Emma's Garden hat

I haven't gotten much sewing done, but am hoping to today.  This week I made a little hat for Emma.  I've searched the internet for toddler size hats, but the only hats I've seen that I've liked are either way too small (newborn) or way to big.  After looking at so many, I decided to try to make up my own pattern.  The cluster stitch is pretty common and I've used it before.  I crochet pretty tightly, so you may need a smaller hook.  I have no idea what gauge this is, so you'll just have to experiment like I did!  The first one I made came out way too big.  This was coming out too small, so I kept adding rows.  I still haven't tried it on her, but I compared it to some other hats she has, so I'm pretty sure it will work.

I used variegated yarn, so it just so happened that it made a white band around the bottom with a green border!  I think I would do this on purpose next time :-)  I actually switched rows 4 and 5 when I did it, which is because I needed to make it bigger and did not want to have to rip out (again) what I already did.  The next time I will do it the way I wrote it here.  I can hardly wait to try it on her when we see her next time.  I'm having Emma withdrawl.

Emma’s Garden Hat

Cotton yarn - worsted (4) weight - less than one skein, plus scraps for the flowers

size J hook

• Beg CL:  chain 3.  DC w/in one step of finishing (2 loops on hook).  Repeat (3 loops on hook) YO, draw through 3 loops.

• cluster:  DC leaving 2 loops on hook, repeat (3 loops on hook), repeat (4 loops on hook)  YO, pull through 4 loops.

  

• end:  Sl St in top ch of ch 3. sl st in next st, sl st in ch 2 space.

magic ring

Round 1:  Inside ring   Beg cluster, Ch 2.  *cluster, ch 2.  Repeat from * 3 times.  end. (5 clusters) pull magic ring tight

Round 2:  Beg CL,  ch 2.  * In next ch-2 sp, cluster, ch-2, cluster ch-2.  Repeat from * in ea ch-2 sp. end. (10 clusters)

Round 3:  Beg CL, ch 2 * in next ch-2 sp, cluster, ch-2 cluster, ch-2.  In next ch 2 sp, cluster, ch 2.  Repeat from * all the way around.  end.  (15 clusters)

Round 4: Beg CL, ch 2 * in next ch-2 sp, cluster, ch-2 cluster, ch-2.  In next ch 2 sp, cluster, ch 2. In next ch 2 sp, cluster, ch 2.  Repeat from * all the way around.  end.  (20 clusters)

Rounds 5-7: Beg CL, ch 2 * in next ch-2 sp, cluster, ch-2.    Repeat from * all the way around.  end.  (20 clusters)

Round 8:  ch 1.  SC all the way around.  sl st to join.  

Rounds 9- 11 or 12:  loosly sl st all the way around in the back of each stitch.  sl st to join.  Turn.  End with the right side facing you.

Finishing row:  ch 1, *sc in next stitch, ch1, sl st, ch 1.  Repeat from * all the way around.  Finish with sl st and tie off ends.

Embellish with your choice of flowers.