Operation Christmas Child

 

Operation Christmas Child drop off is the week of Nov. 17-24th...coming up very quickly! I love this sweet ministry and it is so special to do with my kids. What better way to share the love of Jesus with a child during Christmas? My kids wrote some sweet notes and I am enclosing photos of us too.

 

I really wanted to include some handmade crochet gifts. I thought about making hats, but with it being so warm (depending on what part of the country), I decided on headbands and hair clips. I also made a little yarn bracelet as you can see in the photos. I hope to have more boy gifts next year.

 

Most of these are crocheted flowers. Some of them I attached to barrette clips and some to elastic to make a headband. I love the thin elastic, since it has an amazing stretch and can fit pretty much any size up to an adult. I buy my elastic from Dogwood Supplies on Etsy. The beautiful fabric flower is from Belle Rose Designs. Also, most of this yarn in the photos is handspun yarn, but any yarn is great to use.

 

 

In my box for a girl aged 10-14, I put some of them in this cute little pink bag!

 

If you need a crochet flower pattern, I have some on my Patterns Page but there are tons of free patterns online. I would check Pinterest and see what you can find. I have posted some on my Pinterest page also.

 

 

I was so excited to drop off my OCC shoeboxes!

 

 

 

Merry Christmas!

Jenny

Crochet Baby Beanie Hat Pattern & Tutorial

This is a complete tutorial and pattern for a 

crochet baby beanie with optional button.

This pattern and images are copyrighted by Happy Baby Crochet. Please do not share, distribute, copy, re-write or sell this pattern. In addition, all images associated with this pattern are protected. You may not use them as your own. Thanks.

Supplies:

• Size I (5.5 mm) crochet hook
• Worsted Weight Organic Cotton (I used Nature's Choice Organic Cotton by Lion Brand)
• Button (optional) – medium to large sized
• Yarn or Tapestry Needle
• Scissors

Abbreviations:

ch: chain

st: stitch

sts: stiches

sl st: slip stitch

sc: single crochet

dc: double crochet

2dc: work 2 double crochet stitches in the next stitch (increase)

Gauge: 12 sts x 6 rows = 4 inches

Notes: Ch 1 at the beginning of rounds does not count as a stitch. All rounds to be joined to first stitch using a slip stitch. This hat is worked in rounds, place marker if necessary.

Photo Tutorial shown is for 0-3 months size.

**All photos are shown from the left-handed perspective as I am a lefty crochet designer. 

 0 - 3 months (approx. 14” x 5.5”)

Ch 4. Join into a ring.

Rnd 1: Ch 1 (does not count as your 1^st st). 9 sc in ring, join to 1^st sc. (9 sts)

Rnd 2: Ch 3. 2dc in same st, *2dc in next st. Repeat from * until the end of round. Join. (18 sts)

Rnd 3: Rnd 3: Ch 3. dc in same st, 2dc in next st. *dc in next st, 2dc in next st. Repeat from * until the end of round. Join. (27 sts)

Rnd 4: Ch 3. dc in same st, dc in next st, 2dc in next st. *dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next. Repeat from * until the end of round. Join. (36 sts)

Rnds 5-9: Ch 3. dc in same st, *dc in next st. Repeat from * until the end of round. Join. (36 sts)

FINISHING - 1. Using a yarn needle, thread yarn through next st from end off. 2. Pull up. 3. Insert yarn needle back through ending st  4. Pull yarn down to even your stitch. 

Premie / Newborn (approx. 13.5” x 5”)

Ch 4. Join into a ring.

