My next hat is a tunisian in the round

 

I am using a double end "H" hook, a red colored yarn that is a normal 4 weight yarn and a black Yarn Bee yarn from Hobby Lobby that, as we all know is more like caron simply soft and not a "normal" 4 weight yarn.  It does, however, make a good yarn for a return stitch for tunisian crochet.

I am making this one with the thought of the boys shelter donation, so I made it 1 increase larger than the regular hats I make.  I started with 10 HDC and am using the extended simple stitch for this hat. 

Looking forward to finishing it!

A few more hats, but some with a twist

I put my addi away for a while and decided I was in the mood for simple old loom knitting. I used some recycled yarn from some hats from Mom that were too small and created these 2 hats.

sparkly red and forest green

green and a red/white/green Christmas colored yarn.

Then, finally taking the advice from a yarny friend, who hates seeing me frog the Mom hats, and says I should just add to them to make them bigger, I did just that.

For this first one I had actually had it started on the loom and decided I didn't want to make another loom hat  I frogged my loom progress and started using that yarn, with tunisian crochet, to build the body of the hat back.  It was actually big enough around.  Then I used part of a hat that was super skinny and pointy, kinda like a dunce cap, and added some more tunisian to the bottom of it. I do have another hat in the works using more of the yarn i added on the bottom.

The above one and the one below I used a hat I probably could have made longer, but I wasn't thinking.  These 2 were the first 2 I tried adding tunisian to the bottom of the hats.  

I finished off all 3 of these hats in just a few hours.  I think they all turned out pretty cool.  Took way less time to finish a hat since most of it was already done for me.  I will be making more hats like this for sure.  I don't know why I thought I had to totally re-do them.  One of my excuses was "I don't know what hook size or how mom is doing it". I tried but mine never looked as good.  I'm guessing it's partly because mom crochets looser than I do.

I am working on some hats to add to someone else's donation, to a local boys shelter.  I think the bottom 2 will be perfect for that donation.  I had hubby try them on and he said they fit pretty good, so I figured they would work great for a teenage boy head.  I am having to try very hard not to make all the hats for the donation.  I probably already have enough for all the boys. 😄  When the group mentioned a hat donation they were speaking my love language and I got into the mood. 

What have you been crocheting, knitting, cooking etc. lately?

 

I Made Another Hat Donation

A couple weeks back I contacted one of my cousins who teaches preschool in a nearby town and asked her if she would like hats for her students.  My mom made almost all the hats for the local preschool that I donate to so have a stash of hats that I’ve made.  Hopefully I can stay ahead of them in case mom slows down on making hats.  Anyway, my cousin was super excited.  She should get her package of hats today. 

The blue velvety hat, middle row on the right, is for her. The teacher always needs a hat. 😊  I am looking forward to hearing from her when she gets the hats.  This donation is more exciting for me than my usual donation. 

100 Hats For Preschool 2025

 I delivered the hats for a local preschool last week.  93 were made by my mom and I added 7 to make the 100. Here’s the video showing all 100 that I donated. 

I Have Been Working On Preemie Hats

 I've made 19 preemie hats so far.  I plan to donate them to a local Ronald McDonald House this month.  I do plan to make a few more.  I also have some that one of the ladies in a local crochet group made (not pictured here), and she also made a couple of the preemie octopus.  She plans to bring me a few more next week.

I'm both scared and excited to donate these hats.  I've never donated to RMH before so scared because I don't know what to expect, and excited for a new item I can make and have a place to donate them.  I hope the donation process goes smoothly.

I have been trying to make a variety of sizes, but my hats seem to mostly come out 5 pound and 6 pound preemie size.  I have managed a few smaller ones though.  Smaller hook size is the key I think.  

Inside and Outside Addi Hats

 Good morning friends. I just wanted to hop in this morning and share a couple more Addi hats I made yesterday.  

Last night I had a hat on the machine waiting on me to finish it and Wowzers 🤩 this yarn was definitely made for knitting ‼️. It looks so amazing I actually want to keep it for myself, but it will go in the donation bucket. I think if I love it so much I want to keep it that there’s a preschooler that will love it just as much. ❤️. Here’s the amazing hat. 

