Crocheted Bucket Hat

Copyright Vicki Suan 3/31/04

Materials:
1 skein Lionbrand Homespun yarn
G or H hook


Crown
1. Ch 4. Join to form a loop.
2. Ch 1, 8 sc inside loop. Join with sl st.
3. Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc. Join ( 16 scs)
4. Ch1, * 2 sc in same space. Sc in next sc. Rep from *. Join.
5. Ch 1, *2sc in same space. Sc in next 2 sc. Rep from *. Join.
6. Ch 1, *2 sc in same space. Sc in next 3 scs. Rep from *. Join.
7. Ch 1, * 2 sc in same space, sc in next 4 scs. Redp from *. Join.
8. Ch 1, * 2 sc in same space, sc in next 5 scs. Rep from *. Join. (56 sts)


Sides:
9. Ch 3, dc in each sc around. Join
10-13. Ch 3, dc in each dc. Join.


Brim:
14-15. Ch3, dc in same space. * Dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc. Repeat from *. Join.
In round 15, you will have 2 extra dcs at the end of the round and that's okay. Just join.


16. Do reverse sc around for a nice edge. This also called crab stitch. Instead of working from right to left, you will do reverse scs by working from left to right. Join and weave in ends.


I'll also add the pattern to my website's free patterns section, which you can see on the left (links). Enjoy! Do let me know if you encounter any problems with the pattern. It's really easy and simple.

I'm writing down the pattern for the Cro bucket hat as we speak. I'll post it here so keep checking. The LB Homespun color I used in the pic is Tudor (sorry Julie, it wasn't Pacifica. I found the ball band).

Me, Speedy crocheter?

Okay, I'm finally telling it. Only my crochet guild members know.

August of 2000, the Chain Link Crochet Conference was held here in Sacramento and our local guild was sponsoring the whole shebang. I've always been told by my fellow members that I'm rather speedy as a crocheter. They joke about how my fingers appear like a blur when I crochet. They even said that I put my friend Becky in a trance while watching me crochet (ha! ha!)

I was presuaded, more like pressured, into joining the Speedy Crocheter contest, competing against Lily Chin and many others. I was terrified, nervous, sweaty, etc etc (you name it, I was it) but I competed.

To make the story short, I came in third. Lily crocheted 80 sts in 3 mins, another lady came in 2nd (forgot how many she made) and I made 62 sts. We each had a judge standing behind us who ended up counting the stitches. Mine was this guy I've never seen before (but we saw him smoking outside with Lily and her gang). He counted my stitches and said I crocheted 62 in 3 minutes.

I saved my swatch, finished the conference and went home. I took out my swatch from my tote bag and decided to count my stitches. Guess what? I counted 90 stitches!!!! What the......... I was so mad! At myself, who else? I should have counted them myself while I was there. And I was so angry at this stinking judge who probably didn't even know how to crochet much less count!!! So, does that mean I won? Against Lily?

Maybe one of these days, we can have a re-match....

I had some leftover LB Homespun yarn lying around and decided to crochet this bucket style hat. I was inspired by Bonne Marie's knitted bucket style hat on her website which I have also knitted. It turned out exactly like the one she has, even the same color--lol! So, here's my crocheted version.

Being a rather speedy crocheter, I finished this one in half an hour. Have I told you about the time I competed against Lily Chin at the Crochet Convention here in Sacramento in 2000?

Shrink me, felt me!

I am so totally addicted to felting it's no longer funny. I like the idea of knitting this floppy, limpy, loose garment and throwing it in the wash. And voila! Out comes this wonderfully felted, thick fabric that's half the size of the original. You can totally hide imperfections.


The Chicago Blue line bag from the Keyboard Biologist.com. Her pattern is very detailed and very easy to follow. I have her other Red Line bag also waiting on the sidelines to be felted.

Another Crocheted bag.

I brought this bag with me to Stitches West 2004 and have gotten so many wonderful comments about it. This was inspired by my Hawaiian friend, Vicky Ramos, who designed a bag similar to this one (her's was prettier) using the bone ring as decoration.

Crocheters are bloggers too!

I have joined this new Crochet Bloggers webring and I'm just glad that we have our own webring too!

And being on a crochet mode, I finished a bucket style crocheted hat last night using Homespun leftovers. I will take pics and post them. I will definitely write down the pattern and share it with everyone. It's really simple too.


Here's a jute purse I crocheted in one sitting. The yarn was a gift from Teresa Simons last Christmas. I washed the yarn first and it softened up a bit and made it easier to work with.


Here's another Kureyon bag that's knitted and felted. I am so addicted to Noro now but it's rather pricey just to be felted. I'm working on spinning a similar yarn and see if I can duplicate it.

Look at what I got!

This is my Pleasant Supported Spindle from Catherine'swebsite. The base has a divot in the center where you place the spindle and spin non-stop. This is an amazing spindle. I use it to spin cashmere, silk, angora, and other fine wool for laceweight yarns.

