hat

This adorable hat goes with a matching blanket for baby Jacob due in August-- and it only took a few hours to make!

For this project, I used a size G crochet hook and Red Heart with Love yarn in Bluebell.  I followed Oombawka Design's pattern for a Double Crochet Beanie in the 0-3 month size.  PS:  I've had good luck with this pattern before on the Double Crochet Beanie with Scallop Edging and Flower Applique.

One minor adjustment to the pattern:  I followed Cr8tion Crochet's instructions for seamless crochet stitches.  This method hides the hat's seam and worked well for me on one of the Spring-Time Easter Hat.  I don't think I'll ever crochet a hat without the seamless method again!

For the stripe accent, I was inspired by the stripes on this blanket by the Felted Button.  I used a size F crochet hook and thin light-green yarn (same as in the matching blanket), and then I crocheted two rounds of single-crochet stitches to create the stripes.  Easy peasy!

The hat measures about 5-1/2 inches tall and 12 inches around.  It will make for a great fall or early-winter hat for the little cutie-pie.

Hope you're inspired to start your next project!

Happy hooking,
Jilliane


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Double-Crochet V-Stitch Cowl

This cowl was a birthday present to my best friend, Erin who turned 29 (again!).  I think it will keep her cozy and cute for the long winter ahead.

I used a size "I" crochet hook with the following yarn:
- Loops and Threads Impeccable, Royal
- Red Heart Super Saver, Grey Heather
- Red Heart Super Saver, Turqua

I followed the V Double Crochet Stitch tutorial from Dream a Little Bigger.  For the color pattern, I simply alternated grey and blue every two rows, plus I crocheted four rows in turquoise for an extra pop of color.

You may be thinking:  I love stripes but I hate switching colors.  Have no fear-- I used a trick I learned on Moogly and practiced with the Leaping Stripes and Blocks Baby Blanket earlier this year. With this trick, a short strip of the unused color  runs along the edge of your work and later, your edging covers it up.

The edging is simply a single crochet stitch.  I stitched two single crochets around the last double-crochet for each row.  As you can see, the edging completely covers the unused colors running along the edge (it's our little secret!).

This cowl measures 27 inches around and 9 inches tall.  When worn, it folds into cozy layers that are sure to keep Erin warm through the winter months.

The Birthday Girl :)

Feeling inspired to start your next project?  Sure hope so!

Happy hooking,
Jilliane


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Double-Crochet Purple Cowl

This double-crochet cowl will be a lovely gift for one of my aunts or cousins.  It will be a wrapped and given away in our family's "white elephant" Christmas game-- oh, the suspense!

I used a size "I" crochet hook with scrap yarn in Dark Orchid by Red Heart Super Saver.  The pattern is one that I wrote and used previously for the Double-Crochet Beige Cowl.

This cowl is 25 inches around and 11 inches tall-- perfect measurements to scrunch and fold into cozy layers.

Hope this project inspires your next creation!

Happy hooking,
Jilliane


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Double-Crochet Beige Cowl

This great cowl is actually for me-- crazy, right?!  I was inspired by a cowl worn by one of my students and decided to make an attempt at imitating it.

For this project, I used a size "I" crochet hook and about two-thirds of a skein of Red Heart Super Saver yarn in Buff.

After studying the student's cowl, here is the super-simple pattern I created:

Foundation:  Chain 61 (or any other odd number)
Row 1:  dc in 5th chain from hook, *ch 1, skip 1, dc 1, repeat from * to end.  Ch 3, turn.
Row 2:  *dc around the ch 1 space, ch 1, repeat from * to end.  Ch 3, turn.

Repeat Row 2 until you reach your desired length.  Secure off the last stitch-- no need to cut the yarn.

Stitching the ends together:
Lay the project flat and then line up the ends.  Stitch together using a whip stitch, which you can learn here: Bunny Mummy's whip stitch tutorial.  I chose the whip stitch because it blends in well with the pattern.

All done!  My cowl measures 37 inches around and 15 inches wide which makes it very fluffy and cozy.

Aside from varying the length, width, yarn texture, and color patterns, I'm sure this would be great with buttons, bows, and even flowers.  Hope you're feeling inspired to crochet your own version of this simple cowl!

Happy hooking,
Jilliane


Are you on Pinterest?  Follow my latest handiwork or crochet inspiration board!