Newbie HAT Crochet-a-Longs (CAL)

[Cranky Crocheter]

I have seen all the beautiful projects on the CAL board and I was hoping to start one for us newbies (if that is ok:think )

I see that there has been an influx of hat questions so maybe we can do a simple hat using SC or DC, we can def get crocheting in the round down to a science or a fancy scarf using a new stitch or pattern. I want to be able to do a project that can actually be completed without FRUSTRATION:angry and add some new techniques in our pockets at the same time:yarn

If you are interested please reply to this post or send a PM with your vote for an easy hat or scarf. I will choose the majority to be fair.

I WILL POST THE PATTERN TOMORROW NIGHT

Thanks!!!!:hug

[stargazingirly]

either one sounds great to me! I have very limited skills especially with pattern reading, but I can't wait to make something useful!

[samtaro]

Not a newbie (been crocheting for years), but I have never crocheted a hat...true story! So I would join up.

[clare]

hi
here is a really easy scarf pattern. i made the scarf the other day https://www.dreamweaveryarns.com/catalog/pdf/crochetedkeyholescarf.pdf
see what you think ?? ill join in this CAL
i have been crocheting for 4 years but sometimes the easy and fast patterns are good to do to !

[Butterfly04]

I have never made a crochet hat, I have always done knitted hats.
count me in on this one

[StacyRI]

Count me in! This will be my first CAL, and I'm ready to tackle whichever (hat or scarf) the majority decides.

Can't wait to get started!!!!!!

~Stacy

[Cranky Crocheter]

Yeah.. I am soooo excited!! :hook I am going to wait for a few more responses and...away we go!!

[grammacrocheting]

Count me in. This will be my first CAL also. Can't wait to get going. Would love to do the scarf pattern. :woo

[Chell_74]

Count me in .. although I am extremely sloooooooow. Took me over a week to make my first scarf. :yarn

[clare]

sooooooooooooo what are we doing???? i have my hook and yarn ready and waiting :)

[stargazingirly]

I'm ready and waiting too!!

[Kristin2477]

I've never done a hat either, so I'd vote for a hat, and definitely join in.

[Cranky Crocheter]

Hey!! Sorry for the delay... holidays and all:yes Plus I have taken on a granny square project and a homespun scrapgan project too... :hook

OK.... lets do this!!! The majority rules people and the majority wants a hat so thats what the majority is gonna get!!:P

I really don't know how to start a CAL but below is a pattern and I guess we all do it and post pics and ask questions?!?!?:think

Yarn I guess is an option?!?

http://hometown.aol.com/JSchlossma/ezdcc.html

[CDBear]

How about this one?

http://cache.lionbrand.com/patterns/BK4K-0612011.html

http://cache.lionbrand.com/stores/lionbrand/pictures/bk4k-0612011a.jpg

[Kristin2477]

The Lion-Brand one looks good to me.
How about everyone else?

[CDBear]

I just realized I posted my suggestion a little late.......please forgive me.:(

It looks like a fairly easy pattern.......

[Cranky Crocheter]

I only posted the first pattern to use some SC and DC but lets to the lionbrand one... Lets keep out first hat SIMPLE!!! Hats are hard enough, for me anyway!

[Kristin2477]

The lion brand one does look easy. Maybe we should wait and see what others say, and go from there?

[Cranky Crocheter]

Sounds good!

[CDBear]

Count me in!! Thanks y'all!! :2rock

[Kristin2477]

Sounds good!


Maybe you should change the title of the thread to indicate that it is a newbie hat CAL, as opposed to scarves or something? Just a suggestion.

[stargazingirly]

I think the lion brand one will be a good challenge for me, I like it because i know what everyting in the pattern means!

[Cranky Crocheter]

Maybe you should change the title of the thread to indicate that it is a newbie hat CAL, as opposed to scarves or something? Just a suggestion.

Kristin - Good idea.. I hope this works..

soooooooooooooooooo let do this!!! LN pattern is a GO:cheer

http://cache.lionbrand.com/patterns/BK4K-0612011.html

[Kristin2477]

I'm so excited! My first CAL! I'll have to go right out tonight and get the yarn. After looking at the colors on the pattern page, I think I'll do Spice.
Anyone else have an idea of color?

[CDBear]

I think I'll see how it looks in Homespun.......I've got some really great colors left over from other projects.....

I can't wait to get off work!!!

[Cranky Crocheter]

I'm so excited! My first CAL! I'll have to go right out tonight and get the yarn. After looking at the colors on the pattern page, I think I'll do Spice.
Anyone else have an idea of color?

I have some leftover Denim!!

