Ridged Beanie

This might be an easier version of the Cluster Stitch Cloche. I'm still thinking about ways to improve this pattern, so it may change a bit in the next few months.


Pattern:


Materials
Worsted weight yarn
K hook


Ch 3 and join with sl st to form ring. Ch 2.
Rnd 1. Dc 11 into ring. Join to first dc with sl st. Join this way throughout. Ch 2.
Rnd 2. 2 fpdc in each st. The first ch 2 (before Rnd 1) counts as a st. Join. Ch 2. You should have 24 fpdc sts in this round. 

Rnd 3. *Fpdc 1 in next 3 fpdc, fpdc 2 in next st. Repeat from * around. Join. Ch 1. - 30 fpdc sts
Rnd 4. Sc 1 in first st (i.e. st that was slipped to). Fpdc 1 in same st. Fpdc 1 in next 4 fpdcs. *Sc 1 in next st, fpdc 1 in same st, fpdc 1 in next 4 sts. Repeat from * around. Join. Ch 1.
Rnd 5. Sc 3 in first st. *Fpdc 1 in next 5 sts, sc 3 in next st. Repeat from * around. Join. Ch 1.
Rnd 6. Sc 2 in first st, sc 1 in next st, sc 2 in next st. Fpdc 1 in next 5 sts. *Sc 2 in next st, sc 1 in next st, sc 2 in next st, fpdc 1 in next 5 sts. Repeat from * around. Join. Ch 1.
Rnd 7-23. *Sc 1 in next 5 sts, fpdc 1 in next 5 sts. Repeat from * around. Join. Ch 1.
Rnd 24. Sc 1 in each st around. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Team Colors Hat

Between writing 10 -page chemistry lab reports, I was able to create a new hat pattern. The pattern is a modified version of the Reversible Strands for Men (and Women, too!) by Nancy Smith. I think the hat could work well as a sports team colors hat, but of course, it can be anything you want. Mine happens to be green and yellow, although I'm not sure what team that would correspond too...


Pattern:


Materials
2 colors of worsted weight yarn
K hook


Starting with primary color, Ch 3 and join with sl st to form ring.
Rnd 1. Ch 2. Dc 12 in the ring. Join with sl st to first st (join in this method throughout). Ch 1.
Rnd 2. Sc in same st slipped to (start like this throughout). Fpdc around same st. *Sc in next st, fpdc around same st. Repeat from * around. Join. Ch 1.
Rnd 3. Sc in same st. * 2 fpdc around next fpdc, sc in next sc. Repeat from * around. Join. Ch 1. At this point, you should have 24 fpdc sts and 12 scs.
Rnd 4. Sc in same st. *Fpdc around next fpdc st, sc in next fpdc, fpdc around same fpdc, sc in next sc st. Repeat from * around. End with fpdc around next fpdc, sc in next fpdc, fpdc around same fpdc st. Join. Ch 1.
Rnd 5. Sc 2 in same st. *(fpdc around next fpdc st, sc in next st) 3 times, fpdc around next fpdc st, sc 2 in next sc st. Repeat from * around. End with (fpdc around next fpdc st, sc in next st) 3 times, fpdc around last fpdc. Join. Ch 1. At this point, you should have 24 fpdc sts and 30 sc sts.
Rnd 6. Sc 2 in same st, sc in next sc st. *(fpdc around next fpdc st, sc in next st) 3 times, fpdc around next fpdc st, sc 2 in next sc st, sc in next sc st. Repeat from * around. End with (fpdc around next fpdc st, sc in next st) 3 times, fpdc around last fpdc st. Join. Ch 1.
Rnd 7-17. Sc in same st, sc in next 2 sc sts. *(fpdc around next fpdc st, sc in next st) 3 times, fpdc around next fpdc st, sc in next 3 sc sts. Repeat from * around. End with (fpdc around next fpdc st, sc in next st) 3 times, fpdc around last fpdc st. Join. Switch to secondary color for ch 1 at end of Rnd 17. Drop primary to back of work.
Rnd 18. Sc in same st, sc in next 2 sc sts. *(fpdc around next fpdc st, sc in next st) 3 times, fpdc around next fpdc st, sc in next 3 sc sts. Repeat from * around. End with (fpdc around next fpdc st, sc in next st) 3 times, fpdc around last fpdc st. Join. Switch to primary color for ch 1. Drop secondary to back of work.