Don’t you agree it looks amazing? It is a bit thicker yarn that a regular size 4 yarn but it worked up just fine on addi. Bring a heavier yarn and being double thick it will be perfect for someone like me whose ears are sensitive to toe blowing wind. 

This morning I snuck into the craft room bright and early and whipped up another hat. I used size 3 yarn scraps this time. Addi preformed perfectly for the most part. There was a few slipped stitches but nothing dropped.  Here’s both sides of this morning’s hat. 

I used 5 different scrap balls on this one. I think it turned out pretty cute as well. 

If my calculations are correct, this puts me at 86 of 100 hats for preschool.  This is the first year I have been this close this early in the year. I’m glad my Mom is still making some hats that are useable. Had she made all of them useable I would be well over my 100.  The unusable hats I have been frogging and reworking them. 

Addi Hats for the Preschool

 It’s been nice having my craft room back. I am spending a little time in there most nights and have a hard time leaving.  I do need to make some more changes as I have discovered I want/need more space to move around while I’m in there.  I have some ideas and will share those when I make them.  I guess I need to go through my totes and reduce the extra stuff i have that I don’t know or don’t remember I have and gift or donate or sell the finished items and get rid of the non made things I don’t nerd/want anymore.  That’s another day though.

I set my Addi Express up earlier this week and have been making some hats. That’s what I purchased the Addi for and it has definitely earned it’s keep.  The first 2 are made with Hobby Lobby Soft & Sleek.  Honestly it’s not useful yarn except for making Addi hats or a return stitch on a tunisian project. 😁 

The other side of this hat is all the purple color.  I believe I did about 120 rounds on this one.

The other side of this hat is all the gray color. I believe I did right at 100 rounds on this one.

This hat is also some Yarn Bee.  I can’t remember what exactly it is but I do remember the colorway is “Blush” and its a polyester and nylon blend. It worked up beautifully.  I believe I did 105 rounds on this one.

Im looking forward to making more Addi hats. I have one currently started and can’t wait to finish it.  

Slowly Making Progress on Loom Knit Hat.

 I have slowly been working on my loom knit hat. I just haven’t been in the mood lately.  I have a total of 53 rows of light blue to make. I currently have 15 completed.  Maybe this weekend will be when it gets finished. 

Much Improved

 Well I did start the pink/black hat over and its much improved.  I increased a row too far but it should be fine. I also crocheted up a second hat as well, the purple/white one.  I have another one on the hook as I write this.  Here’s my preemie hats so far that im going to donate to a local Ronald McDonald House, in a couple months.

Yes thet still have ends to weave in 😳

Wondering If I Should Start Over 🤔

 So this is the current preemie hat I am working on. It seems like it’s going to be too big. I’m wondering if I need to frog it and just do DC instead of HDC rows. 

Here it is in comparison to a finished hat that I actually followed a pattern for. The Pink/Black hat is slightly larger even though the crown diameter is the same.  

Is it because I did HDC instead of DC?  The yarn is slightly thinner too, but that’s how the Yarn Bee Soft Secret is. It’s kinda like Caron Simply Soft.  I think I will frog it and start over following the pattern I have instead of trying to do it on my own. I should know better, trying to figure out a pattern on my own doesn’t always work. 😂

Finished Latest Hat

 

This hat turned out absolutely lovely. I only had to use those 2 colors that mom had used to make a too small hat with. I actually have a small amount of each left over. I have started unraveling another hat. Note to me to take a picture tomorrow before I have it completely unraveled to show before and  after.  I think I’m about 20 hats away from 100, unless I haven’t written them all down, which is quite possible. 

Until next time…….happy crocheting ❤️🧶

Couple of Reworked Mom Hats and Another One In Progress

This weekend I have been reworking some "Mom hats" that I have been given.  My mom loves to crochet but, anymore,  she doesn't always make useable hats.  They probably look good to her and look like they would fit, when in reality, they may fit a baby doll.  I take them apart and use the yarn she has put together (she always makes double thick hats with 2 strands of yarn) and recreate them and make a single thick hat, most of the time.  This weekend the first 2 I made were double thick.  If I remember on the next on I re-do I will take a before and an after picture. Usually I do have to add some yarn of my own, or use some from another one of her hats. 

