Granny Stitch Sun Hat

Granny Stitch Sun Hat free pattern by My Merry Messy Life. A very cute hat but I used a size 4mm hook and it came out sized for a premie baby so I’ll have another go and probably with different colors. 

It won't go to waste or frogged through. I will donate it to a Neonatal ICU in my area. :)

Hook to Heal the Homeless from Crochet Kitten

I just had to share this amazing project. The Animator's Wife from Crochet Kitten is going to homeless shelters to teach the children there to crochet. I think it's a wonderful idea. It can lift the spirits of the children and their family. It can maybe even help the family generate a source of income. And it can give the children a lift in their self esteem. 

She is asking for donations of yarn for the children to use. Not only that but for every skein of yarn donated, she is going to donate $1 to another good cause.

To donate yarn and read more this story please click here. 

Crocheting for a Cause

I whipped up all of these goodies for the Sept 29th Soldier's Angels Baby Shower for the Marine 1st Recon wives. I had a lot of fun trying out all these cute baby hat patterns but I think it's time for me to do something else. What else? I have no idea. I have some ami on my list and some jewelry. But that's my to do list so who knows when I will get to that. hehe Stay tuned. :)

1. Tricycle Diaper Cake

2. Dragon Baby Hat

3. Baby Bear Hat

4. Pink Baby Girl Hat

5. Shell Stitch Beanie

6. Baby Baseball Hat

7. Purple Flower and Grey Pacifier Pouch

8. Green Pacifier Pouch

9. Football Baby Earflap Hat

10. Baby Bunny Washcloth

11. American Flag Newborn Hat

12. Granny Stitch Preemie Hat

I have posted about each piece individually but I didn't want to link them here. You can find them all in the archives. :) Congrats to all the new moms!

Tricycle Diaper Cake

I've always wanted to make a diaper cake but at my first baby shower, her sister made one. It was cute but I was happy when I had an excuse to make one myself. :)

There are a lot of tutorials on the web on how to make one but these two seemed the easiest to understand and most complete: Diaper Motorcycle tutorial by Sweet Aprils and Tricycle Diaper Cake Tutorial from Maiden D'Shade. I looked for the Tricycle diaper cake tutorial when I was starting to put mine together but couldn't find it until after I was done. :p  So, I didn't put the front wheel between the two back wheels. I also couldn't get it to fit right so I just put the back 2 wheels together. :p hehe 

For next time, put a paper towel or toilet paper roll core in the center of the cake pan or use a plain bunt cake pan. It will make it easier to shape the diaper wheels. :)

Materials:

- Glad Press'n Seal Wrap (to cover the diapers to protect them from dust and dirt.) 

I wanted the mom to be able to use the diapers as long with everything else.

- Baby Bottle for the Head Light

- Diapers, size 1  for the wheels

- 2 bibs for the front bumper and seat

- 2 receiving blankets to tie it all together

- Teddy Bear as the rider

- String to help the receiving blankets hold everything together

- Ribbon to keep things together and as a decorative touch

- Toilet paper roll core to give the handle bars structure

- Double sided Tape to help hold it together

What I made:

- Angel Washcloth (Wrapped around the baby bottle)

-  Baby Hat in the baby bottle

- Baby Mittens for the handle bars

If you want to see how I wrapped it, keep scrolling below. :)

Panda's Tip of the Day:

I made a base for the diaper cake to sit on to give it more structure and stability instead of just wrapping it as is. I used double sided tape to make sure it didn't shift during transport. :)

Next, I wrapped everything with the cellophane wrap, added the shreds, and tied everything with ribbon. :)

I hope the lucky Marine wife and mom to be loves it and uses it. hehe

Crochet Shell Stitch Beanie

I needed one last beanie to replace the one I put into the diaper cake and All About Ami posted about this cutie. So, I had to try it out. :)

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft

Hook: 5 mm

Pattern: Shell Stitch Beanie by the Dainty Daisy

My Adjustments:

Round 1: Magic circle

Rnd 8-14: Instead of chain 3, I use the "fake double crochet"

Round 16: Crab stitch aka Reverse single crochet

Circumference: 5.5 inches

Height: 4.5 inches

Crochet Angel Washcloth

I am putting together something special for the Marine wives baby shower, but you will have to wait for another post. I've finished it but I will post about it on another day. :) Anywho, I needed a washcloth for it and found this really cute pattern for an angel washcloth. I think it's so sweet!

