Tag: Knit

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Elmo Inspired Hat version 2

I made up an Elmo Inspired Hat pattern a few years ago to go with my Oscar Inspired Hat; however, I wanted a hat without a mouth to go with my Zoe Inspired Hat, so here is a no mouth version with a slight variation on the eyes that I like much better.

This is my son wearing the hat as part of his Halloween costume.  He is Elmo-obsessed right now.

Materials:

  • Red yarn (I used Vanna’s Choice in Scarlet)
  • White yarn (I used Vanna’s Choice in White)
  • Black yarn (I used Vanna’s Choice in Black)
  • Orange yarn (I used some Red Heart yarn from my stash.  I’m not sure the exact shade)
  • Tapestry needle
  • Size E crochet hook
  • Knitting needle size needed for my basic hat pattern
  • Fiber fill


Stitches Used:

Directions:

Hat:

First, knit your hat in the size desired using my basic hat pattern using red.  I purposely sized up one size on my son’s hat below so that he can wear it longer.

Here is my daughter wearing a more fitted version of the hat.

Eyes (make 2) (This is different from the original pattern because it is worked in continuous rounds.  It makes the pupil of the eye look more uniform):

R1:  With black use magic ring technique to start round, ch 1, sc 8, on the last stitch switch to white   Cut black yarn and work in ends. (8 stitches)

Continue with white.

R2:  2 sc in first stitch from R1 and in each sc around (16 stitches)

R3:  Sc 3, 2 sc in next stitch around (20 stitches)

R4-R6:  Sc in each stitch around (20 stitches)

R7:  Sc 3, sc2tog around (16 stitches)

R8:  Sc2tog around (8 stitches)

R9:  Sc2tog around (4 stitches)

Cut yarn and leave tail for sewing.

 

Nose:

R1:  With O use magic ring technique to start round, ch 1, sc 8 (8 stitches)

R2:  2 sc in first stitch from R1 and in each sc around (16 stitches)

R3:  Sc 3, 2 sc in next stitch around (20 stitches)

R4-R10:  Sc in each stitch around (20 stitches)

R11:  Sc 3, sc2tog around (16 stitches)

R12:  Sc2tog around (8 stitches)

R13:  Sc2tog around (4 stitches)

Cut yarn and leave tail for sewing.

Using a picture of Elmo as inspiration, tack the eyes and nose onto the hat using a tapestry needle and yarn.  I would also suggest tacking the eyes and nose to each other.

 

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Zoe Inspired Hat

My daughter Zoe is going to be Zoe from Sesame Street for Halloween. I made her a Zoe inspired knit/crochet hat to be worn with a ballerina outfit since Zoe from Sesame Street loves to dance!

Materials:

  • Gold worsted weight yarn (I used Yarn Bee Soft Secret in Saffron)
  • Gold “eyelash” or “fur” yarn (I used Yarn Bee Haute Fur in Goldenlash)
  • Small amounts of black, white, brown, pink, teal, and purple worsted weight yarn
  • Red crochet thread
  • Knitting needle size needed for my basic hat pattern
  • Size E crochet hook
  • Size 3 crochet hook
  • Tapestry needle
  • Fiber Fill


Stitches Used:

Directions:

Hat:

First, knit your hat in the size desired using my basic hat pattern using gold worsted weight yarn.

Eyes (Make 2):

R1:  With black using a magic ring, sc six, on the last stitch switch to white (6 stitches)

R2:  Two sc in each sc around (12 stitches)

R3 and R4:  Sc in each sc around (12 stitches)

R5:  Sc2tog around (6 stitches), stuff eye with fiber fill

R6:  Sc2tog around (3 stitches), break yarn and leave end for sewing

R1:  With teal using a magic ring, sc eight (8 stitches)

R2:  Two sc in each sc around (16 stitches)

R3, R4, R5:  Sc in each sc around, on last stitch of R5, switch to brown (16 stitches)

R6:  Sc in eash sc around, break yarn and leave end for sewing

Sew eyelids onto eyes using pictures below for placement.  Sew the eyes to the hat using pictures for placement.  Sew the eyes to each other for stability.

Nose:

R1:  Using pink using a magic ring, sc six (6 stitches)

R2:  Sc, 2 sc in next stitch, sc twice, 2 sc in next stitch, sc (8 stitches)

R3:  Sc in each sc around (8 stitches)

R4:  Sc, sc2tog, sc twice, sc2tog, sc (6 stitches), stuff nose with fiber fill

R5:  sc2tog three times (3 stitches), break yarn and leave end for sewing

Sew nose to hat between the eyes.  Sew to eyes for stability.

Hair:

Cut the “eyelash” yarn into six inch pieces.  Follow this tutorial for how to attach the hair to the hat.  I placed one “hair” approximately every half inch on the entire back half of the hat.