Be sure to post pics and questions and comments or general yarn-like observations!

[Kristin2477]

I have some leftover Denim!!

Be sure to post pics and questions and comments or general yarn-like observations!

I have some regular wool, but not the Thick and Quick kind. I went to Michaels on my way home, but they didn't have the Spice. No biggie, I got Cranberry instead. A very pretty shade of red.
Unfortunately I can't even start on it tonight. I have a bazillion things to do. But, it'll be started before the weekend!:clap

[clare]

woo hoo its a hat along carnt wait to start ! now where is my darn hook ??? :)

[Cranky Crocheter]

OK - 12:45am and I turned on my computer to Print out the pattern. Wow the dedication, lol...

[clare]

ok here is my first one :clap



http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c303/bobwilson123/IMG_0790.jpg

[Kristin2477]

Wow Clare!! You don't waste a second!! It looks great. I love the colors. What kind of yarn did you use?

[CDBear]

You GO Clare!!! :cheer

[stargazingirly]

It looks great Clare! I have a baby sweater to finish up before I start on the hat, i'm hoping to use a smaller hook with small yarn and make it baby sized.... i figure it can't hurt to try!

[Cranky Crocheter]

Great job clare!!! I stared last night and I found that I HATED crocheting in rounds with LN Thick and Quick... Totally ripped it out.. I am going to use another yarn and maybe a smaller needle....

[Kristin2477]

Great job clare!!! I stared last night and I found that I HATED crocheting in rounds with LN Thick and Quick... Totally ripped it out.. I am going to use another yarn and maybe a smaller needle....


You know, as I was winding my skein into a ball last night, I was thinknig to myself that it was going to be difficult for me to crochet with it. It's so thick! I hope I can do it. My failure with chenile is still hanging over my head!

[Cranky Crocheter]

Chenile is not even in my vocabulary anymore, lol

[clare]

i figure it can't hurt to try!

and if it doesnt work pull it apart and try again :clap

[Kristin2477]

Chenile is not even in my vocabulary anymore, lol

Trust me, I'm getting there too.:think :eek

[stargazingirly]

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q113/Stargazingirly/hatresized.jpg

:cheer :cheer :cheer

I made a few changes to the pattern since I was shooting for baby sized, plus I added a couple of rows of dc around the bottom because I like to have a cuff on my baby hats!

I think its pretty cute for a first try!!!:hook

[Cat Loving Crocheter]

Stargazingirly: That is SO cute.

Anyway, I think qualify as a newbie because I just did my first project today. I'll start on the hat tommorow.
YAY, my first CAL

[stargazingirly]

Cat Loving Crocheter: what was your first project?
I've been knitting for years, but i'm finding that for many things I like to crochet better, I loved making this hat!! good luck with yours!

[clare]

Jessica
thats a really great hat ! i love the colour it will look so cute !

[Kristin2477]

Anyway, I think qualify as a newbie because I just did my first project today. I'll start on the hat tommorow.
YAY, my first CAL

Welcome aboard!!


Stargazingirly~~Your hat looks really great. I love how you did the cuff at the bottom. It looks really good!

I'm starting mine today. Hopefully, I'll be posting pics later on, not frustrations!!

[Cat Loving Crocheter]

Cat Loving Crocheter: what was your first project?
I've been knitting for years, but i'm finding that for many things I like to crochet better, I loved making this hat!! good luck with yours!
It was a baby hat. I had too many stitches near the top, and too little near the bottom, so it looked like a chef's hat. ^_^;;
I read that you taught yourself crochet. Good for you! I could've never taught myself.

I hope you don't mind me asking, but why were you up at 1 a.m.?

[stargazingirly]

It was a baby hat. I had too many stitches near the top, and too little near the bottom, so it looked like a chef's hat. ^_^;;
I read that you taught yourself crochet. Good for you! I could've never taught myself.

I hope you don't mind me asking, but why were you up at 1 a.m.?


I'm a college kid and we are still on christmas vacation, sleep till 10ish, go to the gym, sit on the couch crocheting or knitting until 12- or later and then repeat the day.... once classes start again ill have to spend a little less time crocheting and a little more time studying, but the general schedule stays the same:yay

[Cat Loving Crocheter]

Well, I started it.
I used Bernat Softee Chunky in a really pretty shade. It was a bulky weight yarn, so I used a J hook. Once I began crocheting, I realized that I would have to have many more stitches than the pattern says, so I did two stitches in each stitch to make it go quicker. Well, that began to ruffle the yarn so I had to rip out that row. I decided to increase in every third stitch so that I wouldn't increase too fast. Then I saw that I was skipping alot of stitches so I began to rip it out, but the yarn was REALLY stubborn. I decided that the yarn was just too stubborn and quit working. I think next time I'll have to use the right weight of yarn, and one that rips out more easily.