Rnd 1: 8 sc in ring, join to 1^st sc. (8 sts)

Rnd 2: Ch 3. 2dc in same st, *2dc in next st. Repeat from * until the end of round. Join. (16 sts)

Rnd 3: Ch 3. dc in same st, 2dc in next st. *dc in next st, 2dc in next. Repeat from * until the end of round. Join. (24 sts)

Rnd 4: Ch 3. dc in same st, dc in next st, 2dc in next st, *dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next. Repeat from * until the end of round. Join. (32 sts)

Rnd 5: Ch 3. dc in same st, dc in next 14 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 15 sts, 2dc in last st. Join. (34 sts)

Rnds 6-9: Ch 3. dc in same st, *dc in next st. Repeat from * until the end of round. Join. (34 sts)

End Off.

 0 - 3 months (approx. 14” x 5.5”)

Ch 4. Join into a ring.

Rnd 1: Ch 1 (does not count as your 1^st st). 9 sc in ring, join to 1^st sc. (9 sts)

Rnd 2: Ch 3. 2dc in same st, *2dc in next st. Repeat from * until the end of round. Join. (18 sts)

Rnd 3: Rnd 3: Ch 3. dc in same st, 2dc in next st. *dc in next st, 2dc in next st. Repeat from * until the end of round. Join. (27 sts)

Rnd 4: Ch 3. dc in same st, dc in next st, 2dc in next st. *dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next. Repeat from * until the end of round. Join. (36 sts)

Rnds 5-9: Ch 3. dc in same st, *dc in next st. Repeat from * until the end of round. Join. (36 sts)

End Off.

3 - 6 months (approx. 15” x 6”)

Ch 4. Join into a ring.

Rnd 1: Ch 1. 9 sc in ring, join to 1^st sc. (9 sts)

Rnd 2: Ch 3. 2dc in same st, *2dc in next st. Repeat from * until the end of round. Join. (18 sts)

Rnd 3: Ch 3. dc in same st, 2dc in next st. *dc in next st, 2dc in next st. Repeat from * until the end of round. (27 sts)

Rnd 4: Ch 3. dc in same st, dc in next st, 2dc in next, *dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next st. Repeat from * until the end of this round. Join. (36 sts)

Rnd 5: Ch 3. dc in same st, dc in next 7 sts, 2dc in next st. *dc in next 8 sts, 2dc in next st. Repeat from * until the end of round. Join. (40 sts)

Rnds 6-10: Ch 3. dc in same st, *dc in next st. Repeat from * until the end of this round. Join. (40 sts)

End Off.

6 - 12 months (approx. 16.5” x 6.5”)

Ch 4. Join into a ring.

Rnd 1: Ch 1. 9 sc in ring, join to 1^st sc. (9 sts)

Rnd 2: Ch 3. 2dc in same st, *2dc in next st. Repeat from * until the end of round. Join. (18 sts)

Rnd 3: Rnd 3: Ch 3. dc in same st, 2dc in next st.*dc in next st, 2dc in next st. Repeat from * until the end of round. (27 sts)

Rnd 4: Ch 3. dc in same st, dc in next st, 2dc in next, * dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next st. Repeat from * until the end of this round. Join. (36 sts)

Rnd 5: Ch 3. dc in same st, dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next. *dc in the next 3 sts, 2dc in next. Repeat from * until the end of round. Join. (45 sts)

Rnds 6-11: Ch 3. dc in same st, *dc in next st. Repeat from * until the end of this round. Join. (45 sts)

End Off.

*Adding a Button:

Sew button to hat at bottom right hand side with your yarn needle. Make sure to fasten button tightly. 

Beanie Hat with Button in Action! 

Photos by Lisa Rappa Photography.

Please see my post about gauge, sizing, and how to measure this hat:-)

Please leave comments about how you like this pattern. 

Thank you! Jenny

Valentine's Day & Heart Pattern

Valentine's Day is so much fun! The kids and I made homemade valentine cards and used these little crochet hearts for several projects. Love is in the air!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pattern for crochet heart. (H hook, worsted weight yarn).
Hot pink heart is 100% wool yarn, red yarn is Red Heart soft yarn, light pink heart is 100% cotton yarn.

