My Thrifted posts are over for the year as soon as they begin! (More on that later…) This week I’m sharing two adorable sock monkeys and two trash-picked workhorse home-ec sewing machines. [Read more…] about Thrifted | Sock Monkeys and Premeditated Trash Picking
Free Crochet Pattern | Scared Silly Monster Hat for Baby | Preemie Sizes
I’ve had so much fun making these little guys for The Preemie Project’s Boo in the NICU event. The charity is collecting all kinds of autumn, Halloween, and costume hats for the little ones in at the NICU in October. I much prefer silly over scary for Halloween, and these easy-to-crochet monsters are just right. 
Scared Silly Monster Baby Hat
In six sizes ranging from 2-3 lb preemie to toddler
Materials
- Green soft acrylic yarn in a worsted weight: Green with small amounts of ivory, charcoal gray, dark purple, and orange
- Size “H” crochet hook (5.00mm)
Gauge: 13 dc to 4″ or 3.25 st/inch
Notes: Directions are written for 2-3 lb preemie with larger sizes in parenthesis (3-5 lb, 6-8 lb, Newborn, 3-6 mo, 1-2 yrs)
Hat Instructions: Ch 15 (18, 20, 22, 48, 56). Turn.
Round 1: Work 3 dc in 4th ch from hook. (Beginning ch counts as first dc, now and throughout). Dc in each ch across to last ch. Work 4 dc in last ch. Do not turn. Working in unworked loops of beginning ch, dc in each ch across. Sl st to top of first dc. 30 (36, 40, 44, 48, 56) stitches.
Round 2: Ch 3. Dc in each dc around. Join with sl st to top of first dc.
Repeat Round 2 until 8 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) rounds total have been worked. Tie off. Weave in ends.
Small Eye Instructions (Make 1. Same for all sizes.) Begin with Magic Loop and ivory yarn. Work 6 sc into loop and pull tight. Round 1: Work 2 sc in each sc around. (12 sc) Round 2: *Sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc* around. (18 sc) Sl st in next sc. Tie off, leaving long tail for sewing eyeball to hat. Use charcoal gray yarn to sew a lazy daisy stitch in the center of the eyeball. A “petal” should be worked between each 2-sc group of Round 1.
Large Eye Instructions (Make 1. Same for all sizes.) Begin with Magic Loop and charcoal yarn. Ch 3 (Beginning ch counts as first dc, now and throughout). 9 dc into ring. Join with sl st to first dc. Tie off. With ivory yarn, work 2 hdc in each dc around. Tie off, leaving long tail for sewing eyeball to hat.
Assembly: Weave in all ends. Pin eyeballs to hat, aligning with bottom round of dc. Use long tails to sew eyeballs to hat. Cut small amounts of charcoal gray, orange, and purple. Use one strand of gray and one strand of orange or purple to tie tassels to top of hat for “hair.”
I’ll be donating the preemie-newborn sizes of these hats to The Preemie Project’s Boo in the NICU event. The larger sizes will be sent to Emily’s Hats for Hope. Please consider making a donation as well!
Free Knitting Pattern | Skinny Rib Stretchy Baby Hat
I’m excited to share my first free knitting pattern with you! I have been making many of these stretchy little hats for Click for Babies. Click for Babies collects purple hats to give away during the Month of November to raise awareness about the Purple Period of Crying and end Shaken Baby Syndrome.
These hats are great for donating because they stretch from newborn to year-old sizing. The ribbing can be turned up at the bottom for little noggins. It has been fun picking color schemes to make the hats more masculine than purple hats tend to be.
Skinny Rib Stretchy Baby Hat
Sizing varies from Newborn Baby to One Year
Materials:
- Soft acrylic yarn in a worsted weight (I most often use “I Love This Yarn” from Hobby Lobby)
- Set of 5 DPNs in Size 6 (4mm)
Gauge: 4 stitches to 1 inch over stockinette stitch
Instructions: Cast on 64 stitches, dividing evenly onto four needles: 16 stitches per needle. Join, being careful not to twist stitches. Work in K2, P2 rib for 28 rounds.
Round 28: *K 2, P 2, K 2, P 2 tog* around.
Round 29: *K 2, P 2 tog, K 2, P 1* around.
Round 30: *K 2, P 1, K 2 tog, P 1* around.
Round 31: *K 2 tog, P 1, K 1, P 1* around.
Round 32: *K 1, P 1* around.
Next Rounds: K 2 tog until 1 stitch remains on each needle. Move the four stitches to a single needle and work an I-cord for 15 rounds. Tie off. Weave in ends. Tie I-cord into cute little knot at the top.
You’ll have no problem finding someone to appreciate these handy little hats, but please consider making one in purple for Click for Babies! You can find a chapter in your state by visiting their website. I’ve enjoyed going to their knit-ins in my area- maybe you will too!
