Hard Crochet Stetson Hat

[CrochetDad]

I recently purchased the book "Hard Crochet" by Mark Dittrick. On the cover is a Stetson-looking hat that is one of the projects explained in the book.

Here is my rendition of that hat:

http://s260.photobucket.com/albums/ii10/CrochetDad/th_2008-02-27-014_.jpg (http://s260.photobucket.com/albums/ii10/CrochetDad/?action=view&current=7552410b.pbw)

If I look proud, it's because I really like this hat! (and so does my granddaughter - if you click the pic, you'll see)

Thanks for looking.

[Monique39]

Great job!!

[hookjunky]

Great hat! It looks so cute on your granddaughter too!

[idagammy]

Very nice! What an adorable granddaughter you have!

[CrochetLiving]

Your granddaughter is just beautiful!

I have the Hard Crochet book and Mark uses an olefin fiber and stems it until it is blocked and the yarn stiffens up.
How was your hat rendered? It looks really good!

[JoAnn]

Great hat! Your granddaughter is a real cutie!

I have the same book but haven't done anything with it.

[tralee]

That is awesome! Your granddaughter is a doll and I love her name.:c9

[eurolyons]

Wonderful work Gene...take a bow!

[eurolyons]

What a cutie granddaughter you've got there!

[CrochetDad]

My granddaughter's personality matches her beautiful looks. She's a delight to be around. Of course that's coming from a proud grandpa!

I just used yarn that I had available - the main color was done with Caron One Pound worsted weight "Taupe" and for the band I used Red Heart burgundy, black and heather grey.

Your granddaughter is just beautiful!

I have the Hard Crochet book and Mark uses an olefin fiber and stems it until it is blocked and the yarn stiffens up.
How was your hat rendered? It looks really good!

[DoubleTreble]

Really nice! I will have to look up that book. My father would love that hat! Great job!

[AK1]

That is a very dapper looking hat...and one very cute granddaughter! She doesn't have you wrapped around her little finger, does she? :D

[DreamsOfYarn]

Gene, the hat is so cool. You did a great job on it.

Your granddaughter is precious.

[Cliffnote]

Thats such a pretty hat, I love that! you did a great job!!

Kim

[TepperWear]

Very nice. And it really looks swell on you. You should be proud.

[cher49]

awesome

[alibra]

Nice hat, you look dapper in it!!

[badrhinogillett]

That looks great!:clap

[Rugratsx5]

Great hat!!! & Beautiful granddaughter!!

[LondonLaura]

:hook Wow, you're a real hooker ;) I've never seen anything like that, how wonderful. Your grand-daughter is totally adorable!

[carovan]

Your hat looks great on you and on your beautiful dgd too. :hook

[unicorn37757]

What a neat hat!:clap

[hhensler]

I bought the book a while back, but gave up when I was unable to locate the materials he uses...you said you made yours with regular yarn?! Did you felt it? Does it hold it's shape well? Tons of questions here...

[ginamaria73]

Nice job on the hat....and your granndaughter is beautiful. :)

[CrochetDad]

Thanks to all for the nice comments on the hat and my beautiful granddaughter.

To answer some questions:

It's not felted - or even blocked yet - I just had to share the pictures. It's VERY firm, but you can put it in just about any shape you want and it'll stay there. I AM going to attempt to block it, though. I'll update here with the results.

I was disappointed when I couldn't locate the yarn Mr. Dittrick specified in the book, but I just HAD to try this hat. My success with the hat using regular acrylic yarn will probably inspire me to look further into trying to locate the modacrylic/acrylic yarn he specifies in the book.

[sherryzzz]

Great hat, Gene!

[LynnNH]

That is a totally cool hat!! Great job. How will you block it? It's all very interesting!

And of course I agree with everyone else about how cute your granddaughter is! :-)

Lynn

[CrochetDad]

The author gives instructions on blocking flat pieces in the book, which will probably work on the brim, but the crown is another story.

The properties of the carpet yarn he specifies makes the blocking technique a cross between blocking and felting.

[yarncat]

Super hat!

[kenjones4]

Looking good, my man!!

[Mom w/a Motif]

Great job on the hat. I don't have that book. Yet. :P Your grand daughter is SO adorable. We tried three times for a girl. We will have to wait for DILs and grand daughters now...

Tina

[Kellibeans]

Excellent job! If I made one of those for my husband, I'd have to pry it away from him with a crowbar! Your granddaughter is a little gem! Too cute!

[Indigo Skye]

My DH LOVES hats. I purchased this book and immediately put it on the shelf. Perhaps in the Fall I'll show this to him and see if he wants one. You've motivated me to give it a try; IF he wants one. :)

Go C-dad :cheer

[ladylinoleum]

I have that book too!

Great job on the hat!!

[darski]

That is just wonderful Crochet dad. I love the hat and the granddaughter. Good one all round! :hug

[knitsandknots]

That's so great! My dad would love something like that.... I'm thinking ahead to Christmas now!

[dkswife]

That is freaking awesome! Great work! :cheer:cheer

[breeze530]

Terrific hat! You DGD is gorgeous too!!!

[DebbyinLV]

Wow!!! You did a fantastic job on the hat!! It looks great on you!
Your grand daughter is adorable, too!

[misssmaggie]

Nice work !!! Thanks for sharing !!!

[Shell]

what a neat hat :) Amaya is adorable and such a lovely name

[Mrs. Principal]

It looks great on you! It's nice to see that patterns for men are actually out there. Your granddaughter is beautiful as well.

[CrochetDad]

It looks great on you! It's nice to see that patterns for men are actually out there. Your granddaughter is beautiful as well.
http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/1b/64/8247a2c008a0eb217a135010._AA240_.L.jpg
This book contains some great (and challenging) projects. I couldn't resist attempting the hat because it looked like something I'd like for myself.

[lizdini]

Nice hat! & a beautiful Granddaughter, too!

[amylu]

Excellent job on the hat! And you're granddaughter is adorable!!

[Titus2woman]

That's AWESOME! (((((HUGS))))) sandi

ETA that OH WOW! Your gd looks almost EXACTLY like my 2yo Hazel!!!!!

[sunflowermom1972]

Great job!

[happy stitcher]

Great hat!
It looks perfect on you, too!
:cheer

[rired41]

What size hook did you use? Thanks for sharing it looks really good on you.

[CrochetDad]

What size hook did you use? Thanks for sharing it looks really good on you.

Hook size was 0 (3.25 mm) using Caron Worsted (One Pounder) yarn.

The stitches are very tight, as you might imagine. I recommend this book (Hard Crochet by Mark Dittrick) for those wanting to expand their crochet experience, or at least learn more about other, non-traditional methods for our beloved craft.

[Kim88]

Wasn't sure what to expect when I saw the title "crocheted stetson" but that is a really awesome hat! I love it! I've not heard of the book "Hard Crochet" and will have to check it out, see what it's all about.

[Jempast]

that's a nice hat.

[Rabbit9]

Totally cool hat! I love it. You did a great job

[lovecrochet]

That is so cool looks like the really thing. Was it hard to make

[CrochetDad]

That is so cool looks like the really thing. Was it hard to make

Well, it is done all in single crochet, so in that sense, it was easy. The directions are all dependent on your tension. As noted in the book, Mark had always been admonished that his tension was too tight when he was learning crochet. This technique demands very tight tension.

It was a very rewarding project.

[crochetgirl2]

Great job!! Looks spiffy on you too!

[NeedleSpell]

That's really cool! :D

[chrispersmom]

Love the hat.....and the grandbaby, she is LOVELY! Her hair is gorgeous. I love curly hair like hers. :cheer