Crochet Hats
The crochet hat is an item that has been coming in and out of style for many years. In the winter they are invaluable as head warmers, made of wool, chenille or some other cozy, cold weather fiber. In summer they turn perky and bright, sometimes with wide brims to protect delicate skin from the sun’s harmful rays.
There is basically a crochet hat to make for every season, every holiday and every outfit. Since a crochet hat takes very little yarn and a minimal amount of time, they make great take-along projects for gift giving and wardrobe enhancing. With the enormous number of patterns and yarns to choose from, it is not difficult to fashion an entire wardrobe of hats for the connoisseur.
Finding Patterns for a Crochet Hat
Crochet hat patterns abound everywhere a crafter looks. There are a number of different patterns found in crochet books, and some books devoted solely to crochet hats. Craft magazines will keep you up to date on the latest styles and trends, and the internet is a virtual sea of free patterns and ideas with a simple investment of time and a little bit of printer paper.
Since the selection of patterns is abundant enough to overwhelm you, it is a good idea to have an idea of the type of crochet hat you want to make before you start looking. Are you hoping to create a stocking cap of sorts that will keep your son’s head warm on the way to school? Or do you prefer a bucket style hat for your teenage daughter that you can construct out of a furry yarn for fun as well as fashion?
If you are hunting for a hat to coordinate with an outfit, many patterns will give you the combination of a sweater or poncho and a matching hat. The good news is that if you have a desire to create headwear, you are almost guaranteed to find the perfect hat in the plethora of choices you can select from.
Which Material to Choose?
Once you have selected a crochet hat pattern, it is off to the craft or yarn store to shop for supplies. Yarns and fibers are plentiful, and color choices are almost infinite. If you are looking for yarn for a winter hat, try matching the color of the parka it will be worn with. If you have the time or inclination, you can even create mittens and a scarf for a completely coordinated look. If your hat is going to be worn frequently or by a young person, a machine washable fiber is probably a good idea.
The new hat season is coming, is your head prepared for the elements? Grab your crochet hook and favorite crochet hat pattern, and get started on your seasonal wear today!
April 10, 2007
Crochet for Babies
If you are looking for a special gift for a special new bundle, why not put your talents to work in creating a handmade gift for a baby to enjoy? Crochet for babies patterns run the gamut – from blankets and buntings to sweaters and socks. There are so many cute items to choose from, the hardest part will be selecting just one to make!
Once you choose your pattern for your crochet for babies’ gift, you will then be faced with the plethora of materials to use. Baby yarns abound in textures and colors that will guarantee you will find something to your liking. Embellishments like buttons and ribbons will enable you to fashion a one-of-a-kind gift for that special little someone. And handmade gifts add an heirloom quality that is hard to beat.
Consider Safety in Regards to Crochet for Babies
When you decide to crochet for babies, there are some unique factors that you need to consider. Since babies tend to be messy creatures, machine washable materials are of utmost importance – and convenience for Mom. Fortunately, there are many beautiful baby yarns of various fibers that are completely machine-washable and safe for the drier. If you are in doubt, check the wrap around the skein of yarn that you are purchasing for washing instructions.
Babies also like to put anything they get their fingers around into their mouths, so beware of choking hazards on your crochet for babies item. If you use embellishments like buttons or bows, make extra sure that the items are secured firmly to your crocheted piece. Avoid accessorizing with strings, since these can be a choking hazard. Find other ways of fastening mittens together or keeping hoods closed.
Unraveling the Mystery of Sizing
One source of confusion when doing crochet for babies is figuring out the sizing of a garment you are making. Since babies grow at an exponential rate during the first weeks and months of life, you are safest in making your item in a six-month size or larger. Think about the season that your garment will be worn in, and consider the age of the baby during that season.
