Football or Soccer?

Whatever you choose to call it there's now a crochet hat to match! And better yet, I will share my pattern with you for free! :)

Now please be aware this is the FIRST pattern I have written for others, most of my patterns are written in squiggles and circles that I understand but I'm sure no one else would.

This pattern should fit newborn to 3months. I do crochet tightly, so if your crochet is a little looser it may fit up to 4-5months.

I used an 8ply yarn (DK or light worsted) in black and white, and a 4mm crochet hook. It may also be helpful to use a stitch marker when making the hexagons and pentagons.

For this pattern you will need to make:

• 6 black pentagons
• 5 white hexagons
• 5 white half hexagons (or halfagons)

*tip, sew in loose ends after making each shape or you will have a LOT to sew in at the end.

Special stitches: * DC2tog: Yarn over, insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up loop, yarn over, draw through 2 loops] 2 times, yarn over, draw through all loops on hook—1 stitch decreased





HEXAGON (make 5 in white)

Chain 4 (alternatively you can use the magic circle method)

Round 1- work 11 double crochet (DC) into 4th chain from hook, join with slip stitch (SS) to the top of starting chain. (total 12 DC including chain 3)

Round 2- chain 1, 1 single crochet (SC) in same stitch, *3SC into next DC, 1SC into next DC repeat from * 4 more times. 3SC into last DC then SS into beginning of round.

Fasten off

PENTAGON (make 6 in black)

Chain 4 (alternatively use magic circle method)

Round 1- work 9 DC into 4th chain from hook, join with SS to top of starting chain (10 DC)

Round 2- chain 1, 1 SC in same stitch, *3SC into next DC, 1 SC into next DC repeat from * 3 more times. 3SC into last DC then SS into beginning of round.

Fasten off

HALF HEXAGON/HALFAGON (make 5 in white)

these are worked in ROWS rather than ROUNDS

Chain 7

Row 1- SC in second chain from hook and across, turn (6 SC)

Row 2- chain 1, SC in same stitch, 1 SC in each of next 4 stitches, 2SC in next. turn (8 SC)

Row 3&4- chain 1, SC in each stitch across. turn (8SC)

Fasten off

JOINING SHAPES

Lay out your shapes in the following pattern (excuse my basic diagram)

below: how it will start to look before halfagons are joined (please ignore the size of shapes, this is from a test in a larger size)

with right sides facing, join shapes using the slip stitch join method. Here is a tutorial from Attic24 for joining squares, but the same principle applies here.

Once all shapes are joined a curve should start to form and resemble the start of a hat, the crown.

BODY

Join WHITE yarn at any spot around the hat (I picked a place where one shape might be a little off, as this join be the start of the seam at the back of the hat.

Round 1- Chain 1, SC in each stitch around the hat. (i.e, the base of the pentagons and halfagons) and SS in chain 1 to join.

After you have SC around entire hat count your stitches, it should be approximately 60 SC, if it is more you may need to decrease evenly around the hat in the next round, if it is less you may have to increase evenly. Two or three stitches more or less wont make a big difference to the size, but 4 or more will need adjusting. To increase stitches you will need to do 2 DC into a single stitch, this will add 1 to the round each time you do it. To decrease stitches you will need to DC2tog* evenly until you get desired amount, each time you do this stitch it will decrease the round by 1. If you have a the baby handy, you can try the size now to see how it would fit.

Round 2- Chain 3, DC in each SC around, ( or evenly increase/decrease as you go) join with SS in last stitch of chain 3.

Round 3&4- Chain 3, DC in each SC around, join with SS in last stitch of chain 3.

Fasten off white

Join black yarn at seam

Round 5- Chain 3, DC in each SC around, join with SS in last stitch of chain 3. do not fasten off.

If you do not want ear flaps and tassels finish off hat by SC in each DC around hat and fasten off.

EAR FLAPS

Starting from last row join

Row 1- SS in next 10 stitches, chain 3, DC in same stitch, DC in next 10 stitches. turn (12 DC)

Row 2- chain 3, DC in next 2, DC2tog, DC in next 3, DC2tog, DC in next 2. turn (10 DC)

Row 3- chain 3, DC in next stitch, DC2tog, DC in next 2, DC2tog, DC in next 2. turn (8 DC)

Row 4- chain 3, DC2tog, DC in next 2, DC2tog, DC in next stitch. turn (6 DC)

Row 5- chain 3, DC2tog, DC2tog, DC in next stitch. (4 DC)

Fasten off

Join yarn at seam on back of hat, where you started Row 1 of the ear flaps. this time you need to turn your work so your working in the opposite direction to complete the other ear flap.

