Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Winter Hat Extravaganza!

I attempted the Sherpa, Ear Flap, Mohawk hat today. It ended up a Sherpa and Ear Flap hat. I started the top from a pattern and then once I had about 4 inches of circle I started to make up the stitches. It's my first attempt at creating something from my head or is that for my head!  I'm a “follow the pattern to the letter” gal. (Not colors, just stitches). So this was off the beaten path for me. Not to mention, it's not an afghan. Let me tell you, pardon the pun, I'm hooked.

I have no idea how to make it bigger or smaller but I'm going to keep at it. I'll do some research and make more and more. My ultimate hat will be with big chunky yarn and a Q sized hook. I want it to look like a Russian Hat with ear flaps. Big and furry!! Something that snowboarders would wear. Funky and cool.

I had a great time using the furry yarn too. Usually that kind of yarn is hard to work with for me being that I have bifocals and it's hard to see the stitches sometimes. Luckily I didn't have a problem with this yarn. By the way did I tell you all that I'm old just now? Just turned 50!! Bifocals are the norm now!!

Here's how the hat turned out.

Red Heart is my “go to” yarn so I chose this appropriate carrot color for the season. The furry yarn was a lot of fun to work with.

I like the shape. The next hat I make needs to be just a bit bigger.
Well I'm going to try to write out the pattern so that I can attempt the next hat. Look for more hats to be posted as I try to figure out different shapes and sizes. The crazier the better!! You have to get noticed on those slopes!!!

10 comments:

  1. You could try using a different size hook. Adding more rows to the crown part of the hat. That is what I did. My favorite hat pattern is Bev's ugly but warm. I have since made up my own pattern for hats :) So far the adding rows to the crown section with more increases makes the most change. Or not making so many increase rows for a smaller hat :)

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  2. Welcome to the club! I think I've messed with almost every single pattern I've ever tried, and made many of my own. If you want a wider base of crafters to chat with, try Knit Picks. We have a crochet along going on there where we help each other along, encourage, and generally hype each other up. Who knows? Maybe you'll be making up socks and tons of little things to sell at craft fairs or even online, and make that your new occupation. I know I wish it were mine! (:

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  3. Love your blog. I can relate to your situation, but now we are retired. I volunteer at the senior center teaching crochet. I have plans of signing up with the Craft Yarn Council to become a crochet teacher. I agree with Amanda, maybe you can find a way to make a career out of crochet. Good luck.

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  4. I love the fuzzy! I have not tried to use the fuzzy yarns just yet, I prefer thread but I just do what I like and usually give it to the first person that likes it! LOL!

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  5. Love the hat! And definitely make the pattern your own. On almost EVERYthing I make I end up 'ripping' and changing something. That's the challenging part. (And I can relate to the bifocal thing-- lol --I just turned 53 -today! and have more pairs of 'cheaters' around here than I can count!)

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  6. I love your hat!! I have been struggling with mine. I can't seem to get the measurements right. For some reason, everyone in my family has a head bigger than 20' circumfrence. I would love to try and make this hat. <3 Did you have trouble crocheting with the fuzzy yarn?? How did you not get it tangled? Last time I tried, it didn't turn out as beautiful as yours. :) Thank you for sharing!!

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  7. I am a crochet junkie, never without a project with me when I go places, never go a day without crocheting something. I've been crocheting since I was a little girl and am now 63 yrs old, retired and making a small living at selling my work on Etsy and at craft fairs. Also knit, sew, make jewelry and hair bows, I have a craft room in my house which looks like I may be a hoarder!

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  8. Beautiful hat. At 45 bi focals are becoming the norm for me as well.

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  9. The hat is wonderful! I just make up my own patterns as I go...works for me. I have to say though, I don't enjoy working with the fuzzy yarn as it gets all over everything.

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  10. Hi Valerie -- if you want a great mohawk hat -- head over to Vicki Howell's blog -- she has a great one!

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