PREEMIE
CAPS 8
BOMB
– Black Angry Bird
Welcome
back to my series of preemie caps that, as I’m sure you know by now, I’ve just
recently donated 200 newborn / preemie baby caps over three institutions in Australia.
As I started making this series, I started 'learning' all their names.. dunno why but they’re
wildly popular – didn’t even know there were so many of them!
This is the full series that I've made and over the past few days I've posted the red and white ones so in case you missed those, click on Crochet headwear pattern or Crochet beanie pattern labels on the right of this blog... and then follow me either here on Facebook for more fun crochet stuff. Cheers.
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This beautiful creation was donated to the lovely ladies who run the stall at the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation
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.
Abbreviations used :
sc
: single crochet dc : Double
crochet
ch
: chain ch-sp
: chain space
sp
: space rep
: Repeat
Stitches used :
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
Half Double Crochet : Hdc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk) ;
yo, draw through all 3 lps. One hdc made.
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
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 :
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
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.
once again, this is my stocking ball, just
for your info (though have not used it for any of my caps here)
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.
We’ve
done Terence, Red bird and Matilda over the past two days.. today Bomb, the
angry black bird gets his beak in ;)
Bomb –Black angry bird cap
There
are several sizes given here, but I basically used my simple pattern (top of
this blog) and then worked in the embellishments as instructed by the lovely
Elise Engh.
So what did I do differently : As always, I started with
the pattern as given and checked to see what circumference and length I was
getting. I just ensured that I keep to
the size I need.
I
also changed the head (top) feather a bit. I thought that the feather
should be a bit narrow at the bottom – so instead of working an sc all through,
I worked a sl-st in Row 2 for the 1st
few sts , and in Row 3, I ended with a the same few sl-sts. This gives it a thinner curved look.
I
started with a fsc chain and worked just 3 rows. I did not fold it over as instructed as I
wanted that curved look.
The
“difficulty” with my finish is that you need to be “very careful” in weaving in
all the ends (the orange end) as we’re not wrapping it inside the folded part.
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Have a great day and see you soon.
Here are some of my other creations.