Crochet Adventures

(Picture garnered from Google - crochetspot.com  )

Crochet Adventures!

The Tale of the Tenacious Topper 

To start off on the right foot I must warn you that I am not a master crochet person. I don't even know the correct word FOR a person that crochets. A crocheter? Anyway, so please don't look at what I've done as the right or wrong way to do things. Everything concerning my crocheting has been a learning process that I want to share.

Let's begin!

First of all, I got this nifty pattern from here - http://www.mooglyblog.com/all-grown-up-striped-slouch-hat/

This wonderful lady not only gives out free patterns, she also does teaching videos on how to accomplish parts of said patterns. For example - I believe round three had me starting something called Bpdc. At first I was like...wtf mate? Then I found her nifty video where she explains that BP means back post...I think ... and that dc is what is usually means - double crochet.

She also has a video on brim which is completely freaking useful as you can use a brim like that on almost anything and everything.

So to start I thought I'd show you my first attempt. Now realize this hat is not to everyone's liking. ESPECIALLY if you do it to the length that she wants. My husband liked it, so I made it. I also made one for my daughter. In the future for kids and small heads I won't be using as many rounds as it made it look more cone head like. Yea, I just referenced the Cone heads. However, the way it turned out isn't her fault, hers looks great. I think I just need to make a dozen more to perfect it. 

Ok I let my husband pick the colors so if you don't like them then blame him or pick different ones :D

I used two skeins of Caron Simply Soft. That's a medium yarn or a 4, either way. I also used the crochet needle that Moogly suggested. The official colors are Pumpkin and Autumn Maize which you can get for a great price AFTER Thanksgiving. 

 

 Pretty colors huh? And you thought they were going to be ugly. Rude.

Pretty soon I was on my way! I had Burn Notice on Netflix, a cup of hot tea, and my crochet needle was going clickity clack....

OK, it wasn't because it doesn't make sound but it made the scene. 

 

 I used somethign called a Magic Circle to begin with. Moogly teaches this in one of her videos. I in no way, came up with the Magic Circle. I was very proud that I got through the first couple of rounds with out fudging up.

Two days later, and about five Burn Notice's I decided to note my progress. You see that terrible line floating down the back of the hat? You do? What line? I have no idea what you're talking about...

On a serious note, people did ask why it was happening but I didn't really understand/bother to read most of Moogly's reply or I would probably have no line. I would have had to start over....

This brim...can go to hell and back. This was by far the WORST part of the hat. I watched four more Burn Notice's and a terrible movie called Paradise before I managed to finish it at 1:30 AM! FREAKING AM! It consumed me, I tell you. It called at me, ate away at my soul until I finished it. It was my fault really for allowing any sort of ginger color in my work. Ginger's have no soul after all.

Yes...I am aware this is the biggest "beanie" the history of the world. My husband also has the biggest head to fit said beanie. Now, it does flop perfectly in the back but while he is wearing it, I somehow think he grew dreadlocks and is stuffing them in there. I am constantly reminded that I should have just crocheted a bit tighter. There is a fine balance in this pattern. If you crochet normally (normal to me) it's too tight, if you crochet too loosely...it looks like it should be a thing to carry a baby in rather than a beanie. Go figure. 

Caron Simply Soft

Ocean (blue) & Orchid (light purple)

Second attempt for daughter's floppy Jamaican hat. Notice how it's pretty much just as long as the first? No you don't. 

So moral of the story...maybe I need some practice. I'm O.K. with that. I can get plenty from moogly's site and others I'll reference later on. Thanks for reading! If you have any questions don't hesitate!