If a baby is born during the winter months, a six-month size might be a good guess for a spring crocheted baby item. Vice versa, a spring baby will be ready for a six-month size in a bunting or sweater for cold weather. If sizing seems too complicated, forget the wearable items, and create a beautiful baby afghan instead – these are always in demand, no matter what the weather holds! Whatever you choose to create, a crocheted baby gift is the perfect choice for any new little bundle.
March 13, 2007
A Crocheted Dress
For those women who enjoy crocheting, chances are that they have already gone through many of the projects that can be made in such a manner. After all, you can only crochet so many doilies, tablecloths, or hats. For the woman in search of a new crochet project, perhaps it is time to expand a bit and crochet a dress.
An appealing reason to crochet a dress is that it would make for a lovely gift for a new granddaughter or a small child. Crocheted dresses for babies and small children are generally white, but they can also be many different colors according to the seasons - for example, you can use pastel colors for an adorable sundress.
For those younger people who do not have children yet, they could always make a lovely child’s dress and save it for when they had their own children. Such a crocheted dress could also be saved to give an expectant loved one as a baby shower present.
Dolls
For those who collect dolls, a wonderful hobby would be to crochet dresses for them. These lovely dresses can often be purchased at craft fairs, and are fun to make because they take less time to create.
The most popular kind of crocheted dress is for a baby doll. With the many different occasions there are to celebrate, these dolls are often used as decorations for various holidays or given as presents, so the ideas you can implement to crochet a dress for them are quite diverse.
Fashion Statements
For the especially ambitious crochet enthusiasts, a great idea would be to crochet their own dress. Depending on the style that is chosen, crocheted dresses can be worn at both dress or casual events.
It is important to note that while it will be less expensive to make your own dress, it may take a considerable amount of time to select the right yarn, color, and to get measurements right, in addition to the actual crocheting process. Thus, patience is a must for people who choose to make their own dress in this manner.
For people who lack the patience or the necessary crocheting skills, you can always find a lovely crocheted dress online or at a local department store. Prices will vary according to the design and manufacturer. However, regardless of their origins, crocheted dresses are indeed lovely and creative works of art.
March 11, 2007
Crochet Doll Dresses
Crocheting is one of the oldest practices by humans and that may be the reason why it is always associated with elder people. Today, however, crocheting is widely practiced and worn on anything and everything you can possibly think of from dresses to curtains.
Crocheting is just a hobby like any other but this particular hobby can actually create something to show for your work as well as making others happy. One example of this is crochet doll dresses and, indeed, any other item of a doll’s wardrobe, which would make your daughter or granddaughter extremely happy.
Crochet doll dresses are a bit tricky and if you have not done any before, I suggest you look in stores or online for directions, since you need to follow exact measurements and patterns in order to make the crochet doll dress look good.
Due to the fact that crocheting and crocheted items are back in style, you will be able to find with ease crochet doll dress kits and even crochet doll kits as well. On such a project you can work with your daughter in crocheting and in due course teach her how to make her own crochet doll dresses too. Crocheting is not easy and definitely not fast, so you will need all the help you can get. What is more, your daughter will love learning something as complicated as crocheting.
Once you have made the first crochet doll dress, you can then make several more in different colors and styles to make a whole wardrobe for your or your daughter’s doll.
Helpful Tips
Depending on your daughter’s age, you may not want to leave her unattended with the crochet needles or other materials that may be of danger to her. Also you need to be very patient and watch what your daughter does because in crocheting any mistake will need to be undone and the job restarted from where it went wrong. And that can get very frustrating especially if you have already been working on the crochet doll dress for a while.
Crochet dolls and crochet dolls’ dresses can be made out of any type of yarn, but if you make them out of cotton, ensure that it was preshrunk or else you will have a miniature dress after the first wash.
Crochet is a wonderful hobby, which can work as a stress reliever and relax you every time you pick up the yarn and crochet needle, irrespective of what you are about to do. Crocheting together with your daughter can be a unique experience, which you both will treasure for years to come.
