Speaking of crocheted hats...

I made this hat using the instructions in my previous post for a friend who saw a similar knitted one she liked. I used two strands of yarn crocheted together - a bulky weight pink yarn and a white eyelash yarn. A second friend saw the hat when my husband passed it off to the first friend and asked for one in red for her mom. Since I was on a roll (and have quite the eyelash yarn stash), I worked on a white on white one during the long Thanksgiving drive to Dallas which promptly ended up on the head of my teenaged niece. Several other family members noticed it during the holiday feast and requested hats in various colors. I am quite surprised - but pleased! - at its reception. What with two strands of yarn and a large (size K or more) hook, this thing works up surprisingly fast - 3 hours max. So if you need to make a last minute Christmas gift, may I suggest....

No Gauge Custom Cloche

I have been in a hat/cap/beanie making mood lately. I have no idea why since I live in Texas and it is the rare day that Texans need to keep their heads warm. But in any case, here's my 'make your own custom cloche' instructions no matter the head size or the yarn/hook combo. Works for little girls, works for big girls.

First you need to measure the circumference of the head in question. For most adults you can figure 21" if you don't want to go to the trouble of digging out the tape measure. Now we all remember that the circumference of a circle equals 2 times pi times the radius. (Where the heck is the pi symbol on this keyboard?) Moving everything around through the magic of algebra we have

diameter = circumference/3.14

The diameter is the important number here. In our example of the circumference being 21", we have a diameter of approximately 6.7". Now you crochet in the round in a continuous spiral, starting with 6 SC in the first round and increasing by 6 each time around. In other words:

ROUND 1: CH 2. SC 6 in the second chain from the hook.
ROUND 2: (2 SC in the next stitch) all the way around for a total of 12
ROUND 3: (SC 1, 2SC in the next stitch) all the way around for a total of 18
ROUND 4: (SC 2, 2SC in the next stitch) all the way around for a total of 24
ROUND 5: (SC 3, 2SC in the next stitch) all the way around for a total of 30
.... and so on....

until the diameter is close to what you calculated (6.7" in our example.) Doesn't have to be exact, just close. Now for the easy part. However many rounds you have made so far, make twice that many without increasing (one SC in each stitch from now on.) If you had 8 rounds now add an additional 16. Finish off and weave in loose ends.

In summary:
1. figure out the diameter you need (circumference of the head divided by 3.14.)
2. crochet in the round in a spiral increasing by 6 each round til you reach that diameter.
3. Now do twice as many rounds as you have already done, but only do 1 SC in each stitch.
4. Finish off and weave in loose ends.

And if you want it to be a beanie, just do fewer rounds at the end.

Groovy Crochet Vest

I scored some great 70s craft magazines at a thrift sale recently. Ah, the styles of my youth. I remember wearing vests similar to this, although growing up in Texas we were never fashion forward enough to wear them this long. Wonder what my teenage niece will say about it?