[stargazingirly]

aaaaawwww its always so hard to rip things out with that chunky yarn, I think using an easy yarn makes the pattern a lot easier to follow. Especially if your having a hard time finding all the stitches, I like to be able to see what i'm working with and that chunky stuff makes it hard. I'm sure you will be able to figure it out!! goodluck CLC!!!!:cheer:cheer

[CDBear]

I made 3!!!!! All of them using scraps, cuz Homespun just looked terrible....:angry I used Lion Wool in a green and a royal blue, alternating whenever, and then I made another in a navy cotton yarn.

I hang out at the local bowling center on Saturday mornings, watching my 15yo, and helping the coach of the youth league he belongs to. Naturally, I had my basket and my hat, and when I finished it, one of the kids said "Cool Miss Christi!! Can I have it?" I tossed it to him, and he wore it the rest of the morning! One of the other kids asked for one, and she's getting the navy one.

WOO HOO!!! I love CAL's!!!:clap :cheer :yay

[clare]

CDBear thats great !!!!! isnt it wonderfull when people like your items as much as you and sometimes even more :yay

[Kristin2477]

Wow CDBear!! That is really awesome!! Good for you!

[CDBear]

{{thread hijack}}

OK.....I just have to ask, cuz I can't find the answer anywhere else.....what is RAOK? I've seen it all over the place here, and the curiosity is KILLING me!!! :confused

[Kristin2477]

{{thread hijack}}

OK.....I just have to ask, cuz I can't find the answer anywhere else.....what is RAOK? I've seen it all over the place here, and the curiosity is KILLING me!!! :confused




It means Random Acts of Kindness. Once you reach 40 posts, and 60 days, you will be able to see the forums for that. You post a wish list, and people grant your wishes, and you can grant other people's wishes as well.

[amalin06]

I made a couple hats for my 8 month old son and 5 month old nephew. so I have a couple really simple patterns. all you have to do for an adult is add a few more foundation chs and a couple more rows if anyone wants the pattern just email me

[CDBear]

Thanks Kristin!!

Wow, that sounds so neat!! I can't wait to get there!!!

{{returning you to your original thread}} :D

[Cat Loving Crocheter]

I finished mine!:hook It's kind of oddly shaped, but I didn't expect any miracles, being so new and all. I'll post a picture later! I just need to wait for the camera to charge. :angry

[Kristin2477]

I finally went to start mine and realized I didn't have a big enough hook! I need a size N for the Thick and Quick. Grrrrrr.

[clare]

here is another
it is soo soft anf cozy..hmmmm pitty its for a baby...or i mite wear it in winter:c9
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c303/bobwilson123/IMG_0855.jpg

[Kristin2477]

Ooooooo!! It's beautiful!! :cheer :cheer :cheer :clap :clap :clap

[Cat Loving Crocheter]

It's beautiful! How did you see the stitches in that yarn though? I'd think it would be horrible to work with. It looks SOOOO soft! :c9

[clare]

How did you see the stitches in that yarn though? I'd think it would be horrible to work with.

:hi
i used a 9mm hook so the stiches are big and i just felt for the next stich ;) once you get the hang of it its easy peasy !

its shocking yarn to work with if the hook is smaller:angry :angry :angry so much that i never do it anymore :lol i learnt that the hard way !

[CDBear]

OOOOOO Clare!! I LOVE that one!!

[stargazingirly]

Clare that is an awesome looking hat!!! :clap :clap :clap

I'll have to try the fluffy yarn with a bigger hook and see if I can get the hang of it, so far everything I try to make with nice yarn ends up lopsided because i can't find all the stitches!:think

[Cranky Crocheter]

Well... I made a homespun scarf so i just used the left over yarn to make a hat... I played around with the pattern a bit and worked in a spiral like mess... I guess if you can put it on your head... its a hat right?:yes

Sorry I can't resize the pic... I know its huge but don;t let that scare ya!

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/caroline5276/hat003.jpg

[stargazingirly]

ooo that makes a pretty set, looks warm and comfy!! :clap :clap :clap

I hope to get another one made today... but we'll see how the day goes!

[CDBear]

OK, now I feel a challenge coming on...... Cranky Crocheter, I tried mine using Homespun, and just hated it! Now I'm going to have to try again! :)

I'll let you know........

[Cranky Crocheter]

CDBear....Homespun is hard in the rounds as in a hat.. I hated doing it and I don;t like how it looks but IT IS soft and warm!! Try it again... I want to see how it turns out!!!!

