Pixie Hat Tutorial - Free Pattern

I found a free pattern and had to completely modify it to get this hat.  I think it turned out pretty good, so I will share it. Please comment if you use this pattern, I would like to know how it turns out for you.

Abbr.: chain = ch, slip stitch = slst, double crochet = dc, stitch = st, double crochet decrease = dc/dec

dc/dec: this will take two stitches and decrease it down to 1, yarn over, go through first st, yarn over and pull back through that stitch, you will have 3 loops on the hook, now yarn over and pull through two loops, you will now have 2 loops on the hook, yarn over and go through the second stitch, yarn over and pull through that stitch, you will have 4 loops on the hook, yarn over and pull through two loops, then yarn over and pull through the remaining 3 loops to finish the dc/dec. (see pic)

Example of a dc/dec, it is the stitch on the top left

Note: when counting the stitches in a row, the ch 3 is counted as 1 stitch and a dc/dec counts as one stitch

Pixie Hat
Size: about 12-16 months, it stretches to fit my 16 month old, but she is a little peanut.

Hook and Yarn: I am using Baby Bee Hushabye yarn and an 8/5.00mm hook.

Start by making a large slipknot, you will crochet onto this and then pull it tight to cinch up the top point of the hat.

Row 1: in the slipknot, ch3 (this is the 1st dc), 8 dc around and join with a slst (9 st)
             Close the slipknot by pulling on the end of the yarn.
Row 2: ch 3, 8 dc, join with a slst (9 st)
Row 3: ch 3, dc in the same st as ch3, 2 dc in each remaining st and join with a slst. (18 st)
Row 4: ch 3, 17 dc, join with slst (18 st)
Row 5: ch 3, 1 dc same stitch as ch 3, 1dc in next st, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 2 st, repeat from * around and join with a slst (27 st)   [updated 8-25-11]
Row 6: ch 3, 2 dc, * 2 dc in next st, 3 dc, repeat from * around and join with a slst {33 st}
Row 7: ch 3, 3 dc, * 2 dc in next st, 4 dc, repeat from * around and join with a slst {39 st}
Row 8: ch 3, 4 dc, * 2 dc in next st, 5 dc, repeat from * around and join with a slst {45 st}
Row 9 -12 : ch 3, 44 dc, join with a slst. {45 st in each row}
Row 13: ch 3, dc/dec, 39 dc, dc/dec, 1 dc, join with a slst {43 st} [updated 28-26-11]
Row 14: ch 3, 42 dc, join with a slst and break off, weave end in {43 st}
Row 15: the ch 3 stitch will be the center of the back of the hat, starting from that stitch, count 14 stitches to ones side or the other, do not count the center ch 3 stitch, start at this point and dc 29 from one side around the back to the other side, double check that your 15th stitch when counting from eihter side is the center ch 3 stitch and make sure you have 14 stitches in the front of the hat that you have not crocheted in, turn work {29 st} [the second hat I made I did 12 stitches across the front instead of 14]
Row 16: ch 3, dc/dec, 23 dc, dc/dec, 1 dc, turn work {27 st}
Row 17: ch 3, dc/dec, 2 dc, dc/dec, 2 dc, dc/dec, 5 dc, dc/dec, 2 dc, dc/dec, 2dc, dc/dec, 1dc, turn work {21 st} note: the 5 st should be centered in the back of the hat
Row 18: ch 3 dc/dec, 18 dc, turn work {20 st}

note: this following is the chin strap and you can make it as short or as long as you want, or you can end the hat at row 18 if you don't want a chin strap.

Row 19-30: ch 3, 2 dc, turn work {3 st} [the second hat I made I only did up to row 29 and then the row of sc]
Row 31: ch 1, 2 sc, end work and weave in tail to finish

sew a button onto the lower front corner of the side of the hat opposite of the chin strap, make sure the button just fits through one of the dc spaces

Pixie hat

Quick and Easy Crochet Blanket

Here are the finished pictures of the blanket. It ended up being about 36x31.  I also made a 16x16 lovey blanket to go with it. I finished both in 2 days! That is pretty quick for a crocheted blanket. For more info on how I made this blanket check out this previous post - How to:Quick and Easy Crochet Blanket.

Tutorial: Quick and Easy Crochet Blanket

I thought I might start posting some pictures and mini tutorials on how I make some of my blankets, stuffed animals and other things.

In today's spotlight is a super easy crochet blanket that you could make in a day, if you wanted to, easily in 3! Start out with a super bulky yarn, this makes things go really fast!

 For this blanket I used Yarn Bee Soft Illusion - Super Bulky, it is from Hobby Lobby, unfortunately, I think they are discontinuing it.

When buying yarn, you want to check the lot #, get all your yarn with the same # if you can. The lot # is the dye lot, so if you have two skeins of yarn of the same color but of a different dye lot, they may be slightly different. There is also a little info panel on the label that will recommend what size of crochet hook to use. For this one it recommended a 9mm, I ended up using a 6.5, since I couldn't find my 9.

For this blanket, I did a basic double-spaced double-crochet. To make it yourself, just chain on an even #, I started out with 68, and ended up adding more later to equal and original chain of 78.Then just go back along your chain, double crochet in the 6th chain back from your hook, this will make your 1st double crochet and the first space. Next, chain one and double crochet in the 8th chain. continue all the way down. I realize this is a very basic explanation, if you want learn more about crocheting, I learned from the video tutorials that you can find on the internet.

 This is what you will end up with once you make your chain and then start double crocheting on the chain.

 With the double-spacing, there are holes in the blanket, my nephew likes to have this blanket while he sleeps.

 Since the yarn is so fuzzy, you don't see the holes in this picture.

This is the size of the blanket with 2 skeins crocheted.

I will post pictures of it when I finish it up later tonight.

Crocheted Hair Clips

Here are the latest hair clips, I crocheted them using 100% cotton yarn.