Krumelus - Children's hat
by Margareta Marisch www.drutach.de
BEFORE YOU CROCHET:
The hat was named after the famous magic pill, Pippi Longstocking and her friends Thomas and Annika take in order to never grow up. Because neon is best fun when you are 8 years old. Please consider printing the pattern on scrap paper. Thank you.
SIZE:
Children 4ys - adult XS
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS:
head circumference: 50 cm (19 inches) measured unstretched length: 18 cm (7 inches)
MATERIAL:
Wolle Rodel Universal in neon colours (yellow, green, pink) Stylecraft DK in neon colours (f.ex. Jaffa = orange) Schachenmayr Bravo in neon colours (orange, etc.) Decide on a main colour (MC) and four contrast colours (CC). Of course you can choose different colours entirely. I recommend using yarn somewhat in the DK area with a recommended needle size of 3-4mm.
RECOMMENDED NEEDLE SIZE:
1 crochet hook 4mm
1 darning needle with a blunt tip
GAUGE:
about 18 st/ 19.5 rows = 10 cm/ca. 4 inches in pattern
THIS IS HOW:
Make a crochet chain in your chosen MC and in the chosen length (I recommend using a hook size slightly bigger because crocheting into the foundation chain can be a pain). To do this, first measure the head circumference and then work a crochet chain in the necessary length. Measure your chain slightly stretched because you want your hat to sit tight. Carefully close your crochet chain to a ring by crocheting into the first little bump on the back of your first chain stitch, then pull through the loop on your hook (slip stitch). Be careful not to twist your chain. This works best when you can lay it onto a table or flat surface before you do the slip stitch. Round 1: Work dc into every chain stitch and do so into the little bump at the back of your chain stitches. This way, the V of the stitch will remain at the edge of your soon growing hat and provide a nice edging. Finish round with a slip stitch into the first dc. Round 2: Chain 1, then work dc into every stitch but work through only the back leg of your stitch (the one closer to the inside of your hat). Finish round with a slip stitch into the first dc. Round 3: Chain 1, then \*[work 1 dc (put your hook through both parts of the stitch in the normal way), ch1, skip one stitch]. Repeat from \* and if needed fudge a little at the end of the round to make it work. Finish round with a slip stitch into the first dc. Round 4: Chain 1 in the first CC, just letting the MC thread hang (don't cut it off). Work one round as described before but offset round: Work dc into the chain stitch of the round before and a chain stitch above the dc stitch of the round before. Finish round with a slip stitch into the first dc. Round 5: Pick up your MC again and work like round 4 (dc into chain stitch and chain stitch above dc). Let your CC hang. Finish round with a slip stitch into the first dc. Round 6: Pick up first CC again and work like round 4. The cut and secure first CC. Finish round with a slip stitch into the first dc. Round 7: Work like round 5. from round 8 on: Repeat rounds 2-7 with three more CCs. After your last CC work like this: Repeat rounds 2 and 3 continually and try on the hat from time to time to decide how long you want to make it before your decreases. Length of the hats shown before decreases: about 16 cm / 6.5 inches. Work your decreases in round 2 only. Work like this:
First decrease round:
\*[3 dc into back leg of stitch, skip one stitch] repeat from \* until end of round. Finish round with a slip stitch into the first dc.
Second decrease round:
\*[2 dc into back leg of stitch, skip one stitch], repeat from \* until end of round. Finish round with a slip stitch into the first dc.
Third decrease round:
\*[1 dc, into back leg of stitch skip one stitch], repeat from \* until end of round. Close opening by just crocheting together the last stitches. Decide whether to crochet them together from the inside (a bit less conspicuous) or from the outside (creates a little tip). Cut yarn and secure. Weave in ends. If you want, you can put on a huge pompom in one or all of your CCs. Have fun!
ABBREVIATIONS AND EXPLANATIONS:
Please note: I am using UK crochet terminology CC contrast colour ch st chain stitch DC double crochet (US: single crochet) MC main colour rd round rep repeat sl st slip stitch st stitch tog together
