Hats Don't Grow on Trees!

Hat's don't grow on trees and yet I have a "hat tree" in my garden this morning.
This is a small selection of my favourite hat patterns and most popular styles.

Clockwise from top:

Solid Hat

A warm, woolly and well-worn favourite, this was the first brimmed beanie I ever made.

The pattern for a "Solid Hat" is by Judith L. Swartz, published in her book Hip to Crochet.

As a beginning crocheter, I found this book an extremely useful introduction to crochet, including projects for accessories, garments and household items. It helped me to understand the basics of garment construction and introduced me to schematic diagrams.




I do like the little 'top knot' detail of this beanie. It reminds me of gumnuts.  My family likes to joke that I look like a gumnut when I wear it because it is oversized for my small head (which means it is a normal size for most of the population) and I like to pull it down over my ears for extra warmth.

While this one was made of soft stretchy wool, all of the other hats are made in easy-care acrylic. It's light, machine washable and dries quickly.

Before dismissing acrylic altogether as a crafting material, remember that there are different grades of acrylic fibre - some feel squeaky and scratchy but others are lush and soft. When considering acrylic for a project, have a good look around and compare offerings.

This camouflage and red skater style beanie was inspired by Laura Killoran's "Boy Beanie" pattern as published in Debbie Stoller's The Happy Hooker. 

Since first finding the "Boy Beanie" pattern, I've discovered many similar hats in the same style. They can be found by searching for 'skullcap' and 'skater beanie' or 'skate hat' etc.

It is interesting to compare Judith L Swartz's "Flash Beanie" (2006) which looks the same at first glance but the pattern uses different stitches.

Pointed Pixie Hat drapes nicely

This 'nightcap' style hat is made in a premium acrylic. It can be worn without a brim or roll it up to your preferred length.

The "Pointed Pixie Hat" pattern is from Carol Meldrum's book Easy Crocheted Accessories.

I just love the tassel which adds a jaunty air to the hat as it swings to and fro as one walks along. This is a hat with a lot of personality.








Hybrid Beanie

I call this skullcap a "Hybrid Beanie" because it is my own work, a successful experiment in working without a pattern, based on the knowledge accrued from studying different hat patterns.

I was experimenting with different stitching around the band and with the colourway (which I adore!). 

What do you think of it? Comments are most welcome below.

2012 was definitely the year for consolidating my learning about hats.



Pointed Pixie Hat straightened out



Another "Pointed Pixie Hat", the same pattern as the previous example, except it is straightened out to show the finished shape.

Constructed from the brim to the crown, you can see from this photograph the amount of decrease towards a well-defined point to which the tassel is attached.










Laura Killoran's "Boy Beanie" pattern has been very popular.  Children, teens and adults alike all love this design.

My daughter wore one to school one day (crocheted in school colours of course) and before I knew it, I had numerous requests from other students (and even a parent) who wanted one of their own!

Laura Killoran has made the pattern available online for free and can be found at All Free Crafts with links from her Ravelry page.



I have made many other hats, of course, but these basic patterns offer a lot of fun and learning.

  

Resources

• All Free Crafts, www.allfreecrafts.com 
• Crochet Me, 6 Free Crochet Hat Patterns: Crochet Hats with Crochet Me, www.crochetme.com
• Killoran, Laura "Boy Beanie" free online pattern:
• All Free Crafts: http://www.allfreecrafts.com/crochet/beanie.shtml,
• Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/boy-beanie-v20;
• Meldrum, Carol 2006, Easy Crocheted Accessories: Fashionable Projects for the Novice Crocheter, Sally Milner Publishing, Bowral NSW, Australia. 
• Stoller, Debbie 2006, Stitch 'n Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker, 2nd printing, Workman Publishing, New York, USA.
• Swartz, Judith L 2004, Hip To Crochet: 23 Contemporary Projects for Today's Crocheter, 4th printing, Interweave Press, Loveland CO, USA.
• Swartz, Judith L 2006, Getting Started Crochet, Interweave Press, Loveland CO, USA.