Sweet Nothings Crochet: ROTARY CHARITY CAPS II

free crochet cap pattern, cute animal cap crochet free pattern

ROTARY CHARITY CAPS II

I am making these for a Charity Drive with Rotary India (Chembur) in conjunction with the Burns Clinic at Airoli, Navi Mumbai.

These are not my patterns. I found freebies on the net, and these notes are only for slight differences (mainly due to difference in yarn) as I make my project, so it can be beneficial for other Indians using local Indian yarns.

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Materials used : Today I’ve used our lovely Indian Vardhaman Millenium and / or Oswal Cashmilon 4-ply yarns with a 4 mm crochet hook ; fabric glue ; embroidery needle

For Indians : You could use Anchor , Red ros e or unbranded knitting cotton as well

General yarn info : 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.

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

Foundation Single Crochet : fsc : To refresh your skill on the fsc, please view this video https://youtu.be/mcT85fwh4mA

Magic circle : To refresh your skill, please view this easy video https://youtu.be/ISC39yOqWro

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

What is a slip stitch : Here is a neat video tutorial at https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw

Double Crochet : dc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk);

[yo, draw through 2 lps] twice. One dc made.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/xdnjB27zpYo

Chainless start for Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of dc.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/wskv3iTjRx0

Here is a sizing chart for general head sizing :

https://in.pinterest.com/pin/470063279839058772/ OR

https://in.pinterest.com/pin/470063279837764548/

Abbreviations used : (Using U.S terminology)

lp(s) : Loop(s) sc : Single crochet

dc : Double crochet sp : Space

sl-st : Slip stitch ch : Chain

st(s) : Stitch(es) hk : Hook

yo : Yarn Over

Instructions using U.S terminology

Please note that I start all my rows with a ch 1, turning chain for ease.

Please check the top of this blog for easy video tutorials on all stitches used in today's pattern.

Please read through all my notes before you pick up your hook, so you know just where we're heading in our pattern.

For head wear, I advise that you make the beret / beanie about an inch smaller than intended, keeping in mind the stretch of your yarn.

Check the head measurement charts at the top of this blog, and read the information below as well before you start working.

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.

I've made four cute projects which are all 'animal related'. I seem to have unearthed a huge stash .. literally opened Pandora's box. Do keep an eye out for more projects along the same theme.

Cap # 1 : Bunny Rabit

This cute free pattern is from the wonderful Tamara Kelly of Moogly blog.

The yarn she’s used is a nice thick bulky one, so it needs a lot less rows / rounds to complete than I needed with my locally available yarn.l

Get this pattern at http://www.mooglyblog.com/one-hour-crochet-bunny-hat/, and I was inspired by this photograph

I worked the pattern in the same way, but had to tweak a little to get the size.

I started with a magic circle and 9 hdc as per pattern. I continued all the way with the every round increase till I had 45 sts. I then continued with these 45 sts till I had a project which was nearly 6” (measured from crown to brim).

Finish Circumference = 15”.

For the ears all I did was increase 2 lines at the end, so I worked an extra 2 rows of 3 hdc.

All around the ears, I worked a round of hdc in contrast dark pink yarn.

This pattern does not have eyes and a nose, but as the pattern below did, I thought I’d add it in here too.

You could use ready-made safety eyes, or a button and cross stitch in the centre of the button, but I didn’t have one so I crocheted one.

Eyes : Work 6 sc in a magic circle and pull close lightly. Join with a sl-st to the 1^st sc. Cut off yarn leaving a tail to attach.

In case you want a larger eye, substitute hdc for the sc.

Nose : Start with 2 ch ; Work 3 hdc in the 2^nd ch from hk. Turn

Row 1 : 2 hdc in the 1^st hdc ; hdc in the next hdc ; 2 hdc in the next hdc. Turn.

Row 2 : sl-st all the 5 hdc till end. Fasten off and leave a long tail to attach.

I used our Indian 4-ply acrylic and have got a project of 6” from crown to brim and about 15” circumference.

Cap # 2 : Bunny Rabit Hat

This cute free pattern is from the wonderful Sarah of RepeatCrafterMe blog at

http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2013/01/crochet-bunny-hat-pattern.html, and was inspired by this photograph

I worked the pattern for the 1^st 7 rounds as instructed and then changed to hdc in each dc all around and continued working in hdc all around till I achieved the size I was looking for.

The only reason I’ve done this is as I felt that this 4-ply yarn was opening out too much with the dc and I wanted a “closer-stitched-look”.

For the nose and eyes, I used the same idea as for Cap # 1.

I used our Indian 4-ply acrylic and have got a project of 6.5” from crown to brim and about 17” circumference.

Cap # 3 : Sock Monkey Hat

This free pattern was just too cute to miss. I have used our Indian 4-ply acrylic for this project.

http://handmedownhobby.blogspot.in/2013/02/sock-monkey-hat.html, and was inspired by this photograph

I have used our Indian 4-ply acrylic for this project and is about 5.25” from crown to brim and about 17” circumference.

Cap # 4 : Cute Valentine Inspired Hat

Now this is truly Providence… or is it? This free pattern was shared just today on Facebook, just as I was uploading my 1^st set of head wear for this donation drive (link for the set given just below this blog)

Guess “Someone else” also thinks the little ones need some fun caps.

Get this free pattern at

http://www.creamofthecropcrochet.com/2015/02/free-preemie-valentines-puppy-hat-pattern/, and here is the inspirational photograph

For this pattern, you could start with a Magic circle and work 12 dc in that circle.

I worked in dc (and in pattern) till Round 4 and 45 sts. I then changed to working in hdc, mainly due to the kind of yarn I’m using – and as I’ve said before, this yarn, though really soft, opens out a little too much in caps while using a dc.. So you see, this change of stitch makes no change in the pattern.
I just checked how many inches I’d need for the size I’m working on, and worked in hdc till I was at that length (from crown to brim)

For the eyes : I decided to make little crochet ones from Cap 1

For the nose : I decided to make a magic circle with 8 hdc in it, and then worked a small increase in Round 2 of an hdc every other stitch (so hdc in 1^st st ; 2 hdc in the next st ; hdc in the next st ; 2 hdc in the next st .. etc all around).

I made my nose slightly larger as I thought I’d add a small blob of polyfill and 3D this cap up a bit.

For the ears : mmm ..I’m not sure if I’m just tired and so can’t get it , but I am unable to get the ears the way the designer has.. so I’ve decided to use the bunny ears (from above) instead.

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I have a few pieces of head wear already made, and just in case you want a dekho at those free patterns … here you go