Newborn to 3 months Santa Hat Photo Prop ~ Pattern

Well it's like this, I've been trialling an elf-style hat for a few days now with a number of different stitches and whether to work in the round or to join each row, or make a stripey hat or just plain like this one...and eventually settled on a hdc hat with simple brim and a giant pom pom ^.^ I'm currently (like mad cause I left it so late) making a few different Christmas themed hats for my newborn photo shoot on Saturday and figured since I was making up the pattern I might as well post it here for the sake of it... afterall that's what I'm here for! :o) I realise that being an Australian and Christmas falling over Summer it probably isn't the best 'everyday' cute newborn item you'd crochet this time of year..but as I'm using it as a prop, perhaps someone else would like to aswell.

As with most of my tutorials and patterns and things, you can make this to your hearts content for personal use (that includes using it for photography purposes) however you cannot make it to sell//reproduce in any way sorry! I don't receive any income from my blogging and very little in the outside world so it wouldn't be fair on me... I'm sure you understand :o)

Working in rounds, you'll need a 5mm hook, red 8ply (worsted weight) yarn, white trim or yarn, a yarn needle and a ruler or measuring tape. You'll also need a bit of card and scissors for the pom pom at the end of the pattern; we'll get to that last (see video) :o)

sc=single crochet
hdc=half double crochet
mc=magic circle
fphdc=front post half double crochet
bphdc=back post half double crochet


Mc, ch 2. 9 hdc into ring.
1 hdc in each st around.
Repeat 1 hdc in each st around until you have 16 inches. When you have 16 inches, we'll start the pattern from Round 1 if that makes sense. Be sure to keep moving your marker, that is where you will work sts to and from each round. An exact number of stitches each round isn't important.

Round 1: *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 3 hdc* over the next 13 sts
Round 2: *1 hdc in each st around* (til you reach your marker now and throughout pattern)
Round 3: *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 4 hdc*
Round 4-5: *1 hdc in each st around*
Round 6: *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 5 hdc*
Round 7: *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 6 hdc*
Round 8: *1 hdc in each st around*
Round 9: *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 7 hdc*
Round 10: *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 8 hdc*
Round 11: *1 hdc in each st around*
Round 12: *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 9 sts*
Round 13: *2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 10 sts*
Round 14-18: *1 hdc in each st around*
Finish off with red.

Join with white in last st, ch 2.
Round 19: *1 hdc in each st around*
Round 20: *1 fphdc in next st, 1 bphdc in next hdc around*
Round 21: *1 fphdc in fphdc, 1 bphdc in next bphdc around*
Finish off with white. Weave in ends.

Make a pom pom... probably best if you just watch this video on how to do that bit :o)

Sew the awesome pom pom to the tail of your and hat and Ta-Da! ^.^

 

Consider this the first of many more Christmas tutorials to come! And don't worry, they're not all crochet... there'll be some new headbands, an advent calender and perhaps even a how-to on the wreath I made last year if I can find a damn foam ring anywhere (I hate not being close to a Spotlight!!)

 

Anyhoo...enjoy!

P.s I just realised I put a lot of smiley faces into this post... so here's another one

:o)

Primrose Newborn Baby Bonnet ~ Pattern

This little hat was all trial and error using the primrose stitch :o) I had an image of a little bonnet that I wanted to use as a photography prop, I think I've managed to recreate what was in my head! I really hope you enjoy this one, it's sooooo adorable! Just a note though, while I'm fine with other photographers making this hat for their own use, this hat may not be made and sold in any way or the pattern copied/reproduced/sold in part or in whole. Also, if you do make this and use it for your photography, I'd love to see it! Email a photo to thequirkycraftingshmooglebean@gmail.com!

Size 5mm  (H) hook and a size 6mm (J) for trim
For hat: 8ply worsted weight yarn For trim: use ribbon, fluffy yarn, specialty yarn, sequin thread anything really! Just depends on what you're using your hat for, I honestly think this particular pattern has so many creative options to make it that little bit more unique and to suit your needs :o)

Stitches used:
sc = single crochet
hdc =half double crochet
dc =double crochet

Working in rounds so be sure to use a stitch marker! (or scrap bit of yarn)

Round 1: Magic circle, ch 2, 10 dc into ring

Round 2: 2 dc in each stitch around

Round 3: *1 dc in next dc, 2 dc in next st* around

Round 4: *2 dc over next 2 dcs, 2 dc in next st* around

Round 5: Ch 1, turn. Over the next 32 sts: in first dc work 1 sc, ch 2, 1 sc, skip two stitches; in next dc work *1 sc, ch 2, 1 sc. Skip next 2 sts* leave the last 9 sts unworked.

