I recently remembered an afghan I saw in a book from the library that was made up of what looked like those peppermint candy swirls. I thought it would make cute as a hat. The problem is, I have looked at like a thousand pattern books, so who the heck knows which one the pattern was in. So, off I went trying to create it on my own.
I assumed it was made by changing colors every few stitches, so that is what I tried first. I couldn't even get through the 3rd round doing it that way. Dropping the yarn and picking up the new color every couple stitches drove me crazy. I just wasn't able to get into the rhythm of it. I nixed that idea and found a way to work it where I would only change colors once per round. It is probably not the most conventional way to make this, and it uses more yarn than necessary, but it was a much more pleasant experience and it looks great (which is really all that matters).
The look is achieved by working the colors into the stitch of the same color and chaining past the stitches of the alternate color. Then switch colors on the next round, push the chain stitches to the back, and work into the stitches that were ignored during the last round.
Keep your chains looser so the hat won't lose its stretch. The extra chains at the end of each round are to get you to the right place for the beginning of the next round. Make sure to pull the dropped yarn tight after making the first stitch with new color.
If I were going to sell this, I would line the inside because it is a bit unsightly. But it is for my baby niece, and I know my sister-in-law won't mind. I just hope it fits well. I have it on a ball that measures 18" around and it is just about stretched all the way while still being comfortable.
Peppermint Candy Hat (Baby size only, should fit 16-18" head)
Materials:
I assumed it was made by changing colors every few stitches, so that is what I tried first. I couldn't even get through the 3rd round doing it that way. Dropping the yarn and picking up the new color every couple stitches drove me crazy. I just wasn't able to get into the rhythm of it. I nixed that idea and found a way to work it where I would only change colors once per round. It is probably not the most conventional way to make this, and it uses more yarn than necessary, but it was a much more pleasant experience and it looks great (which is really all that matters).
The look is achieved by working the colors into the stitch of the same color and chaining past the stitches of the alternate color. Then switch colors on the next round, push the chain stitches to the back, and work into the stitches that were ignored during the last round. Keep your chains looser so the hat won't lose its stretch. The extra chains at the end of each round are to get you to the right place for the beginning of the next round. Make sure to pull the dropped yarn tight after making the first stitch with new color.
If I were going to sell this, I would line the inside because it is a bit unsightly. But it is for my baby niece, and I know my sister-in-law won't mind. I just hope it fits well. I have it on a ball that measures 18" around and it is just about stretched all the way while still being comfortable.
Peppermint Candy Hat (Baby size only, should fit 16-18" head)
Materials:
Caron Simply Soft, color White
Caron Simply Soft, color Harvest Red
Bernat Pipsqueak, color White (for the trim)
size I 5.5mm crochet hook
Bernat Pipsqueak, color White (for the trim)
size I 5.5mm crochet hook
stitch marker (optional)
yarn needle
Abbreviations:
CH - chain
SC - single crochet
HDC - half-double crochet
SS - slip stitch
Make a ring
Round 1: With Caron White, (HDC 1, CH 1) 6 times in ring. SS in first HDC made, SS to first CH space of the round. DON'T pull ring closed yet. 12 sititches
Round 2: With Red, CH 1, (HDC down into ring, CH 2) 6 times. SS in first HDC made, SS in first CH space of the round. Can close ring now. 18 stitches
Round 3: With White, CH 1, working in front of the chain from previous round from now through the rest of the pattern, (2 HDC in HDC, CH 2) around. CH 2, SS in first chain space of the round, 24 stitches
Round 4: Red, CH 1, (2 HDC in HDC, CH 3) around. CH 2, SS in first chain space of the round. 30 stitches
Round 5: White, CH 1, (2 HDC in first HDC, 1 HDC in next, CH 3) around. CH 3, SS in first chain space of the round. 36 stitches
Round 6: Red, CH 1, (2 HDC in first HDC, 1 HDC in next, CH 4) around. CH 3, SS in first chain space. 42 stitches
Round 7: White, CH 1, (2 HDC in first HDC, 1 HDC in each of next 2 HDC's, CH 4) around. CH 4, SS in first chain space. 48 stitches
Round 8: Red, CH 1, (2 HDC in first HDC, 1 HDC in each of next 2 HDC's, CH 5) around. CH 4, SS in first chain space. 54 stitches
Round 9: White, CH 1 (2 HDC in first HDC, 1 HDC in each of next 3 HDC's, CH 5) around. CH 5, SS in first chain space. 60 stitches
Round 10: Red, CH 1 (2 HDC in first HDC, 1 HDC in each of next 3 HDC's, CH 5) around. CH 5, SS in first chain space. 60 stitches
Round 11: White, CH 1, (HDC in each of 5 HDC's, CH 5) around. CH 5, SS in first chain space. 60 stitches
Round 12: Red, CH 1, (HDC in each of 5 HDC's, CH 5) around. CH 5, SS in first chain space. 60 stitches
Rounds 13 - 28: Repeat rounds 11 and 12
Round 29: White, CH 1, (HDC in each of 5 White HDC's, SC in each of 5 Red HDC's) repeat around. 60 stitches
Round 30: With Pipsqueak White, CH 1, 1 HDC in each stitch around. 60 stitches (You may want to use a stitch marker to mark beginning of next round.)
Round 31: CH 1, (1 HDC in 8 stitches, HDC 2 together) repeat around. 54 stitches
Round 32: CH 1, 1 HDC in each stitch around. 54 stitches
Done! Fasten off and weave in those ends.
And if anyone knows where to find the afghan pattern I was talking about, please post it in the comments. Thanks!
No comments:
Post a Comment