Full of Fun Felted Hats

FULL OF FUN FELTED HATS (crochet)

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Skill Level: Easy

Sizes: Teen/Adult & Child

Teen/Adult hats approx. 24" outside circumference

Child hat approx. 18-1/2" outside circumference

Materials:

NOTE: DO NOT USE white, off-white or superwash wool as it will not felt.

(Samples shown in Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky and Worsted)

Teen-Adult: 250 yds. bulky wt. wool or wool-mohair blend that felts easily

Child: 125 yds. worsted wt. wool or wool-mohair blend that felts easily

Few yards worsted wt. wool for flowers

Size P/16 (11 mm) crochet hook for Teen/Adult size

Size M/13 (9 mm) crochet hook for child size

Assorted buttons, sewing thread & needle

Tapestry needle

Gauge: 8 single crochet, 7 rows = 4" with bulky wool on size P hook

Stitches/Terms: beginning (beg), double crochet (dc), half double crochet (hdc), increase (inc), repeat (rep), round (rnd), single crochet (sc). single crochet two together (sc 2 tog), slip stitch (sl st), stitch (st)

Pattern notes: Work loosely to allow for maximum felting action, especially on last 5 rounds of hat. These hats are worked using the spiral method. DO NOT JOIN and chain up each round, but work around and around continuously. Use a length of contrast yarn as a marker to note beginning of each round. Instructions apply to all 3 hat styles, with changes noted at the appropriate place in the pattern.

Hat

Note: For adult hat, use bulky wt. & size P/16 (11 mm) hook. For child hat, use worsted wt. & size M/13 (9 mm) hook.

Rnd 1: Ch 2, work 6 sc in second ch from hook, place marker to note beg of rnd (6 sc)

Rnd 2: Work 2 sc in ea sc around, do not join with sl st, but continue to next round (12 sc)

Rnd 3: Work 2 sc in ea sc around, do not join (24 sc)

Rnd 4: Work 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 3 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc, rep from * around, do not join (30 sc)

Rnd 5: Work 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 4 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc, rep from * around, do not join (36 sc)

Rnd 6: Work 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 5 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 5 sc, rep from * around, do not join (42 sc)

Rnd 7: Work 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 6 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 6 sc, rep from * around, do not join (48 sc)

Rnd 8: Work 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 7 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 7 sc, rep from * around, do not join (54 sc)

Rnds 9-20: Continuing on 54 stitches, work sc in ea sc around, remembering to work loosely on last 5 rounds, do not join (54 sc)

For brim hat (blue hat in photo) and child-size hat: Fasten off and weave in ends.

For cloche hat (red hat in photo):

Rnd 21 (decrease rnd): Sc first 2 sc tog, *sc in next 5 sc, sc 2 tog, rep from * around, ending sc in last 3 sc (46 sc)

Rnds 22-24: Sc in ea sc around, working these last 3 rounds loosely (46 sc)

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Finishing

Felt and trim hats following instructions below.

Flowers

Rnd 1: With worsted wt. wool and size M or P hook, ch 4, join into ring, work 6 sc in ring, join with sl st (6 sc)

Rnd 2: Work 2 sc in ea sc around (12 sc)

Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in same sc, *ch 5, skip 1 sc, sc in next sc, rep from * around, join with sl st to beg sc (6 ch-5 loops)

Rnd 4: Sl st into first ch-5 loop, ch 1, work (sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc) in same loop, * work (sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc) in next loop, rep from * around, join with sl st to beg sc. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Felt flowers first before sewing them to hat, following instructions below.

Felting

Before felting hats, be sure that all ends are woven in securely.

Felting instructions: Set washing machine to low water level, hot water, heavy duty agitation and add a drop or two of mild liquid soap (such as Ivory Liquid). Place hat in washer along with old denim jeans to increase agitation. Let the machine agitate the hat for 5 minutes, then check to see how hat is felting. Do NOT let the water drain out or go to rinse cycle, but continue to check every 5 minutes until hat has reached desired amount of felting (sample hats took 10 to 15 minutes to felt). Keep resetting machine to agitation cycle if necessary. When hat is desired size, remove from washer and rinse thoroughly in lukewarm water in sink. Press between dry towels to remove as much water as possible, then shape over an upside-down Pyrex or plastic bowl or colander, set on more dry towels and leave to dry completely in a place with good air circulation. As hat dries, continue to shape it to desired size. To get brim hat shape, mold crown of hat over bowl but let brim portion lay flat on towels. For cloche and child hat, turn brim up for rolled cuff shape so it dries in that position.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You can mold the hat to shape while the wool is wet, but not after it dries, so keep checking and working with it. Try the hat on while it is still damp to make sure the brim or rolled edge fits comfortably, and gently stretch last round or two if necessary. When hat is completely dry, trim with felted flowers, using buttons for centers. Trim child hat with decorative buttons, if desired.

For personal or charity use only. Do not duplicate pattern for commercial purposes.