This is the first one I remade.  This one is a double thick hat.  I added some of my own yarn at the top and used some white from another all white hat she sent my way.

This one is another double thick hat and more of the white from the first hat I redid (which I do still have some left to use on another hat) and a yellow/tan combination she had put together on another too small hat.  There's some of the yellow/tan left as well.

This is my current rework.  Both of these yarns were on the same hat.  I just unraveled it and am making a single thick hat (usually my preference).  I will probably need to add some yarn to it, but we will cross that bridge when we get there.

No worries I still have the knit hat and the loom knit hat in the yarn bowl.  I haven't forgotten them.  I guess it's just time for something a little different.

 

Progress on the Loom Knit Hat

 

I’ve made a good bit of progress on the loom knit hat despite it being crazy busy at work so far this weekend. Only 1 day left 😊.  I have gotten the first 50 rows knitted. The other half will be solid light blue. I think I may have a row or 2 left with the current color, so I will accommodate and add that many extra rows  to my 100. I’m hoping to have both sides even. We shall see how it turns out. 

Starting A No Curl Tunisian Crochet Today (The Brim)

I started this tunisian crochet hat yesterday. I probably shouldn’t have because I already have 2 Knit wips i want to finish. I have to kinda concentrate on the knit but tunisian…..not much thinking.  

I tried making a video yesterday showing how I started this but it would have been too big of a file for my mobile device that I was recording with.  It’s pretty simple really.  

Here’s my beginning instructions: you will need to know ETSS (extended tunisian simple stitch), basic chain and knowledge of using a double end hook. 

Size I double end hook

2 different colors of  4 weight yarn (about 2 oz total) (I’m using scrap yarn)

I make an adult small  size hat which I donate to a local preschool 

Ch 80 (you can use either main color or return stitch color. 

(I used return stitch color for mine this time)

Carefully join to make a ring. Make sure  you don’t twist the chain when joining. If your unsure how to do that heres an easy video from Mikie at the Crochet  Crowd. 

If you use your return color, your first stitch will be that color. If you used your main color for the chain it will still be your first stitch.  Do Not make the first stitch an etss stitch. 

ROW1: Pull up an ETSS loop in your remaining chain stitches, (I do not use the back bump, just the single loop like regular crochet) and join your return stitch color and pull through as needed. You should have 1 tss and 79 etss on your first row.  I like to add a stitch marker to my first stitch so I know where I started. 

ROW 2-4: ETSS every stitch around, pulling return stitch through as needed. You should have 80 stitches total on each row.   This gave me a 2” no curl brim on my hat. 

 

I am doing something fancy for the body of this hat. Im doing the honeycomb stitch for about 4”, to make a total of 6” before I start my decrease for the top of the hat. 

Stay tuned for the hat body update. I will post when I have finished that part. 🧶♥️

Tried a new knit thing and I'm not happy with the results

Remember this knit Ross Hat from a couple posts ago? Well I finished it.

I think it turned out pretty cool!  However since I was doing a 4 melon,1 white,1 melon,1 white, row repeat I decided to try to make a seamless jog when I switched between the melon and white colors.  I watched a couple different YouTube videos and tried both methods, but don't really like how mine turned out.  I also started snipping and tieing the white in between the 4 rows of melon but eventually just carried the white up.  That wasn't as bad, but it too needs more practice.

Here is the section of the hat I tried the 2 different seamless jogs.  they are to the left in the circle.  While they do look seamless, I don't like the way it looks.  I think I need to re-watch the videos again or maybe even find another one, if possible and try the seamless jogs again.

I do have another knit hat in progress, only 2 rows in so far.  It will also be a 2 color hat.  I haven't decided how I will be striping it or if I will do something completely different with the 2 colors this time.  

