Newborn Stocking Cap Tutorial (Crochet)

Here it is!  A crochet tutorial for a newborn stocking cap.  This is similar to my Crochet Long Stocking Cap Tutorial, but I've made some adjustments, and this one is sized for a newborn.

There are two options below.  One with a ribbed band and one with a rolled band.

Disclaimer
**I am definitely not a professional when it comes to writing patterns.  I am simply sharing this for your enjoyment.  If you find mistakes, or have questions, please let me know but be polite.  If you post projects online from this pattern, please just link back to my site and give me credit for the pattern.  Thanks!**

Fits Approx 13"-14" head
Approx 21" long with pom pom

For Option 1 I did three rows of each color.  For Option 2 I did 2 red and 1 white.  Be wild and crazy and have fun with the pattern!  However, I find it works best if the number of rows of the overall color pattern adds up to a multiple of three. i.e. 3 blue + 3 grey = 6, or 2 red + 1 white = 3, and so forth.

Also, I've tried several different ways of changing between colors.  I've cut and tied each section, and I've cut and wove in ends of each section.  But the best method I've found so far is to carry each color through the whole project and cut just once at the end.  You get something that looks like this inside.

Very few ends to weave in, a nice clean inside, and you probably use less yarn when all is said and done.

Option 1

Size H Hook – Yarn Bee Andes Alpaca Yarn, Medium (4) Weight

Chain 3’s at the beginning of each round count as one double crochet

At the end of each round join with a slip stitch

Abbreviations

ch – chain

dc – double crochet

sl st – slip stitch

st - stitch

fpdc - front post double crochet

bpdc - back post double crochet

1. ch 4, 5 dc in 3^rd ch from hook, sl st in top of ch to join
2. ch 3, dc in each dc (6)
3. ch 3, dc in each dc (6)
4. ch 3, dc in each dc (6)
5. ch 3, dc in each dc (6)
6. ch 3, dc in each dc (6)
7. ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next st, *2 dc, 1 dc* repeat * section to end (9)
8. ch 3, dc in each dc (9)
9. ch 3, dc in each dc (9)
10. ch 3, dc in each dc (9)
11. ch 3, dc in each dc (9)
12. ch 3, dc in each dc (9)
13. ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 2 st, *2 dc, 1 dc, 1 dc* repeat * section to end (12)
14. ch 3, dc in each dc (12)
15. ch 3, dc in each dc (12)
16. ch 3, dc in each dc (12)
17. ch 3, dc in each dc (12)
18. ch 3, dc in each dc (12)
19. ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 3 st, *2 dc, 1 dc in next 3 st,* repeat * section to end (15)
20.  ch 3, dc in each dc (15)
21. ch 3, dc in each dc (15)
22. ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 4 st, *2 dc, 1 dc in next 4 st,* repeat * section to end (18)
23. ch 3, dc in each dc (18)
24. ch 3, dc in each dc (18)
25. ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 5 st, *2 dc, 1 dc in next 5 st,* repeat * section to end (21)
26. ch 3, dc in each dc (21)
27. ch 3, dc in each dc (21)
28. ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 6 st, *2 dc, 1 dc in next 6 st,* repeat * section to end (24)
29. ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 7 st, *2 dc, 1 dc in next 7 st,* repeat * section to end (27)
30. ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 8 st, *2 dc, 1 dc in next 8 st,* repeat * section to end (30)
31. ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 9 st, *2 dc, 1 dc in next 9 st,* repeat * section to end (33)
32. ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 10 st, *2 dc, 1 dc in next 10 st,* repeat * section to end (36)
33. ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 11 st, *2 dc, 1 dc in next 11 st,* repeat * section to end (39)
34. ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 12 st, *2 dc, 1 dc in next 12 st,* repeat * section to end (42)
35. ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 13 st, *2 dc, 1 dc in next 13 st,* repeat * section to end (45)
36. ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 14 st, *2 dc, 1 dc in next 14 st,* repeat * section to end (48)
37. ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 15 st, *2 dc, 1 dc in next 15 st,* repeat * section to end (51)
38. ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 16 st, *2 dc, 1 dc in next 16 st,* repeat * section to end (54)
39. ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 17 st, *2 dc, 1 dc in next 17 st,* repeat * section to end (57)
40. ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 18 st, *2 dc, 1 dc in next 18 st,* repeat * section to end (60)

At this point I sometimes do a few rows of *ch 3, dc in each dc* to finish a color pattern.  This is up to you.  I do like to finish on the color that I will be doing the rib in.

Ribbed Band

Ch 3, fpdc, bpdc, bpdc, *fpdc in next 2 stitches, bpdc in next 2 stitches* repeat * section around.  Join with a sl st in the top of the beginning ch.

Repeat the above round until the rib section is the desired length.  I typically do 2 or 3 rounds, and in the pictured hat I did 2.

