Saturday 28 August 2010

The Bilberry Pie Hat




The story...

So we went camping. It seemed a good idea at the time. We headed off to Anglesey for a lovely holiday by the beach with friends for all the kids and ourselves. And about 10 hours later, two of our 3 tents were broken and torn, and I was sleeping in the car with the baby, third daughter and her friend, while others were in their cars or hanging out in the washroom.

We went home, regrouped, built up an old tent, picked another place to go. I felt that we really needed to get away again in spite of the work and disappointment, as this was to be our only camping trip this year. So off we went to Shropshire, as it seemed to have the least wet weather forecast, was not too far, and we found a nice site.

It was a short holiday, but lovely - with friends, and walks and singing, and plum wine, and a bit of time to crochet.  The first morning I woke up early with the baby, and went to sit on the bench by the Buddha and watched the sun come up through the trees. It was a bit chilly as I nursed her, so I thought I had better crochet her a hat. :-)



The inspiration for the name comes from one of the walks we took up Stiperstones, where there were bilberries galore, several purple tongues and fingers, and some rain. :-) And let's face it - it does look like a pie.

                                               There are 5 Ravelryers is this photo!

The Pattern

In UK terms. Uk dc = American sc

crocheted in Sirdar denim chunky using a 6mm crochet hook. 

This one fits a 9 - 15 month old babe. To make a slightly smaller one, only go up to 4 stitches between increases. For larger size, add an extra round or two, going up to 6-7 stitches between increases.

Chain 4, join with slip stitch.

Round 1
Ch 1 (does not count as 1st dc) 8 dc into centre of ring, join with slip stitch.

Round 2
chain 1, 1 dc into same stitch that ss went into, 2 dc in each stitch around, join with ss.
16 stitches. You will be increasing 8 stitches per round.

Round 3
ch 1, dc into same stitch  that ss went into. dc in next stitch, 2 dc in next stitch,repeat to end. It will seem that you are putting the last stitch into the same one that the ch 1 came out of. That is fine. I find that this means you have a less noticable seam.

Round 4
ch 1 dc into same stitch that ss went into. 2 dc,  *2 dc in next stitch, 2 dc, repeat from * to end

(You will continue in this way, increasing the number of stitches between the increases by 1 stitch, until you have 5 dc between increases.)

Round 5
Ch 1, dc into same stitch that ss went into, dc x3, * 2 dc in next stitch, dc x 3, repeat from * to end. Join round with ss.

Round 6
Ch 1, dc into the same stitch that ss went into. Dc x 4, * 2 dc in next stitch, dc x 4, repeat from * to end. Join round with ss.

Round 7
Ch 1, dc into same stitch that ss went into. Dc x 5, * 2 dc in next stitch, dc x 5, repeat from * to end. Join round with ss.

Round 8
Ch 1, Backstitch for one row. This means you are crocheting in  reverse, from left to right. Reverse dc in each stitch around. Instead of joining with a slip stitch, you may want to remove your crochet hook from the final loop, insert hook from behind into first ch1 one of the round, which will be to the right of the loose loop, pick up the loose loop and pull through.

The top of the hat is finished.  You are now working on the sides.

Turn the hat over, so you are looking at the wrong side. Insert hook through whole of stitch in row previous to reverse stitch row. Instead of crocheting into the top of the stitch, you will be crocheting around the bars of the stitch. The first photo below is not that detailed, so I am including another from an aran version of the hat.







 

Round 9

This is where you insert the hook, yarn over, and continue to do a dc.  Dc all the way around, joining with a slip stitch.

Round 10
Ch 1, dc 2 together, * dc x 5, dc 2 together, repeat from * to end of round, join with ss.
Dc all rounds until hat is desired lenth. The one in the above photo has 9 complete rounds of dc.

Final round, Reverse stitch for one round to finish. Join final round with ss, break yarn and  pull through final loop, then weave in.

Pack up the tent, and go camping! 

Do let me know if you have questions or problems with the pattern, or notice anything wrong that I have missed!?