Still my favorite hat. It's so light you almost forget that you're wearing it, except when you're out in public and people stop you and comment on how much they love your hat. Yet it's so warm that I can wear it even in the heart of a Minnesota winter. The biggest problem I have with this hat is that Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable has so many fun and delightful color combinations that I want to make a hat in each of those flavors! It's not a quick project but it is rather basic once you master the petal. There are a lot more stitches than normal to cover the area because each petal is created with dcs worked along the posts of dcs in the V-stitch foundation row. It will take almost the entire skein of yarn to make the one hat. It's not as complicated as it looks and I think an experienced beginner would easily manage this project.
Here's the basic rundown of how I made the hat. Feel free to use pattern for hats you plan to sell but be sure to acknowledge that you got the pattern from Cosmic Pony.
Crochet Hook size 00 (or size E can work)
Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable yarn --1 skein
Part of the charm of the hat is the yarn weight and color, so stick with this yarn to match pictured results. If you have a favorite yarn you want to use, keep in mind that a heavier yarn will impact appearance as well as gauge.
Gauge: 5 dcs/inch
Start with a Foundation row in multiples of 6. The Foundation stitch is when the chaining and sc rows are worked together at the same time. The benefit of this is a nice, stretchy, finished edge. If you don't know how to make a Foundation row, chain desired number of stitches, slip to join, and sc across for a row.
Create Foundation row of 96 st or 102 st. I initially used 102 for almost all the hats I made but switched to 96 st to tighten it up a bit because over time the hat will stretch out a bit. The difference is minimal and I mention the two numbers because I have a small head so someone with an average head or larger head would prefer the 102 starting number. The best way to find out your initial stitch count is to do 96 and wrap around your head to see if it fits.
After Foundation row, work 1 dc in each st around. 96 (or 102) dc total. Slip to join.
The crocodile stitch has two rounds, the V-stitch round which creates the foundation for the petal stitches and then the petal stitch rounds.
V-stitch Round:
Ch4, dc in same stitch. skip 2 st, *(dc, ch1, dc) in same stitch. skip 2, repeat from * to end. slip into ch4 space to join. (You can slip into 3rd ch but I just slip into the space.)
Petal Round:
Ch3, 3 dc down side of first post of V-stitch, ch1, 4 dc up side of second post of V-stitch. Skip a V-stitch and work 4 dcs down first post of V-stitch, ch1, 4 dcs up second post of V-stitch. Continue working 4 dcs down first post, ch1, and 4 dcs up second post of every other V-stitch. At the end of the round slip into 3rd ch that counted as 1st dc on post of the first V-stitch and also into the V-stitch's ch1 space behind, to join.
V-stitch Round:
Ch4, dc into same stitch. This counts as the first V-stitch for this round. Work a V-stitch (1dc, ch1, 1dc) into center of next petal. (Center is the ch1 space in the V-stitch that creates the base for the petal.) Then V-stitch (1dc, ch1, 1dc) into the space between petals, being sure to insert crochet hook into the ch1 space of the V-stitch that was skipped on the row before. So, when you insert crochet hook into ch1 space be sure to go under the the yarn where the first and last dcs of two petals meet, to catch it. When you reach the end of the round, slip into ch4 space. You will have the same # of V-stitches in every round of V-stitches and same # of petals in every round of petals. The petals will be offset.
Continue working V-stitch rounds and petal rounds until you have completed 9 rows of Petals. Slip to join.
Ch2. Work 96 (102) dc. Work 2 dc in same stitch, 1 dc into side of 1st dc going down the post, being sure to catch stitch behind petal also, 2 dc in center hole of petal, 1 dc into side of last dc going up the post, 2 dc between petals,. Continue working dc across last row of petals, slip into 1st dc to join. (ignore ch2 when joining.)
In simple terms, dc across the round, placing the dcs to provide even, complete coverage. It just so happens that doing 2dc in petal centers and between petals with 1dc between petal centers and petal edges provides the complete, even coverage.
ch2, 5dc, decr, 5dc, decr around. slip to top of 1st dc to join.(ignore ch2 when joining.)
ch2, 3dc, decr, 3dc, decr around. slip to top of 1st dc to join.(ignore ch2 when joining.)
ch2, 2dc, decr, 2dc, decr around. slip to top of 1st dc to join.(ignore ch2 when joining.)
ch2, 2dc, decr, 2dc, decr around. slip to top of 1st dc to join.(ignore ch2 when joining.)
ch2, decr in every st around. slip to top of 1st dc to join.(ignore ch2 when joining.)
ch2, triple decr in every st around. cut yarn, leaving tail, weave yarn through tops of remaining sts and pull tight to close top.
decr:=yarn over for dc but only work first step, not second step to complete stitch, which leaves 3 loops on crochet hook. yo, work first step of next dc, yo, pull through all five loops. 2 sts have become 1 st.
triple decr= same as decr but do it over 3 sts instead of just 2 sts. 3 sts have become 1 st.
V-stitch= a dc stitch, ch1, and another dc stitch worked in same stitch. Forms a V.
dc= double crochet stitch
sl= slip stitch
Crocodile/Petal Stitch= 4dc worked on post of right leg of V stitch, ch1, 4dc worked on post of left leg of V stitch
st= stitch
sts= stitches
I steam blocked these. Blocking really helps finish the hats. Not only does it give the yarn a nice sheen, it pulls everything into place. The petals become crisp and lay flat, as they should. It really makes a difference.
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