Crochet Hats

 

As the weather now turns more determinedly autumnal, my thoughts turn to crochet - and to  autumnal coloured yarns reflecting nature: shades of greens, browns, russets, reds and oranges and yellows, tweedy yarns even, and the colours of heathers, the soft mauves and purples (Scottish holiday influence!) - and I'm thinking textures - textured cushions, blankets, hats, gloves, scarves and cowls. 

I'm definitely on a bit of a crochet roll at the moment...........as I mentioned in my last post, a crochet cloche hat was on the cards and is now indeed made.

Using this excellent pattern on Ravelry, it made up easily in a couple of hours or so. A lovely pattern, very straightforward, a joy to follow. I used a UK half treble crochet throughout where it said hdc in US terms, and a UK treble where it said dc - worked for me and looks just like the picture and fits a treat (although I used all the same yarn instead of stripes).

You need to use an aran weight or similar yarn as the pattern recommends, ordinary dk would be too floppy I would imagine.

I used just over a ball (100g) of a pure wool Sirdar Norsgarn, one of 6 balls which I bought new off eBay for a few pounds, although I suspect it is a  good few years old. It is a lovely very soft but very thick wool with a tufted and fibrous just off the spinning wheel look about it. It is lovely to crochet with. I used a no. 5 hook as per the pattern, which I should have added is a free Ravelry download.

It is such a neat little hat which holds its shape well, and you can wear it various ways. I think its going to be a very useful hat and I must admit I'd like to make another. Maybe add a flower to the side - or a bow as per the pattern. Or a nice tweedy wool one - browns or greens, or maybe a soft flecky heathery mauve? I'm thinking Harris Tweeds, earthy colours.

I'm wearing it more conventionally than I intended in the photo above, with the brim slightly turned up at the sides and worn further back on my head, as when I wear it turned down and pulled lower a la cloche style, my cruel family start humming the tune to Bill and Ben the flower pot men.................but us craftswomen are used to this, and are hardened and impervious to our family's occasionally less than complimentary comments by now. We care not.

So I am the owner of three new hats for this season - the lovely tweed and velvet cloche shown in my previous post, the rust cloche wool hat just finished, and the little denim blue aran Nicki Trench beanie from her Cute and Easy Crochet, that I made earlier in the year here.

I've also finished the fourth ribbed square ready to be joined and made into a cushion cover. I used a pattern from Jan Eaton's 200 Crochet Blocks, one of my favourite and most reliable of crochet books - pattern no.72 in the book. The yarns are all Stylecraft with 20% wool. I'm loving the stretchy ribby textures.

So the weather now having turned more autumnal, I know what I shall be doing this evening! I am certainly a seasonal crocheter, much preferring to hook in the autumn / winter months!

I'm wanting to make a cowl too I think, maybe in the same warm rust colored wool - I'll be checking Ravelry and Pinterest for ideas, but if anyone has a tried and trusted favourite cowl pattern please shout out!

Thanks for your comments on my last post, it's good to be back! Am slowly catching up with some of your blogs, but lots more to go!


Edited to add: I have just finally put some projects onto my Ravelry page which I set up a couple of years ago and then did nothing to. If you are also on Ravelry then please come and visit me and add me as a friend so that I can find you there!

You can find me on Ravelry here:
www.ravelry.com/people/pinkgillyflower

Have a good week everyone!