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft

Hook: 4.25 mm

Findings: 20in diameter rubber hair tie

Pattern: Angel Dishcloth

Adjustment: Row 7 for me was 20 - 30 - 20, somehow I ended up with less total stitches

Time: About the amount of time to watch 3 episodes of Warehouse 13 with some distractions
Tip: Crochet over the ends of your yarn while you work or you will have lots of weaving at the end. I didn't have to do any weaving this time because any loose ends, I crochet over while doing the edging. ;)

Stay tuned for more cuteness! :)

Crochet Baby Baseball Hat

I had made a Football Baby Hat so I wanted to do a Baseball Hat. :)

Aww...someone wanted to try it on. I think it's a little big for him though. :)

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft

Hook: 5mm

Circumference: ~12 in

Height: 4in

Pattern: Army Newsboy Newborn Hat by Stitch 11
I made it in all white.

My Changes: Brim: I ch1 before turning at the end of the rows.

(It makes turning easier but my brim didn't turn out so nice.)

Note:
I will have to make this hat again and see what I can do better. :p
I also did not like the slip stitch border because it made the hat less stretchy.

Panda's Tip of the Day:
I used some spare green yarn to do a running stitch where I wanted the red stitches of the baseball to go. It makes it easier to keep the baseball stitches in the right place. I am not good at free hand. :)

Other Crochet Baby Baseball Hats! :)

This one is by the same lady, Stitch 11, who has a free pattern for this hat on her blog.

If I do make another one, I would like to change the color of the brim and edging.
This one is super cute! And there's a free pattern but in diagram form!

Crochet Butterfly Newborn Hat

This hat is cute, easy, and quick to whip up. It took me about an hour. :)

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft

Hook: 5mm

Circumference: 11-12 in

Height: 4 in  

Pattern: Butterfly Hat - Newborn by Alli Crafts

No Changes! OMG! hehe But I really don't like working in rounds because the chain 3 join at the end of each row makes for an ugly seam. I take the tail and sew up the seam so it is not so obvious.

Panda's Tip of the day:

Make the last ch in your ch 3 a little looser, it will make it easier for you to join at the end of the row.

Purple Flower n Grey Crochet Pacifier Pouch

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft
Hook: 5mm
Pearlized Button, 2 Black Buttons

I used the same free pattern as in my first Pacifier Pouch post. 

Flower Pattern: From Nichole's Embellish It! Senior Challenge Post

I had a hard time with Step six, so what I did was go down the opening of the small petal and up the center of the flower to draw up the yarn.

So Darling don't you think?! :)

Crochet Pacifier Pouch

3 in Wide x 2.5 in High
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft
Hook: 5 mm

Pattern: Pacifier Pouch by Alli Crafts
Front Button: 0.6 in or 1.5 cm
Small Inside Button

My Changes:

Flap closure instead of just a button and loop

Row 1: sc across, ch 1

(do not turn)

Row 2: {Left Handed} sc across, ch 1

(do not turn)

(that was hard because I am right handed

and my stitches came out really tight)

Row 3: sc dec, sc across, sc dec

Row 4: sc, hdc, dc, tc, tc, dc, hdc, sc

(space btw 2 tc becomes the button hole)

Row 5: reverse sc aka crab stitch across

Panda's Tip of the Day:

When sewing on the button, to allow for the thickness of the flap,

I sewn the button on loosely and then used a simple macrame knot to make the "stem" more sturdy.

<3 <3 <3

I love how the pattern included a loop that you can put around your purse or diaper bag handle or the stroller handle to hold the pouch in a more accessible place.

And no Pacifier Pouch should be without a Pacifier. :)

Acrylic yarn was used because there is less fuzz and it is very easy to clean.