Bow:

R1:  With purple ch 4, sc in second chain from hook and in next two chains (3 stitches)

R2 – R6:  Sc in each sc across (3 stitches), break yarn and work in ends.

Cut long piece of purple yarn.  Wrap the yarn around the center of your crocheted piece several times tightly to make it look like a bow.  Used the remaining yarn to sew it to the hat.

Dragonfly:

R1:  With red crochet thread and size 3 hook, ch 5 (foundation chain), sc in second ch from hook, sc, ch 5, sl st in fifth ch from hook, sc in same foundation ch as previous sc, sc in next foundation ch, ch 7, sl st in seventh ch from hook, sc in same foundation ch as previous sc, sc in last foundation ch 3 times, working in back of foundation ch sc in next ch, ch 7, sl st in seventh ch from hook, sc in same foundation ch as previous sc, sc in next foundation ch, ch 5, sl st in fifth ch from hook, sc in same foundation ch as previous sc, two sc in last foundation ch, sl st to first sc

R2:  Working in foundation ch, sc over first sc from R1, (sl st, sc, hdc, dc, tr, dc, hdc, sc, sl st) in chain loop, (sl st, sc, hdc, dc, tr 3 times, dc, hdc, sc, sl st) in next chain loop, skipping two foundation ch, sl st in next foundation chain (end chain), sc three times, sl st in same foundation ch, (sl st, sc, hdc, dc, tr 3 times, dc, hdc, sc, sl st) in next chain loop, (sl st, sc, hdc, dc, tr, dc, hdc, sc, sl st) in next chain loop, skipping two foundation ch, sc in next foundation chain, sc in same foundation ch, ch 3, sl st in third chair from hook, sc in same foundation ch, sl st to first sc in R2, break off and leave long piece of yarn for sewing.

Sew dragon fly to head as shown.

Check out the full costume in my Elmo and Zoe Halloween Costumes post!

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Basic Knit Hat

I like to make up patterns for cute character hats, but each of those hats typically begins with a simple base hat.  For examples, see my Baby Turkey Hat, Oscar the Grouch Hat, or Elmo Hat.  Here are instructions for my favorite base hat.  I love this hat because it is very forgiving in respect to size.  It’s very stretchy and the rolled brim allows it to be longer or shorter as needed.

Here is my daughter Zoe  modeling the newborn size hat.  (She is going to be Zoe from Sesame Street for Halloween, and this is the base for her Zoe hat.)

Here is my son Jack wearing the child hat.  He is actually toddler-sized, but I made it larger so he could wear it longer.  (She is going to be Elmo for Halloween, and this is the base for his Elmo hat.)

Materials:

  • 5 US Size 6, 7, or 8 double pointed knitting needles (see table below to determine size)
  • Worsted weight yarn (my favorite is the Vanna’s Choice brand)
  • Tapestry needle


Stitches:

Size Head Circumference (in.) # of Stitches to Cast On Knitting Needle Size Hat Circumference (in) Hat Length Before Decrease (in)
Micro-Preemie 9 36 6 8 3
Preemie 11 48 6 10 3.5
Newborn 13 60 6 12 4
6 months 15 72 6 14 4.5
1 year 17 72 7 16 5
Toddler 18 72 7 16 5.5
Child 20 84 6 19 6
Small Adult 21 84 6 19 6.5
Medium Adult 22 84 7 21 7
Large Adult 23 84 7 21 7.5
XL Adult 24 84 8 23 8

Hat Instructions:

  • With yarn, cast on number of stitches in the table for the size desired and distribute them evenly on four double pointed needles.
  • Join in round (being careful not to twist!) and knit each round until the piece is the length specified in the table.  The brim of the hat will be rolled.  Unroll it to measure your length.

Crown (skip even numbered rounds for micro-preemie and preemie sizes):

R1:  (K4, SSK, K2tog, K4) around

R2:  K all stitiches

R3:  (K3, SSK, K2tog, K3) around

R4:  K all stitiches

R5:  (K2, SSK, K2tog, K2) around

R6:  K all stitiches

R7:  (K1, SSK, K2tog, K1) around

R8:  K all stitiches

R9:  (SSK, K2tog) around

R10:  (K2tog) around

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Bugs Bunny Carrot Koozie

As mentioned in my last post, I’m way behind on my blog. There are things I made in August that haven’t been added yet! I decided to start the posting with something quick and easy. A coworker asked if I could create a beer bottle koozie that looked like a carrot for his Bugs Bunny costume. Challenge accepted! I improvised the carrot using alternating groups of rows of knits and purls to give the carrot texture. I also created a large cartoony leaf that snapped to the bottom to give the effect of Bugs’ carrot. It turned out great!

IMG_2737

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Difficulty:  Easy

Time Required:  2 Movies

Overall Experience:  Good