Row 1- SS in next 10 stitches, chain 3, DC in same stitch, DC in next 10 stitches. turn (12 DC)

Row 2- chain 3, DC in next 2, DC2tog, DC in next 3, DC2tog, DC in next 2. turn (10 DC)

Row 3- chain 3, DC in next stitch, DC2tog, DC in next 2, DC2tog, DC in next 2. turn (8 DC)

Row 4- chain 3, DC2tog, DC in next 2 DC2tog, DC in next stitch. turn (6 DC)

Row 5- chain 3, DC2tog, DC2tog, DC in next stitch. (4 DC)

SC evenly around entire hat, including both ear flaps. Then fasten off and sew in any loose ends from joins.

To finish, cut lengths on yarn, pull through the gaps on the ends of ear flaps, braid and fasten off with a tight knot. For this hat I used 3xblack, 3xwhite,3xblack yarn pulled through (so then doubled) on each ear flap.


Disclaimer: You are free to sell hats made from this pattern, but please if you are selling them online, link back to this page for pattern credit.Please do not sell pattern. 
DO NOT CLAIM THIS PATTERN AS YOUR OWN.

Happy Crocheting! If you have any issues with this pattern, leave a comment and I will gladly help where I can. I'd love to see finished hats also, so feel free to post them to my facebook page Three Beans in a Pod .

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Are we ever going to talk Crochet??

Just realised for a blog that is named 'three beans in a pod crochet' there really hasn't been too much crochet talk, has there? Well I should probably start by explaining what kind of crochet I do.

Mostly I have been crocheting beanies for children, when last winter hit I was on the look out for some different, fun beanies for my boys. After finding most on offer rather blah I decided to make my own. Then towards the end of the season I started selling them on facebook and so started "Three Beans in a Pod".

A small selection of my hats

Without a doubt the monkey hat is the most popular, its also the one that takes the longest! I end up cursing it every time I make it, but I love it too much to stop hahaha.

I also make crochet photography props, dabble in amigurumi, and other knick knacks. I love making custom orders that challenge me or make for a creative version of my staple hats. Currently I'm doing a custom order for a soccer ball hat... this is really challenging me, but I'm up for the challenge!! Thinking I will share the pattern once I'm finished! Lots of hexagons, pentagons, half hexagons (halfagons)... feeling a bit like a mathematician... but hopefully it will be worth it in the end.

Family Holiday

We recently returned from our first official family holiday! We had a week away on Queensland's Gold Coast, staying at Kirra Beach near Coolangatta.

the view from rooftop of apartments

We had a lovely (although completely exhausting!!!) time away. Lots of 'firsts' for us all. First time on a plane for all my sons, first time to any theme parks, and first time my babies have gone swimming! Yes, my boys are 20 months old now and have never gone swimming before! This is shocking to me as my first son, Master N, was doing swimming lessons from 6 months old. Its just one of those twin things I suppose, havn't had the opportunity to take them both safely. Pleased to say they both did well, although certainly not ducks to water, but not hysterically crying either... something to be worked on this summer.

The plane trips went pretty well. Although at the time it felt like a complete disaster, but stressful situations can make you feel like that cant they? On the way up it was baby sleep time. Now, non-parents are saying "great so they blissfully fell asleep in your arms and gave you an hour break" and parents are saying "oh crap!" Yes, oh crap x2. I think the poor old bloke in front of us had to turn down his hearing aid a few notches because of the high pitched screaming. Then on the way back our flight was delayed so they offered us and earlier flight, which was great, but then meant we were split up. I ended up with Master N and the evil twin. My dear Partner was about 10 rows infront of us with the sleeping twin. Don't you just love how that happens?? After the flight DP was telling me how the man across from him was commenting on what an angel his baby was, DP replied "hear that?" (high pitch scream in background) "thats his twin brother, I lucked out this time." "Oh..." was the response.

One thing that was not on this holiday was my hooks and yarn, and boy did I miss them! I had decided to leave it all at home after making 8 hats in the 6 days leading up to the holiday and my semi-arthitic hand needed a break. But once the day was over and the three little beans fast asleep I felt completely lost without it. I did see a spotlight while out on our travels and seriously contemplated a quick pit stop, but I stayed strong. I just love being able to create something out of a ball of yarn, I love working a new pattern and the mathematics that goes into calculating the increase/decrease/hook size/stitch count, and having something to keep my hands busy. BUT I'm back now and I could have very well hugged my stash... I didn't, that would have been nuts, but it was a relief to have it close by again.