Round 6: Ch3, turn. In the first ch 2 space work 3 dc and in each ch 2 space around. In the last ch 3 space, work one hdc (to give you a straight edge when completed)

Round 7: Ch 2, turn. Work a sc, ch 2, sc into third chain from hook (middle of the shell) In the second dc of each shell around work *sc, ch2, sc* In the last ch 3 space, work 1 hdc.

Round 8: Ch3, turn. *In the first ch 2 space work 3 dc and in each ch 2 space* around. In the last ch 3 space, work one hdc

Round 9: Ch 2, turn. Work a sc, ch 2, sc into third chain from hook (middle of the shell) In the second dc of each shell around work *sc, ch2, sc* In the last ch 3 space, work 1 hdc.

Round 10: Ch3, turn. *In the first ch 2 space work 3 dc and in each ch 2 space* around. In the last ch 3 space, work one hdc

Round 11: Ch 2, turn. Work a sc, ch 2, sc into third chain from hook (middle of the shell) In the second dc of each shell around work *sc, ch2, sc* In the last ch 3 space, work 1 hdc.

Round 12: Ch3, turn. *In the first ch 2 space work 3 dc and in each ch 2 space* around. In the last ch 3 space, work one hdc.

Finish off

Using second colour of yarn or trim and a 6.00mm hook join with a sc to last st made. Sc in each st around entire hat

Weave in ends

Cut 6 strands of trim about 50cm long and divide them into 3. Fold one set of 3 in half over your finger; push your crochet hook through one bottom corner of your bonnet from underneath and pull all 3 strands in the loop through.. grab the tails through the loop and pull them through, tightening the knot firmly.

Poke your hook from underneath one corner of the bonnet

Fold the yarn strands in half over your finger and grab the loop with the hook

Pull the loop a little way through the other side

Grab the strands and pull down through the loop forming a knot...tighten gently but firmly to secure

Lastly and this is optional, take two lengths of satin ribbon and tie a bow on either side of the bonnet :o)

A non stick shoe rack; I'm awake at 2am!!

Oh yes... it strikes again! 2am in the morning and sitting at my laptop thinking why the heck can't I just sleep at night like a normal person?! I always feel bad when I can't sleep, my husband finds it hard to fall asleep if I'm not in bed next to him so I am hoping against hope that he has managed to drop off without me and I'm not keeping him up waiting. Being awake at this hour isn't new for me... in fact it usually means an entertaining blog post and a list of things to do whilst awake...really I'm just here trying to make myself sleepy (I don't know why I expect it to work.... does blogger now come with a 'play lullaby' function I don't know about?) but anyway I'm here. What do you do when you can't sleep? I'm open to any ideas at the moment! I suppose hitting the gym for 40 minutes after 11pm tonight (last night?) wasn't the best idea, that might have something to do with my lack of Zzzzzzz's, just at a guess. Me at the gym, no I'm not joking it really happened! My lardy arse and I decided that since it's summer and I'm still living in jeans and long sleeves I should probably do something...that something means 40 minutes sweating and heaving and bouncing around all over the place on a treadmill (try not to picture that) Late at night is about the only time I'll go to the chamber of pain; no teeny weeny fit creatures wafting about the place looking fabulous and not breaking a sweat, just one or two hardcore buffs who have nothing better to do and don't even glance at us walking in the door...I much prefer that arrangement!!

Why is there never anything good on TV at 2am? Seriously...who wants to buy a magic dicer slicer oven with bonus finger graters and non stick shoe racks that if you pay by credit card you get the full edition of 'Idiots of the World' and a Cd of songs famous in the early 80's that have been remade by an Elvis and Billy Joel cover band at 2AM IN THE MORNING!?

Oh and being awake this early in the morning, you get to witness all the disgusting slimey creatures that inhabit your house while you sleep....for example hideous long black centipedes with what looks like fangs on it's arse that moves at an alarming rate across the carpet towards your feet that just. won't. die. nomatter how many times you whack it with your shoe.... or the slug that you have NO IDEA where it came in from but it's somehow on your lounge leaving little squiggly silver trails all over the place... or the barage of teeny spiders that occupy that wallspace above the bathroom door that you don't normally notice in the dark. Oh what joy! BLECK!

And why do creepy noises sound 10 x creepier when you're sitting awake and alone in an otherwise dark house thinking you see shadows move out of the corner of your eye..oh wait I just answered my own question.
*sigh* I can't even crochet! If I started something my obsessiveness would make me finish it and I'd be sitting here til dawn! My darling loyal Toby hasn't left my side though, he'll stay curled up on the lounge beside me until I go to bed...Sparrow on the other hand seems to have decided that the bed is warmer and comfier and has abandoned me most likely to curl up on my pillow for me to squish accidentally when I stumble in later.

Maybe if I go lie down I'll drift off eventually...I'm beginning to think that might be a good idea. Or at least a better idea than sitting here in a possibly haunted, bug infested, slightly chilly, drunk slug hangout :o)