Start with a magic circle. Ch 3. Work the following into the circle - 4 tc, 2 dc, 1 tc. Now ch 1 and work the remaining into the circle - 2 dc, 4 tc. Chain 3 and slip stitch into your circle. Pull tight to close your circle and end off. 

*Notes: Visit the you tube link above to learn the magic circle. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Visit A Time for Seasons blog and check out my valentine's day heart necklace tutorial where we used these hearts for our project. There is also a very hungry caterpillar hat giveaway going on there that ends today!

Blessings and love,
Jenny

“We love because He first loved us.”  1 John 4:19

Valentine's Day Crochet Heart Necklace

This is a fun little craft I did with my 6 year old son. We made necklaces to use as gifts for Valentine's Day. I thought they were so cute, I had to post about how we created them!

Please visit my full tutorial on my friend's blog:

A Time For Seasons.....

Also, check out the giveaway where I am giving away this hungry caterpillar hat in newborn size!

Blessings,

Jenny

Gauge, Sizing, and Measuring Crochet Baby Hats

One of the biggest challenges for crocheting baby hats is making sure the hat comes out the right size!

I crocheted so many hats before I figured out how my gauge determined the overall measurement of my hats. Now after many years of making baby hats, I can pretty much determine from the start of a pattern what size my hat will turn out, but it took a long time to get there. 

If you are reading a crochet pattern that provides a gauge in the pattern directions, go ahead and check your gauge before starting the pattern. Each person crochets a little differently. I happen to crochet pretty tightly. If I check the pattern gauge and the swatch is coming out small, then I will change to larger hook. Usually one size up. 

Example -   

Gauge: 4 inches = 11 stitches and 13 rows

This gauge is for a pattern in single crochet with an H hook. 

If you single crochet a swatch that is 11 sts across and 13 rows down, it should come out 4 inches. 

From Lion Brand.com - "Gauge is the term that is used to define the proper tension you should work to insure that the crocheted piece you make will be the right size when it's completed. The hook size listed in the pattern is just the size used by the designer to work at the proper gauge. You may need to change hook size in order to work at the given gauge!"

Most pattern writers will provide you with sizes and measurements at the beginning of the pattern so that you will know what hat size to make, but some do not. Here are the sizes and measurements I use for my baby hats. Please keep in mind, each baby's head size is unique. These sizes are approximates and do not fit every baby. For example, my first son had a tiny little head when he was born. He was in the 13% percentile in head size. But my second son, had a big ole' noggin and skipped the newborn sizing altogether! 

Newborn: 14" circumference, 5.5" from crown to brim
3-6 months: 14-16", 5.5"
6-12 months: 16-18", 6.5"
12-24 months: 18-19.5", 7 1/2"
2T-4T: 19-20.5", 7 1/2"
5T to Preteen: 20.5-21.5", 8"   

Now once you have completed your crochet baby hat. How do you measure the hat to make sure it is coming out the right size? Want to see how I measure my hats? Watch this video! 

I will be posting the pattern for this hat in a separate post coming soon. Stay tuned PLEASE!

Baby it's Cold Outside!

Winter is here in the ATL! Mind you, it is mild in comparison to my northern neighbors, but every girl (baby or mama) needs a hat to keep warm during winter months!

Here's the hat I just made myself. Please excuse the dorky photo. I'm not used to taking photos of me in hats, lol! I also make this hat for newborns as seen in the second photo. The pattern is by Selena Baca from Baca Creations. I wish I could design patterns like this one...love it!

Here's the same hat on a newborn (with a red flower).

Some other things I made this winter for babies:

Snowflake hat and shorties

 White Owl Hat

I think they turned out pretty cute! Wish I had patterns to share for these last two but I pretty much just free handed them. I found the snowflake pattern above online for free but can't seem to locate it now....agh! I think it was pinned on Pinterest. If I can find it I will post it here!

Blessings and Happy Winter!

Jenny