PREEMIE
CAPS 7
MATILDA
– The white Angry Bird
Welcome
back to my series of preemie caps that I’ve made for a donation to the hospitals in Australia.
This birdie beanie went to the Redland hospital Charity centre at Cleveland.
Thank you for joining me.
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In
this blog I thought I’d make a series of the famous birds – frankly I don’t
know what all this fuss is about (with these birds I mean :-/) but they’re
wildly popular and a friend suggested I make them – so here goes. This is the image I found of the whole series
of birds – didn’t even know there were so many of them!
Oh,
may I, as usual, request you to please go through my notes for ideas on
what I’ve done. I’ve basically used stuff toy patterns to make my caps so with
this blog you get a cap and a stuff toy.
Materials used : Today I’ve used some of our lovely Indian Oswal Cashmilon 4-ply acrylic yarns with a 3 mm crochet hook ; embroidery needle ; fabric glue
For Indians : You could use Anchor , Red rose ; Red rose metallic or unbranded knitting cotton as well as Vardhaman acrylic yarns
The yarn used today is not specific to this pattern.
You can use any yarn with a suitable hook to make this project to any size.
International yarns : Among the international yarns I have used in this thickness, I’d suggest Aunt Lydia Cotton 10, Aunt Lydia Bamboo-Viscose 10, DMC Petra, Sullivans knitting cotton (Australia), Milford Soft, Hilaza Rustica Eclat , Alize cotton yarn and Alize bamboo yarn.
sc
: single crochet dc : Double
crochet
ch
: chain ch-sp
: chain space
sp
: space rep
: Repeat
Stitches used :
Starting slip knot : Here’s how you start with a slip knot. https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw
Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : This is a neat new way to start your work without a slip knot. https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs
What is a chain stitch ? Here is an easy video tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXx5ukBjKkY
Single Crochet : Sc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (2 lps on hk); yo, draw through both lps. One sc made. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/ghACqBpA-3k
First stitch for Single Crochet : This is how I like to start my row of sc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/6pVYRfsf4_M
Half Double Crochet : Hdc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk) ;
yo, draw through all 3 lps. One hdc made.
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/sDiELJdB2Dg
Chainless start for Half Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 start, and this is what I do to start my row of hdc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/lWXpl1KdbZ8
Crab Stitch or Reverse Single Crochet stitch : Here’s an easy video tutorial at https://youtu.be/cG3crwyHPnk
Front post single crochet : fpsc : Post stitches are stitches worked around the post of a stitch on the row below. Here is an easy video tutorial for the fpsc at https://youtu.be/OQa8YLpkdXs
Back post single crochet : bpsc : Post stitches are stitches worked around the post of a stitch of the row below. Here is an easy video tutorial for the bpsc at https://youtu.be/L1K_MMLl-D4
How to seamlessly crochet in rounds : When working with head wear, this is a really neat way to seamlessly end each round. Here’s an easy video tutorial to show you how to this at https://youtu.be/ISBZK7Du7yE
Here is a sizing chart for general head sizing :
Whipstitch to join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the whipstitch at https://youtu.be/wZ-9LNzftMA
Invisible join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the embroidery needle and whipstitch to get an invisible join at https://youtu.be/a6XZQ6VzJFM
Single crochet to join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the single crochet at https://youtu.be/6FXoW_47_dI
Instructions using U.S terminology
Please note that I start all my rounds with a ch 1 turning chain for ease.
Please check the top of this blog for video tutorials of all the stitches used in today’s pattern.
Please note that I take a lot of trouble to give loads of tips through my pattern sheet, so please read through the full sheet before you pick up your hook n yarn.
For
my preemie caps I have worked the pattern ensuring I have a total length of 4”
and a circumference of 12”.
Please check the top of this blog for a sizing chart and the ideas below as well
1. Hat circumference = measure around the head just above ears and subtract one inch for a nicely fitted finished hat.
2. Crown width = (this is a flat circular top of the hat) you need to divide hat circumference by 3.14 (pi).
3. Hat height = Head circumference / 10 x 4.
So you need to measure circumference of the head (round head measurement) and keep checking the outer circumference of your work.
There is another trick for measuring circumference (without running your measure tape all around the edge of your circle as you are working).
This works for a cap that you are working top down, from the crown of the head.
It works by dividing your round head measure by pi (3.14).
So say your head measurement is 22, divide 22 by 3.14 = 7.
Remember when calculating diameter, you must account for the stretch of your yarn too.
So once the ‘flat portion’ for the crown (or the first few rounds while you are still increasing) of your cap is 7” diameter, you can stop increases and start increasing just the length (without increasing stitches for the round)
Right then, back to the pattern sheet.
In
general the pattern I’ve used for my preemie caps is as follows.
Start Round 1 : with a magic circle and 10 hdc in that circle.
Join with a sl-st to the 1st hdc.
(10)
Round 2 :
(Increase round ) :
2 hdc in the 1st hdc and in each hdc all around.
Join
with a sl-st to the 1st hdc. (20)
Round 3 :
(Increase round ) :
hdc in the 1st hdc ; 2 hdc in the next hdc ;
*hdc
in the next hdc ; 2 hdc in the next hdc* ;
rep
*to* all around.
Join
with a sl-st to the 1st hdc. (30)
Round 4 :
(Increase round ) :
hdc in the 1st 3 hdc ; 2 hdc in the next hdc ;
*hdc
in the next 3 hdc ; 2 hdc in the next hdc* ;
rep
*to* all around.
Join
with a sl-st to the 1st hdc. (36)
Check
that your hat circumference is about 12” for preemie.
Round 5 :
hdc in the 1st hdc and in each hdc all around.
Join
with a sl-st to the 1st hdc. (36)
Rep
Round 5 till you have a finished length of 4”.
For
all the birds that need a white belly, I’ve ended with a round of hdc and then
finished off with a last round of crab stitch or reverse single crochet.
Check the top of this blog for a video tutorial.
All
the little birds have eyes, a beak and head feathers – and for each of these
I’ve just worked with a 3.5mm crochet hook and tightened the stitches a
bit. I have not used any polyfill
stuffing anywhere as these caps are intended for preemies in the NICU. If working for a slightly older kid, then you
could use polyfill if you’d like. May I
suggest that you first fill your poly-fill into a stocking and then stuff – to
keep it non-allergic and super safe.
I
have also not made tail feathers for any of them as my preemie babies are going
to be lying down and they may hurt the back of the head. If making yours for an older child, go crazy
and spread huge smiles.
Some
of the angry birds have a slightly different shape, so come on along and see
what I’ve done with this cute range.
Today
let’s check out how we’re working on Matilda, the white angry bird.
Matilda –White angry bird cap
I
found this free pattern for a Matilda stuff toy on Ravelry at
What I’ve done with this pattern : I used the pattern for the
body of the stuff toy and worked it only till the length I needed as always. In
case you are confused, this pattern is just like one I’ve used for the
caterpillar cap (in an earlier blog). We need to get a slightly conical shape,
as against a full semicircle and so the difference.
Once
again, work it only for the length and circumference you need, work all the
embellishments as instructed and you’ll have a cute cap. I did not work in the tail feathers – once
again as my caps are intended for preemie babies who will be lying down, it
makes no sense.
However,
if you are making it for an older child, it may look cute coming out from the
base of the cap at the back.
With this
link, you get a cap and a stuff toy. Cool huh?
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Have a great day and see you soon.
Here are some of my other creations.