Honey, I killed the washer!

I think I finally did it. I killed the washing machine. I've been felting bags like crazy the past week. 2 days ago, my teenager noticed that the "thingamajig" in the middle is not spinning. Yes, my 14 yo DD washes her own clothes! Did I train her well or what?

Anyway, I use one of those lingerie bags for felting so I don't clog up the washer. And I DON'T wash my raw wool fleece in the washing machine. Eeeeew! Can you imagine all the sheepy greasy gunk leftover? And you wash your clothes there too? NO WAY!

Well , the thing is 9 years old and has been used every week of it's life. It deserves a check up. Honey is bringing it to the repair shop. In the meantime, I have several more bags waiting to be felted.

Here's a current scarf project I'm working on. If you're into modular knitting, you should check out Iris' website Artyarns.com. This is a multidirectional 3x3 rib scarf which is a freebie pattern when I joined her forum. I used handpainted Rayon yarn. I also just got the latest intallment of her fabulous tutorials (I'm into #12 now) when I joined her free Newsletter. And waiting on the sideline is her Modular lace Shawl, a for sale pattern that I HAD to buy--lol! Check it out and see all the pictures that other knitters have submitted.

Last Saturday, I went to the Sacramento Spinners and Weavers Open House. I went early thinking it would be packed like last year. Was surprised to find lots of parking and a few people in attendance. There were lots of beautiful display of handwoven garments but very little knitted items. Some spinning wheels, a few spindles, and mostly weaving equipments.

I allotted some money to buy spinning rovings but found some overpriced, scratchy wool, some handpaints which I can dye myself, and old Workbasket magazines. Bleckkk.....

Last year was much more exciting, lots of stuff to buy, better displays, etc etc. So, off I went to Rumpelstiltskin on 10th and R Street. Scored the last of the Kureyons and found Patons' latest felted bag pattern booklet.

All in all, I spent 30 minutes at the Open House and 2 hours at Rumpels ( he, he...).

Here's what happens when you use up leftover sock yarns. Read yesterday's entry on how I did it. Really simple.


This one's a little bit too big for the mannequin's head. I'll be sending this one and many more to our troops as part of the Ships Support Project.


This one's from my handspun yarns. I love to spin different fibers and usually have small skeins lying around that I can't use for bigger projects. This is a good way to use them up.

I'm so excited! I'm finally using up my sock yarn leftover stash and knitting hats!

So, here's what I do. Using a ball winder, I wind these little leftovers so I can work with 2 ends of yarn (one from the outside and another from the center of the ball). That's because you have to work with the yarns doubled or it will take you months to finish a hat--lol!

I group the yarns in matching colors (blues, purples, greens), pick an easy hat pattern (roll brim is my absolute favorite), pick a ball of yarn and knit! I use a size 8 circ needle with yarn doubled. When one ball runs out, pick another and continue. I simply tie knots and weave them in later. Trust me, knots are no big deal and the ends won't show.

Dilemma: I have some leftover tigers that just won't fit in any color category. I just have to think of something or go wild (pun intended). Will post pics soon.

Saturday, March 6th, was my birthday. I got this totally hilarious card from my 14 yo DD that really cracked me up. The planned trip to Lacis in Berkeley didn't happen, with the outrageous gas prices here in Sacramento at $2.15 per gallon, and the almost 2 hrs drive to Berkeley. It just didn't seem practical.

So, instead, we went to Rumpelstiltskin and got me some Noro Kureyon, LL, Addi turbos, Kid Silk Haze, and some patterns. That made me happy! I also got to spend some fun time with DH and the kids, just running around Sac.

I finished my Chicago Blue line bag and will soon be felting it. I'm into my bag phase right now and terribly addicted to Kureyon.

Some pictures of my New England Knit Along progress. I really like the pattern.

I have joined the New England Knitalong! We're using Nancy Bush's New England pattern from her book "Knitting on the Road". wooo hoooo! a new project to perk me up.

I'm crocheting a purse out of Jute yarn from Teresa and I like it. Jute can be a little tough on the hands but it softens up after several washing. But who wants a soft purse? I just have to endure it. I'll post pictures as soon as I find my hubby's AAA battery stash for my digicam.

I'm in another slump again. After finishing several Kureyon minibags and the Chicknits Bucket hat, I don't know what to do next. This shouldn't be hard since I only have about a hundred knitting projects started .

Okay, so I never gave up on Chicknits. I used another computer and was finally able to download the blasted pattern. I finished the hat Friday night, took me a couple of hours of knitting, and felted it Saturday morning. Pictures coming soon.

The Oscars? Boring. Enjoyed Billy Crystal though and loved the fact that LOTR won 11 Oscars. Clean sweep indeed. But Viggo and my Legolas were missing. I still have to see the movie .