Rnd 19. Repeat Rnd 17.
Rnd 20. Repeat Rnd 18.
Rnd 21. Repeat Rnd 17.
Rnd 22-24. Repeat Rnd 18. On Rnd 24, drop secondary color from work. Weave in end.
Rnd 25-27. Repeat Rnd 7. Do not fasten off main color.
Rnd 28. Sc around. Join. Fasten off. Weave in all ends.

Life Funds for North Korean Refugees through ARC of Washingtion, D.C

In the past, I have donated crocheted items to charities that helped people around the world. Recently, I found another one, this time one that helps people who have escaped the oppression and starvation of North Korea.


Started by Jee Jee Kim, an alum of George Washington University, ARC (Awareness, Respect, and Compassion) collects donations of knitted and crocheted winter clothing for people of all ages. These items are sent to Life Funds for North Korean Refugees, a Japanese organization that helps the people who have escaped from the communist state.

Donated September 2010

Items Donated:
Hats
   -1 Baby
   -3 Child
   -4 Adult
Scarves
   -2 Child
   -1 Adult
Earwarmers
   -1 Child
   -1 Adult
1 Baby Sweater
1 Pair of Baby Booties 


Cheers

A note about my Etsy store...

32 items donated in March 2010

As you will find by scrolling down my blog, I have an Etsy store. You may also see that I am selling some of the crocheted items I've made in addition to a bit of jewelry. This is not because I plan to make a quick buck on these things. Far from it. I donate the vast majority of the things I crochet (Current total is 153 items donated since 2009). My Etsy store is a way for me to somewhat recoup the costs of the yarn and the shipping when I send the items to their destinations.


Charities I've Donated to:
Dulaan Project
Eager Hands Knitters (a group based out of Marriottsville, MD)
Awareness, Respect, Compassion


Cheers

Child Version of the Waffle Stitch Hat

Photo by mcm, ravelry.com

Since the Waffle Stitch Hat pattern has been posted on Ravelry, Kym (mcm), a crocheter and knitter on the site, has created a child's version of the hat. 


Pattern (Thanks to Kym!):

Waffle Stitch Base

Row 1. Ch 11. Dc in third ch from hook. Dc across. Ch 2. Turn.

Row 2. Dc in first st. *Dc in next st, fpdc in next 2 sts. Repeat from * twice more. Dc to end. Ch 2. Turn.

Row 3. Dc in first st. *Fpdc in next st, dc in next 2 sts. Repeat from * twice more. Fpdc in next st. Dc in last st. Ch 2. Turn.

Repeat Rows 2 and 3 until piece has 13 completed waffle squares and 2 half squares (i.e. the first row and the last row). End with Row 2 and ch 1 instead of ch 2. Fold the piece in half so that the first row is next to the last row (with the waffle pattern facing out). Slip st together each st of the first row and the last row. Ch 2 at the end. Do not turn.

Shaping the Top

My hat

Round 1. Dc 42 sts evenly across the top of the waffle stitch base. This roughly correlates to 3 sts per waffle square. Join with sl st to first dc st of round. Join in this way throughout the rest of the piece. Ch 2. Do not turn.

Round 2. Dc in st that was slipped to (start each round this way). Dc 1 in next 3 sts. Dc2tog in next 2 sts. *Dc 1 in next 4 sts, dc2tog in next 2 sts. Repeat from * around. Join. Ch 2.

Round 3. *Dc 1 in next 3 sts, dc2tog in next 2 sts. Repeat from * around. Join. Ch 2.

Round 4. * Dc 1 in next 2 sts, dc2tog in next 2 sts. Repeat from * around. Join. Ch 2.

Round 5. *Dc in next 1 sts, dc2tog in next 2 sts. Repeat from * around. Join. Ch 2.

Round 6. Dc2tog around. Join.

Fasten off. Weave yarn through last 7 stitches and pull tight to close the top of the hat. Weave in ends.