Option 2

Size H Hook – Red Heart Super Sport Yarn

Chain 3’s at the beginning of each round count as a double crochet

At the end of each round join with a slip stitch

Follow the steps for Option 1 up to Round 40, then continue below.

41. ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 19 st, *2 dc, 1 dc in next 19 st,* repeat * section to end (63)
42. ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 20 st, *2 dc, 1 dc in next 20 st,* repeat * section to end (66)
43. ch 3, dc in dc (66)
44. ch 3, dc in dc (66)
45. ch 3, dc in dc (66)
46. ch 3, dc in dc (66)
47. Roll brim over last 4 rows.

Newborn Stocking Caps x 2

**The Tutorial for this pattern is now up!  Check it out here!**

Featured on

Lately my tutorial on crocheted long stocking caps has been getting a lot of interest thanks to Pinterest.  {Thank you Pinterest!}  Which is exciting, but also a little scary.  I was still fairly new to crocheting when I wrote it and it was one of the first things I ever figured out on my own and wrote a tute for. Yikes!!

I've made several newborn versions of these hats recently for my sister's new floral shop, and have made some improvements to my pattern.  Here's a favorite...

Notice anything?  Like there are two of the same hat?  There's a reason for that.  I'm expecting, not one, but TWO bundles of joy!  This has been one of the main reasons for my hiatus from my blog this summer.  We found out the beginning of June that I was pregnant {YAY!}.  However, the end of the month brought a miscarriage scare.  Imagine our relief/shock when the doctor told us that not only was everything fine, but that there were two little ones baking in my belly.

And you can guess by the pink and brown theme of the hats that they are both girls.  My poor husband.  He's about as "male" as you can get, and now he's going to be raising three girls.  As he says, the problem with having girls is that you don't have just one boy to worry about, but ALL of the boys to worry about.

I can't wait to put these little hats on them for some newborn pictures.  But, wait...yes I can...I'm not ready for them to be here yet!!  There's still so much to do.  I'm 28 weeks along and already huge and uncomfortable {note that I'm 5 foot nothing, so there's not much room for these babies}.  You would think that would make me want them here sooner rather than later.  But I have quilts, dresses, car seat covers, and so many other things to make!!  I also have Christmas gifts to make for my two year old.  Then there's the fact that I don't want them here before their little bodies are good and able to function without machines.

So keep watching for a revised tutorial of crocheted long stocking caps, as well as some cute baby photos.

Works in Progress - 5.23

Here goes again!  Many projects started, none completed. :)  I know I'm not alone in this!

I did make some progress on my bear cocoon.  I'm working on the oval that will be then belly.  Then on to the hat!!

Nothing to report on refinishing this children's bench.  I still need to take the metal pieces to my father-in-law to clean them up with the sand blaster.

I haven't done anything else with my Zig Zag Quilt Top either.  I'm debating whether to use quilting cotton or flannel for the back...

I have however, made lots of progress on my bookshelf ladder.

I cut out the shelves...

Primed everything...

And added the first coat of light blue paint to it today.  One more coat and then I can do the final assembly.  Yay!!

Painting today was somewhat frustrating though as I had 2-year-old hands helping and feet walking on my project.  It's what I get for trying to paint with my little one awake!  Lesson learned.

And that one petal of my Retro Flower quilt block from last week has now become a whole flower!  Yay!

And look!  I even got a second one done today!  More frustration though as my sewing machine and I were not getting along.  In 40 minutes I only managed to sew two 3 1/2 inch long seams successfully.  ARGH!  :)  It's okay though.  I'm in the market for a new machine.  Any suggestions?

Works in Progress

Here are some of my projects I am currently working on.  Maybe one day I learn to finish a few before I start 10 more...

These first two are of a children's bench my mom gave me.  I've taken it apart, and sanded and stained the wood slats.  I just need to take the medal parts over to my father-in-laws so I can sand blast them to clean them up.  Then I'll put it back together and it will no longer be a work in progress!

This will be a ladder bookshelf.  It's my own design and if all goes well I'll create a tutorial for it.  I need to make the shelves, paint and prime everything, and then I can finish putting it together.

I have had a bunch of fabric from the Dandelion Daydream line forever.  When I say the Retro Flowers Quilt pattern I finally knew what I wanted to do with the fabric!  Sadly, this is all I have done.  Only one petal.  Just 63 petals to go!  I also used Dandelion Daydream for this apron.

This is my current crochet project.  I almost always have a crochet or knitting project going.  This will be a baby bear cocoon and will have a matching hat.

And finally, my zig zag quilt top.  This is going to be a gift for some friends who are not finding out the gender of their baby.  Love this design as it works for a boy or girl!  I may have to make me one...

