Striped Kiddo Afghan

I’m posting my very first crochet pattern. H is still at a stage in the toddler bed where she doesn’t really have sheets, just a blanket. Her baby blankets are starting to get a bit small, so I thought I’d make her a new one.

Clearly it needed to be purple. The light grey seemed to be a nice compliment. You can, of course, use any colors you like. Likewise, you can use any brand of yarn. I like to stick with something machine wash and dryable, especially when it’s for a kiddo.

As indicated at the bottom, you are free to use, share, and adapt this pattern for non-commercial purposes. Happy hooking!

Materials:

• Vanna’s Choice yarn, Medium weight: A- 21 oz. of Purple Mist (7 skeins) and B- 9 oz. of Silver Heather (3 skeins)

• Size J crochet hook

Finished Size:

Approx. 37” x 44”

Stitches:

ch: chain

hdc: Half-double crochet (a video review of how to make a hdc)

spike: Spike half-double crochet (a tutorial for the spike stitch)

A close up of how the spike stitch will look in this pattern. It's reversible, so it will be visible on the front and back.

Instructions:

With A, ch 122.

Row 1: Work hdc in 3^rd ch from hook (beg ch counts as hdc). Hdc across. (121 hdc)

Row 2-8: Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), turn, hdc across. In last stitch of Row 8, change to B.

Row 9: Ch 2, turn, * spike into the row below, hdc * rep from * to end of row. (Row begins and ends with hdc.)

Row 10-11: Ch 2, turn, hdc across. In last stitch of Row 11, change to A.

Row 12: Ch 2, turn, * spike into the row below, hdc * rep from * to end of row. (Row begins and ends with hdc.)

Row 13-19: Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), turn, hdc across. In last stitch of Row 8, change to B.

Rep Rows 9-19 until you have 9 panels of A.


Striped Kiddo Afghan by Jamie Holaday is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Yarn Over

Many of you know that I crochet. I have trouble sitting still while watching TV, and it gives me something to do with my hands. Useful, but not so engrossing that I can’t still enjoy Grey’s Anatomy or Project Runway or whatever. It’s something my mom taught me when I was about nine. I spent years and years having only made one hat. Then in college I took up the hook again. Now I pretty much always have a project going.

This is why a trip to Hobby Lobby is much like a trip to Barnes and Noble. I can’t go in and not come out with something. It’s almost a universal constant. My recent trip scored me yarn for three baby hats, a pair of pants for H, and nylon cord to make a bag (super curious to see how this turns out!).

Anyway, my real point is to share with you my downfall in the world of crochet. I have made hats, scarves, mittens, sweaters, afghans, and Christmas ornaments. I can do any stitch you throw at me. I’ve created a few original patterns. But I cannot, for the life of me, make a hat that is just the right size.

What is wrong with me? I measure the head. I make the hat exactly that circumference, and it’s big. Every time. I’m completely baffled here. It doesn’t matter if I’m following a pattern or not. I measure, I check my gauge, and the damn thing is big.

 My latest hat: Yes, it was too big.

I appeal to the other crafty people out there. What am I missing here? Clearly I’m missing something! How can I start my wildly popular and profitable crocheted baby hat line if I don’t get this problem under control?

I’d like to note, that it’s just hats I have issues with. My sweaters seem to come out fine. This is why I’m so puzzled. I know how to follow a pattern. But you make it round and suddenly I’m making hats for giants.

Anyone know a giant that needs a hat?