Pink and purple baby blanket

I’ve just completed my second baby blanket, this very simple pink and purple number, in the same granny design, but this time in one large rectangle, rather than several separate squares like last time. At least it started off as a rectangle; as it got bigger, it somehow got more square-like, not sure how that happened..

I hope the mother likes it! She loved the idea of pink and purple when I suggested it, but um, I suspect she might be expecting something more in pastels, suitable for a baby girl. Oh well, I don’t DO pastels – not for babies, not for anyone!

This is the last baby blanket I’m going to make for a while, they take so long and, due to sheer guilt and nervousness of reception, they tend to block out other projects. I always worry that while I’m experimenting with other yarns and designs, the baby blanket is sitting there, tapping its foot at me, impatiently waiting to be finished.

—-

On another note I’m very excited at the reception my hat pattern has received (below)! Thank you for your lovely comments! On Ravelry there are 10 projects already, made from my pattern! 😀 😀 😀 It’s great to see people’s variations on the design and the colours they’ve chosen. I’m planning on putting up a refined version of the pattern soon as I want to try it out using a thinner yarn (DK), and perhaps a stretchier and/or decorative stitch.

😀

My first crochet pattern :D

I’ve written out the pattern for my Spur-Of-The-Moment Slouch Hat which I made back in December.

To warn you – I wrote this out as I went along, so it is not a tested pattern. If you have any problems with it, let me know and I will do my best to help. I’ve never written out a pattern before so I hope I have made it clear, if not just comment me and let me know! I made this to fit my own head of course, you may find you have to adjust the number of stitches at some stages to fit against your own head.

*Please do not sell this pattern, but you can of course sell any hats you make from this. And I would love to see your results!

Simple slouch beanie
© Crooked Crochet

I used 2 strands of Debbie Bliss DK Cashmerino yarn together for this.

5.5mm hook.

To start:

Chain 2

Round 1: Chain 3 (this counts as 1st dc). Make 11 dcs in 2nd chain from hook (to finish with 12 stitches).

Round 2: do 2 dcs in every stitch (24 stitches).

Round 3: do 2 dcs in every stitch (48 stitches). (These are drastic increases to encourage the ‘gathered’ effect.)

Round 4: Increase 1 stitch in every other stitch. (e.g. 2 dcs in 1st stitch; 1 dc in 2nd; 2dcs in 3rd; 1 in 4th and so on) (72).

Rounds 5-14: do 1 dc in every stitch (72). Keep checking against your head size and stop if you think it’s getting too long, or carry on more rounds if you prefer the hat to be longer!

Round 15: Decrease after every 6th stitch (i.e. do 7th & 8th stitches together) (64).

Round 16: Decrease after every 5 stitches (i.e. do 6th & 7th stitches tog) (56).

Round 17: 1 dc in every stitch (56).

Round 18: Use Single Crochet. Decrease after every 10th stitch (11th & 12th tog) (52).

Round 19: SC 52 stitches all round. Join & cut. Weave in ends.

Note: If you find that the hat is too loose or tight you can do more decreases, or leave some out as you go along, to fit against your head. I worked it through by trial and error, by fitting it on my own head as I went along. The resulting hat fits me almost perfectly, though I could’ve done with another decrease or two in places, as it is still a tiny bit loose on me. (But that’s OK, it means it puts less kinks in my hair! LOL :D)

—

Fancy wristwarmers

I’ve also been busy with my hook making these “almost-mock-Victorian-style” wristwarmers, they’re done in just basic double crochet, with a picot edging on top and bottom to give them a lacy effect. I added some brass-coloured buttons, which I took from an old skirt I no longer wear, hence doing my bit for the environment! (I think it’s called “Upcycling”!)

They are not strictly gloves as there is no thumbhole, but I like to think of them as “extra sleeves” – you can wear them under your jumper or jacket and pull them down over your hand when you’re cold and push or fold them back when you need to use your hands! The buttons give a degree of flexibility to the wearer.

Spur-of-the-moment slouch hat

Haven’t posted in a lo-o-ong while, but heavy snowfall in London right now has got me picking up the hooks again. I made this hat last night on a whim and am planning on making a grey scarf to match. Not sure if this is ‘slouchy’ enough to strictly be called a “slouch hat” or if it is really just a “beanie”, (or a “slouch beanie”?) but erm, not sure it matters!

Anyway, I used my favourite yarn, Debbie Bliss cashmerino. I seem to go back to it again and again.