I was thinking maybe trying to make hearts, but the "V's" look to me like they are going the wrong way for that. Am I seeing them wrong?  I'm thinking I would need to make a double thick hat or make one top down instead of bottom up. (top down may be fun to try, I may try to check that possibility out too.)

Here are some recent finished projects for February

I've been a bit busy with life since that snow we had a couple weeks ago and haven't had time to make a video.  Here are some things  have made this past month and a couple new projects I am currently working on.  I have included the pattern links I have, all patterns are free.  (Links open in a new window)

Crochet Woven Heart

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/woven-heart

Mini Mitts Potholder

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mini-mitts-potholder

Crochet Basket Weave cloth

Tunisian Crochet Basket Weave Cloth

Tunisian Crochet hat, in the round, top down

Crochet Basic Striped Beanie

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-striped-beanie-2

Crochet Basic Striped Beanie

Crochet Basic Striped Beanie

THese are the 2 current WIPs I have.  The hat is almost finished.

Knit Ross Hat

https://smellslikeyarn.com/product/ross-hat/

Knit Grandmother's Favorite Baby Bib

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/grandmothers-favorite-baby-bib

 

Hats for Preschool

It's that time of year again, rounding up the hats for a local preschool  I currently have  60/100 in the tote. I am guessing a good 50 of those my Mom made before she went to live in a retirement center (nursing home).  My sister went to visit her a couple weeks ago and said the hats she was seeing that mom had were little pointy hats that were too small for preschoolers, maybe event too small for a baby.  It's sad she isn't able to make a hat, but at least she is still crocheting and keeping her mind somewhat occupied.

This past week I made what I call "addi blanks".  I crank out the panels and then take them with me to close off and finish later.

2 different dollar tree yarns,  The green is "sage" unsure what color the orange is.

RedHeart Americana I was surprised my Addi accepted this yarn, it usually doesn't like RedHeart yarn,

Some Yarn Bee Baby yarn.  Unsure of the color.  This will be a smaller hat as it was a size 3 weight and I kept a pretty tight tension on it.  It should be OK tough.  Honestly I think it would stretch enough to fit me.

Loops & Threads Prints (I think)  Believe this is called Bisque.  IT was a size 5 yarn but it worked up beautifully.  I used very little to no tension on this.  It is super thick and should be super warm.

I will probably work on finishing these up this weekend.   My goal is to have 100 hats made by the 1st Sunday in November.  Hopefully it doesn't get too cold before then.  They like to wait til it gets cold before they hand them out.

 

January Monthly Challenge is Complete

 Anyone else working on the January Challenge? 

I finished my hats tonight. 

Toddler 1-3 years

6-12 months 

3-4 months 

There’s literally at the most 2 rows difference on each hat.  The bottom one I planned the colors. The other 2 I randomly pulled scraps out of a bag.  

It is time to move on to the next project and also work on that loom knit scarf i have started  I need to generate more scraps. I am pretty much out right now  

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❤️🧶 Anna

   

Too Cold!

 BURRRR! I thought it was cold on Friday.  Um Yah it is really cold now!!  It's also snowing and suppose to snow all day.  It is currently 12:40PM and we are at 0°. 

Last night i worked on a sleeping WIP. It is s double thick loom knit hat i started last fall sometime. 

I am on the second side, which will only be 2 big stripes.  I am using e-wrap.  The yarn is a little on the thin side but I think once I double it up it will be warmer than it looks.  I am doing it like an addi hat.  I worked a little on the loom knit scarf the past couple days and have made a little progress. 

9:15pm

Overall we had a good day and weekend despite the wintery weather.  I did finish the hat today.  The loom is a 54 peg. I started with a drawstring cast on and made a total of 80 rows with e-wrap. I finished it off like an addi hat.  The next one i think i will make 90 rows. This one is long enough but just barely. 

Here is both sides of the hat:

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100 Hats Finished for Local Preschool

I did it! Its finally finished! Thank you to the yarny friends who helped my get this donation complete. I am ready to start on hats and scarves and whatever else I decide to make to donate this year.

 

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❤️🧶 Anna