3KCBWDAY4 - A Knitter and Crocheter For All Seasons

I hate to say that even though I live some place that has all four seasons (even though our Spring and Fall is only a few weeks long sometimes), I tend to only and knit and crochet items meant for the cold months.      It's not a conscious choice.  I think it's because most of the patterns I come across that I like are meant to be warm and cozy.  I'd LOVE to find patterns for Spring, Summer, and Fall items though.  So if any of you have any that you like I'd love to see them.  Send them my way!

Part of the problem is I tend to associate knit and crocheted items as warm cozy things.  A beanie, a cuddly afghan, a soft scarf.  I guess the baby booties I've been making lately can be more of an all-season thing for little ones that need to keep their feet warm.  And at one time I developed my own crochet headband pattern so that I could teach it to my twelve year old niece {go here to check out her cute blog, she's always creating something.}.  Maybe that needs to be my goal, to knit/crochet something for every season!

3KCBWDAY3 - Yarn Wielding Heroes

So the topic for day three of Knitting and Crochet Blog Week is our Knitting and/or Crochet Hero.

Honestly, this one was a little harder for me.

As far as crocheting goes, I'd have to say it's the ladies at my church group who so patiently took me under their wing and gave me my first crochet lesson.  We were having an activity where we were learning to crochet beanies.  I was probably the only one who showed up with 0 crocheting experience.  So when they handed me the pattern it looked like complete gibberish to me.  There were all of these abbreviations - YO, SS, DC, CH - what in the world did all of this mean!  Then one of them showed me how to do a double crochet.  It went something like this, <A very patient lady> "Yarn on, put your hook through the stitch, yarn on, pull it through, yarn on, pull through two loops, yarn on, pull through two loops." <Me> "How many stitches was that?"  <Patient Lady> "One."  <Me> "One!  All of that was only one stitch!"  You can imagine how the rest of the evening went.  But I persevered and thanks to their help and a lot of youtube videos I finished my first beanie and never looked back.

As far as knitting is concerned, I've mainly taught myself and utilized the internet a ton!!  Whenever I get stuck on a pattern, I start searching the internet for explanations or videos.  However, I guess I can thank some ladies out there in Blog Land for giving me the inspiration to pick up the needles again.  I tried teaching myself over a year ago, and it didn't stick. Then I was introduced to Blog Land.  Through my blog stalking I started to see some ladies knitting projects and they gave me the desire to pick up the needles again and give it another go.  So in a way those ladies are my heroes in that their projects inspired me to try again.  I would say mainly they are Shannon from luvinthemommyhood and Rachel from Stitched in Color.  So thank you to those ladies for tantalizing me with their projects so that I had the will to try again!

3KCBWDAY2 Photography Challenge Day - Knitting and Crochet Blog Week

If you're a Zumba instructor like me or have ever been to a Zumba class then you probably find the above picture hilarious!  For those of you who don't know what Zumba is, it's a cardio class based on Latin and International Rhythms.  Basically you dance an hour away and burn a ton of calories!

Well for Day 2 of the 3rd Annual Knitting and Crochet Blog Week the topic is Photography Challenge.  The photos just have to include something from our craft, and are not going to be judged on the skill of the photographer <phew!> but by the creativity and imagination put into the photo.  <You, the reader of blogs, are the nominators.  So if you like my entry below, head over to Eskimimi using this link to nominate me please!>

So what does the Zumba image have to do with all of this?  It's my inspiration for today's challenge.

What do you think? What's life without a little humor, right?! :)

source for vintage photo

A Rainbow of Colors?

I'd like to think that when it comes to my yarn stash you would find a whole rainbow of colors.  Unfortunately when I opened my yarn drawers before writing this post I found something quite different.  Apparently I really like blues, reds, blacks, and neutrals.  It could be worse, right?

If other colors appear in my supply it tends to be in multi-color yarns.  Camo, red/green/white, red/blue/green/yellow, etc.

My completed projects definitely show this as well.  So many of them include red or blue with some sort of neutral or black/grey combo.  Need proof?

From my red, black, and white collection there's the red and black fingerless gloves, my Cranberry Cloche, and the Long Stocking Cap.

Then from my blue and neutral collection we have the Pretty Puff Slouchy Hat, the knit scarf for my niece, my Striped Knit Beanie, and my Crocheted Flowers.

Looks like I'm in need a of a color challenge!

Knitting and Crochet Blog Week

Tomorrow officially starts the 3rd Annual Knitting and Crochet Blog Week.  If you're not sure what I'm talking about check out my earlier post for more info.  So for the next week you will see a post a day from me that has something to do with knitting or crocheting.  I have to admit, some of the topics are a challenge for me so this could be a stretch!

If you're a fellow yarn wielder you should join in on the fun!  It's not too late!

