Cheshire
(A cat hat that's curiouser and curiouser) (A pattern by M Cooper, Non-Thucydian Designs) Cheshire combines a simple stitch pattern with a vibrant yarn which lets the beauty of both shine through. This pattern is ideal for homespun, thick & thin, or other yarns which are beautiful on their own. This pattern takes advantage of the benefits of front-loop crochet and front- and back-post crochet, making it the perfect pattern for an ambitious beginner or anyone who wants practice with these stitches. This pattern is FREE FOREVER. As long as you keep my name attached as the designer, you are welcome to print it out, duplicate it, post it on Tumblr, etc.
Materials:
· 100g worsted-weight yarn (l used Bernat Mosaic in Strange Magic) · 5mm/H crochet hook · Needle for weaving in ends · Stitch markers
Stitches Used:
· Slip stitch (sl st) · Half-double crochet (hdc) ·Front-post double crochet (fpdc) · Back-post double crochet (bpdc) · Foundation double crochet (fdc)
Special Stitches:
Foundation Double Crochet (fdc) ·Chain 4 · YO, insert hook in 4th chain from hook, draw up a loop, YO, pull through one loop on hook, YO, pull through two loops on hook, YO, pull through remaining two loops on hook. · YO, insert hook in the chain space at the base of the previous fdc draw up a loop, YO, pull through one loop on hook, YO, pull through two loops on hook, YO, pull through remaining two loops on hook.
Instructions:
Gauge is unimportant to this pattern. The pattern can be sized up or down by increasing or decreasing the stitch count. As long as you are keeping an even number of stitches, this pattern can be used for any weight of yarn.
Recommended Sizing:
(The easiest way to determine your sizing is to work the first row until it first comfortably around your head, making sure you have an even number.) Child: 56-60 sts around Small Adult: 62-66 sts around Medium Adult: 68-72 sts around Large Adult: 74-78 sts around
Ribbing:
1. Chain 4 (counts as first fdc), work 61 fdc. (62 sts) 2. fpdc around the ch 3, \*bpdc around next st, fpdc around next st\*, ending on bpdc. 3. \*Fpdc, bpdc\* around. Repeat Round 3 until ribbing measures 3cm/1" or desired height.
Hat Body:
1. hdc in each dc around. (62) 2. USING THE FRONT LOOP ONLY hdc in each hdc around. (62) Repeat Round 2 fifteen (15) more times or until hat is desired length.
Finishing:
Lay hat flat. Sl st into first st of round. Using front loop only, sl st hat evenly across the top. (31) If you are unused to using slip stitches to seam, going up one or two hook sizes is recommended. Weave in ends.