[CDBear]

OK....I'll try it tonite!

I'm still working on the how/where to post pics thing tho!!

[Kristin2477]

I absolutely LOVE Homespun. I'm going tonight to get 5 skeins of it to make a shawl for a party I'm going to next week. It is hard to work with. My best advice is to use a bigger hook than is called for, just for the foundation chain. That keeps it a bit looser in the long run, and you can see your work a bit better.

[CDBear]

I made several shawls with Homespun for Christmas, and I found my K hook worked great. For some reason, though, with sc I have trouble with it........ :sigh I am determined to try again, tho!!

[Cranky Crocheter]

OK....I'll try it tonite!

I'm still working on the how/where to post pics thing tho!!

I use www.photobucket.com (http://www.photobucket.com) Very easy!

[Cat Loving Crocheter]

My mom tried working with Homespun. She didn't like it. I have no problem knitting with it , but crochet and knit stitches are very different to work with. Good for you for making it Cranky Crocheter! It looks fabulous!:cheer :clap :cheer :clap
Now I have to wait for dad to come home so he can upload my photo.:bang

[clare]

wow that hat looks great ! i like the colors

[Cat Loving Crocheter]

Yay! I finally got the picture!:yay
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/6031/dsc00396ge2.th.jpg (http://img149.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00396ge2.jpg)

I made the crown way to big, so I had to decrease alot later on, but I think it's ok for a first try. Like Cranky Crocheter said: If it fits on your head, I guess it's a hat.

I wore it all around the house today to cover up my weird haircut. LOL

You can click to make it bigger.

[stargazingirly]

It looks great CLC!!! and white goes with everything so you can wear it all the time! Great job!:clap :clap :clap

[clare]

well if it fits on ya head .. i think that qualifys as a hat ? looks great

[clare]

here is a few tips to make a hat fit:yay
chain 4 ish join with sl st, chain 2
12 dc in ring, join with sl tp to ch 2
2 DC in each DC, join with sl st, ch 2
keep doing this, but on each row add a dc in one stich in between the 2DC in DC
eg row 1 - 1 DC in next stich, 2 dc in next stich reapeat around
row 4 - 1 dc in next 2 stiches, 2 DC in next stich , repeat
row 5 - 1 DC in next 3stiches, 2 DC in next stich, repeat

can u see the pattern?
when the cirlce is big enough for the crown of your head, maybe a bit smaller
just DC in each stich , make till long enough

hope this helps??? :lol

[Cranky Crocheter]

Great job CLC!!!!

[CDBear]

Here are two of my finished hats.....the striped one is Lion Wool, and the other is a cotton yarn that I don't recall the name for..... :(

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r284/CDBear/Beanies.jpg

The color on this picture is really crummy.....:angry The solid one is navy blue, and the striped one is blue and teal......

[Kristin2477]

Well, despite the color being very off, the hats look wonderful! I love the striped one.

[stargazingirly]

Wow those colors are really off! lol... Oh well, it doesn't take away from the awesomness of the hats!! great job!

[CDBear]

Yeah, the navy one already has a home! I'm taking them both with me to the bowling center on Saturday - one of the other teens in our youth league will want it, I'm sure!

I'm working on another one for my 15yo son, out of Cascade Quatro. It's what's left over after my felted hook case.......

[clare]

those hats look great !

[Cranky Crocheter]

LOVE the striped one!:cheer

[clare]

CD bear ~ those hats are great !

i have been slack, i havnt made a hat for a while....tooo many WIP :lol

[CDBear]

I made two more!! One for my son TJ, and one for a friend of his at school........M's hat was done in Homespun - I forget the color. TJ's hat is camo, with a black stripe. I don't care for the way it turned out - it just looks like a round box. :think :eek But he loves it!

M called for TJ last night and I answered - he thanked me again and again for the hat......it made me feel really good. :yay

[stargazingirly]

Thats awesome! its so nice to have your work be really appreciated isn't it!

[Serenation88]

hats=specialty. count me in!

[beccaj74]

Hello,
I just found this website yesterday and am going to join in your hat-a-long. I love wearing hats especially as we have nasty winters here. I am a fair beginner, being able to do a single, double or triple. Hopefully I can get into town (1/2 hr away) soon and get some yarn to make a start. I love all the work so far. I am also about to have a baby in 9 weeks so I this will be a good practice run for making littler things.
Great to join in with you all. Will post a picture asap.
Bec

[CDBear]

Great Becca!! Welcome!

Congrats on your little one!

[Cranky Crocheter]

Welcome!!!