Hat Stand Tutorial and Crochet Baby Hats

Hat mania has started. As the weather gets cooler here in Tennessee, I went on a yarn shopping spree and bought some soft yarn for baby hats. I crocheted 8 animal inspired hats with ear flaps and got addicted. I just want to make more, but luckily I have some custom rug orders waiting and my addiction has a much needed break.

I wanted to take my hats to my booth at a local craft and antique mall and needed a way to display them. I didn't have time to look for a ready hat stand so I hurried to a local craft store and bought some supplies.

I ended up creating these 3 stands. 

Here's what I used for my hat stand:
1 smoothfoam ball (4" in diameter, but any size you want would work)
1 stick
Floral foam
Tin bucket
Burlap
Cotton yarn
Glue gun

Here's a step-by-step tutorial to create your own hat stand. 

Step 1:
Cut the foam ball in half using a regular wood saw. I tried different tools, such as a bread knife, but the big wood saw worked the fastest.

Step 2:
Make a hole for the stick by using a knitting needle. Puncture the foam ball half from the top. A little piece of a foam might come loose while doing this and you will want it to not show, so make sure the top stays nice and round.

Step 3:
Crochet around the foam ball half. I used a medium weight cotton yarn and a 5mm hook. To cover the 4" ball half follow this pattern:

Abbreviations: 
ch - chain
sl st - slip stitch
SC - single crochet
DC - double crochet
DC2tog -  double crochet 2 stitches together

Round 1: Magic ring, ch 2, 9 DC in the ring, sl st to the second chain (10 stitches)
Round 2: ch 2, DC to the same stitch as your chain 2, 2 DC in every stitch around, sl st to the second chain to join (20 stitches)
Round 3: ch 2,  (2DC, DC) repeat 8 times, 2DC in the next stitch, sl st to the second chain to join (30 stitches)
Round 4: ch 2, DC in next 4 stitches, (2DC, DC in next 5 stitches) repeat 3 times, 2DC in the next stitch, sl st to the second chain to join (35 stitches)
Round 5: ch 2, DC in next 5 stitches, (2DC, DC in next 6 stitches) repeat 3 times, 2DC in the next stitch, sl st to the second chain to join (40 stitches)
Round 6: ch 2, DC in every stitch around, sl st to the second chain to join (40 stitches)

At this point, wrap the work around the foam ball half and continue crocheting with the foam ball half inside your work.

Round 7: ch 2, work this round by crocheting only to the back stitch of the previous round, DC in next 2 stitches, (DC2tog, DC in next 3 stitches) repeat 6 times, DC2tog, sl st to the second chain to join (32 stitches)
Round 8: ch 2, DC in next stitch, (DC2tog, DC in next 2 stitches) repeat 6 times, DC2tog, sl st to the second chain to join (24 stitches)
Round 9: ch 2, DC2tog 11 times, DC in next stitch, sl st to the first DC (12 stitches)
Fasten off leaving a long tail. Using a needle, thread the tail yarn through the stitches of round 9 and tighten. Leave the hole big enough for the stick to fit through.

Step 4: Cut a stick to the desired length and fit the end to the hole in the foam ball half. Press stick tightly to the ball and take it out. Use glue gun to add some glue to the tip of the stick and press it back to the existing hole.

Step 5: Cut a piece of floral foam to fit inside your tin bucket. Cut a big enough piece of burlap and wrap it around the floral foam. Press the wrapped floral foam firmly into the tin bucket. Separate some threads in the burlap in the middle for the stick to go through. Press the stick to the floral foam through the hole in burlap.

Step 6: Cut a 2 inch wide strip of burlap and tie it onto the stick to make a little bow. Trim excess burlap.

And done.

I used the stands to display the crochet hats I made. These tan and pink owl hats are 0-3 months, 3-6 months and 6-12 months in size.

Magic Ring, Chain 2, 9 DC in magic ring, join to first DC, ch 2
Round 2: 2 DC in each around, join to first DC, ch 2 (18 DC)
Round 3: 2 DC, DC in next, repeat around, join, ch 2 (27 DC)

Round 4: 2 DC, DC in next 2, repeat around, join, ch 2 (36 DC)
Round 5: 2 DC, DC in next 3, repeat around, join, ch 2 (45 DC)

- See more at: http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2012/09/crochet-owl-hat-pattern-in-newborn.html#sthash.V4WjnSII.dpuf

Abbreviations:

ch - chain
sl st- slip stitch
SC - Single Crochet
DC - Double Crochet - See more at: http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2012/09/crochet-owl-hat-pattern-in-newborn.html#sthash.V4WjnSII.dpuf

I also crocheted these hats with flowers. I used 3 complementary colors and buttons.

Here are my mouse hats. The ears on the 6-12 months size are double sided. The smaller hat 0-3 months in size has single layer ears.

The last one is my little monkey hat. I will need to make one of these for my little son :)

Flying Little Owls

I have recently taken an interest in making all sorts of little crochet animals and making mobiles out of them. Here's the first one I've ever made. It's all crochet except the metal ring inside the rim. I had so much fun making these little owls and my son enjoys them too.

The owls are crocheted using 100% cotton yarn and filled with poly-fil. The eyes I made with felt and black safety eyes. I attached the owls a little below the top of the head so that the owls will be looking to the baby below.

I'm planning on making the mobiles available at my Etsy shop soon. This first mobile is now hanging in my booth at the local craft and antiques mall. Hopefully it gets a good home :)