I have a few ideas how to dress these up...we shall see what I do. :p

Update:
I couldn't leave this one plain so I added a star using this pattern to the back.

Fuzzy Chunky Crochet Baby Bear Hat

A Quick and Easy Newborn Hat with Ears

For once I actually used the same yarn and hook size that the pattern did. O.o I know! I surprised myself too. I would feel like I'm the in the Twilight Zone if I do not make any adjustments to the pattern either. :p hehe

Circumference: 12 in
Height: 5 in

Yarn: Loops and Threads's Country Loom

in Landscape

Hook: 6 mm

Pattern: Fuzzy Bear Newborn Hat with Ears by Alli Crafts

I did have to change a very small part of this pattern.

I crochet in rounds on the ears instead of in rows.

That's all. :)

I did have some trouble working with this fuzzy yarn because I couldn't see the stitches.
Panda's Tip of the Day:
Here are some ways I helped myself see the stitches.
Keep an eye out for the center thread. It is usually what is taught/tight. That is how you can see the stitches.

I also added bobby pins to help me keep count of my stitches.

Along with counting, I just felt for the holes between the stitches and relied on my muscle memory.

Thankfully, this yarn is so fuzzy, it would probably hide any mistakes you made. :)

Football Baby Earflap Crochet Hat

Here's another hat for the Solider's Angels of California Baby Shower.

I thought it would be cute to make a football hat for a baby boy.

Yarn: Lion Brand Yarn's Vanna's Choice

in Chocolate and White

Hook: 5 mm

Circumference: 14 in

Height (not including ear flaps): 5.5 in 

Pattern: Football Hat by Sandra Clifton

Adjustments: On the ear flaps

I used an invisible dec with dc and when I turned

for the next row, I invisible dec in the back loops (aka the right side)

I stopped after 6 rows and used the space between dc to thread the ties.

Because I was using a thicker yarn I was thinking of just making the preemie pattern so that the size would come out to a newborn size. After I did a few dc to check the size, I thought it wouldn't make the hat too much bigger if I worked the newborn pattern. I was wrong, I should have gone with my first instinct. But it did allow for the baby to grow into the hat and to wear it longer. More football games with dad. :)

Here is another free Football Crochet Earflap Baby hat Pattern from Jenny and Teddy



And I love this idea of making it for a girl baby.
Daughters like to watch football with their daddies too. :)

Crochet Baby Bunny Wash Cloth

I guess I was a little tired of making hats even though I have a list of other hats to make so I decided to whip up a quick washcloth then tie it up like a bunny. Although, I think mine looks more like a mouse. :p

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft

Hook: 5 mm

5 inch Wide X 4.5 in High

Pattern: Baby Washcloth from Alli Crafts

Bunny Wrapping Idea from Posh Pooch Designs's Baby Bunny Wash Cloth Tutorial Post

I liked the Shell design better than the Semi-Granny Square design which is why I have two different wash cloth patterns linked. :p

American Flag Crochet Newborn Hat

An American Flag Hat for the son or daughter of a hero seems fitting. :) Yep, another Hat for the Solider's Angels of California baby shower.

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft

Hook: 5 mm

Circumference: 13 in

Height: 4.5 in

Hat Base Pattern: Newborn Baby Hat from Crochet Spot

Adjustments:

Round 1-5 in Blue

Round 6: White

Round 7: Red

(Because I used a smaller hook size, I thought the hat would be too small.

Since I knotted the yarn after the color changes, I had to increase here instead of in Round 5.

*dc, dc, 2dc* around)

Round 8: White

Round 9: Red

Round 10: White

Round 11: Red

I don't like weaving in too many tails so I just carried the yarn along the back.

White Stars Pattern: Tiny One Round Stars by Fiber Flux

I put on 7 so that it would be a luckier number. :)

Top of the Hat

My finished American Flag hat. :)

This American Flag Beanie form Ambassador Crochet was my inspiration.

But they did something like this to the top and I didn't want to figure that pattern out right then so I went for an easier route. :)