crochet

Small hats

Last week I bought a fantastic hat pattern and despite having more than one crochet WIP I whipped out some remnant half-balls of yarn and my hooks and made a start.  My yarn wasn’t the one recommended in the pattern, but it was a similar weight, so I gave it a go.  I was making it to fit Clare but it seemed a bit small, so I did a few extra increase rows and a few extra for depth, then did the adult size for the visor.  I think I mucked it up.

cotton visor hat by you.

Not too bad from this angle, but that is after LOTS of stretching to get it on her head.  And from another angle…

cotton visor hat by you.

It’s all a bit rasta really, and she even has a bun in there.  So I went back to my hook and yarn stash, and picked up a ball of thicker yarn (Patons Jet, a wool/alpaca blend) and decided that this time I would follow the pattern and do the child size again.

Crazy easy textured newsboy cap - Jet by you.

The proportions are better, but this time it fits Stella.  There is NO WAY it would go anywhere near a six-year-old head!

Crazy easy textured newsboy cap - Jet by you.

It’s even a bit firm on a 19-month-old head.  So WHAT am I doing wrong?  I know that yarn substitution has its hazards, but I didn’t think that I crocheted so tightly I’d be so way off gauge.  Maybe I’ll try the adult size next and hope that it fits Clare….