Newborn Cap and Booties

Just finished a gift for a pregnant friend!  A little birdie told me she wanted a long stocking cap for her baby.  I found a crochet pattern through snappy-tots.com and went to work!  I was good this time and used yarn I already had in my stash.  Gotta love it when I manage that.

I decided to use some Peaches & Cream Twist yarn that had blue, yellow, red, and green in it.  They're not finding out the gender of the baby so I needed something neutral.  I thought the yarn was fun when I saw it in the store and I'm glad I found a good use for it!

The pattern was an easy one to follow, the only thing that could be improved upon is it doesn't specify if your chain 2's at the beginning of each row count as a stitch.  Other than that, it was easy-peesey!

Then I decided I wanted to learn to cable knit.  As I was looking for a simple pattern to try out I came across these cable knit baby booties on Ravelry.  So of course I had to make some to go with the stocking cap!  What else would you expect?!

I have to admit, I cruised until I reached the cable part.  Then it was like, "Huh?  What?  I leave some stitches unworked?  What do I do with them?  Turn before I reach the end of a row, what?"  My true colors as a beginner knitter really showed.  So I looked online for basic instructions on how to knit a cable.  I found some on Knitting for Dummies.  Come to find out it wasn't the cable part that was tripping me up, but the shaping of the bootie.  

So I gave the shaping part a go, managed to do it, but it didn't look so hot.  I unraveled the whole bootie and started over.  I'm glad I did!  That practice run did nothing but help!

All that's left is to sew my tag onto them, then they can be delivered to their new home.  The baby is not due for a few more months so I'm ahead of the game on this one!

(Sorry the pics aren't better.  The weather in my part of the world just hasn't been cooperating this week!)

Knitting and Crochet Week at Eskimimi Makes

Have you heard about Knitting and Crochet Week 2012 at Eskimimi Makes?  If not you should definitely check it out!  She hosts a whole week of predetermined blogging topics.   This is this first time I've participated in it, but it looks like it is going to be a week full of inspiration, entertainment, and stretching yourself creatively.

It is April 23rd-29th and topics include things such as  Colour Lovers and Your Knitting or Crochet Hero.  The week is complete with prizes and organized tagging to make sure your are connected to the others participating.

And one of the best things...the rules are flexible.  Want to write a post ahead of time and schedule to publish on the correct day?  Go for it!  Want to start brainstorming ideas now?  Of course!  Want to challenge yourself and do it all on the schedule day?  ARE YOU CRAZY??!!  Just kidding!  :)  Pick your poison!

So hop on over to Eskimimi Makes and sign up!

I'm excited to take part in this and hope some of you will join me!

Tutorial - Crochet Flowers

Several months ago my sister told me about some cute crochet flower and headband sets at Walmart.  You could buy them separately so you could mix and match colors.  After taking a quick look at them I thought, "I can do that."  So here is a tutorial for the flower portion!  I’d like to do the headband portion as well, but I can’t find them in Walmart anymore and I don’t know if my memories that good.  We’ll have to see…

It's an easy and quick crochet project.  Enjoy!

CROCHET FLOWER

Pattern Notes

Pattern uses a size F/5 (3.7MM) hook and light weight (#3) yarn.

Ch 3 counts as first stitch

(Variations of flowers are shown at the bottom using different hooks sizes and a variation in stitches.) 

Abbreviations
ch – chain

sc – single crochet

dc – double crochet

tc – treble crochet

st – stitch

sl st – slip stitch

sk - skip

R1: Start with a *magic ring.  Ch 3 in the magic ring then 14 dc.  Pull the ring tight. (15)

*If you are unsure of how to do this, here is a great tutorial.  If you’ve never used a magic ring for crocheting in the round before I highly recommend it as it makes that center hole MUCH smaller.

R2: ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each stitch around. Join with sl st in top of beginning ch 3. (30)

R3: ch5, *sk 2 st, sc in next st, ch 4* repeat * section around.  End with sk 2 st, then join with sl st in first st. (10 arches)

R4: *5 tc in first arch, sl st in sc* repeat * section around. Join with sl st in base of beginning tc. (10 scallops) See note at very bottom to understand why it is important to join in the base of the beginning tc.

Finishing Off: trim and weave in ends.  You can then attach whatever kind of hair clip you’d like to them, or put them on a scarf, head band, bags, the sky's the limit!

VARIATIONS FROM PATTERN ABOVE

1. Uses size G hook.  R1 - 16 stitch count.  R2 - 32 stitch count.  R3 - 11 arches and dc in place of sc.  R4 - 11 arches and scallops.*

2. Uses size G hook. R3 - dc in place of sc.*

3. Uses size G hook.

4. Done using original pattern above.


*You'll notice each of these flowers have a scallop that stick our above the rest.  That is because on R4 I joined the last scallop at the top of the first tc rather than the base.  I learned.  And know you can learn from my mistake too!