Did you fill out a bracket? And I hope you know what I mean about a bracket…. I am absolutely CLUELESS about basketball, but I at least know what March Madness is and that it’s mandatory to fill out a bracket. Last year, Brad, my mom, my step-dad, and myself started a tradition of having a competition of going bracket-a-bracket to win this epic trophy, also known as The Bestest Basketball Bracketer Trophy:
Pretty ridiculous awesome, right? Yeah, I couldn’t agree more. Unfortunately, this beautiful little basketball player is currently in the possession of Mark (my step dad), as he totally kicked our butts last year. On top of winning the trophy, the most losing person gets to buy the winner a $25 gift card to Starbucks. I also got to be the one to shell out espresso cash to Mark. Needless to say, my lack-of-basketball-knowledge did not end up being good luck when it came to bracket decisions.
In other Maddening Marchy News, I’m super duper late in posting about The Yarn Stash Project. But, I’ve been busy! I have no made TWENTY Rosie’s Cosies hats, and will be shipping them out to go to the sweet little preemie babies at our local NICU. For this week, I got my crochet factory working (aka, my tiny hands and shiny crochet hooks), and went on an Owl and Dragons Kick. Warning: one of the dragons totally looks like a rooster. After that one, I gave up on doing eye balls and just stuck to spikey dragon hats. You may also notice a pirate among the mix of hats…
These were ALL made using yarn from my stash with ONE exception: I had to break down and get some yellow yarn for a few of the beaks on the owls, but then I used the yarn on a few of the other hats, too! Sadly, none of the yarn was from my Challenge Box. But I’m still working away at The Big Stash – I get points for that, right?
In a final ditch effort to get the last few hats done, I made some basic preemie and micro-preemie beanies – three girl ones with flowers, and a fourth basic boy hat. The goal for Rosie’s Cosies was to have zoo animals – and yes, in my book pigs, dragons, and pirate owls would live in my zoo – but I had to get to the deadline in time, so these sadly don’t follow that theme.
If you’re looking to make some basic preemie or micro-preemie hats, here is the basic pattern I came up with so we can keep those sweet little babies cozy!
Basic Micro-Preemie Beanie
Materials
- Worsted Weight Yarn
- Crochet Hook size I (“I” as in icecream)
- Darning Needle (for weaving in ends)
- Sizing of Hat: Head circumference is10.5″, Height is 3.5″, Length from brim to top back to brim is 9.25″.
Abbreviations
- R# = row number
- ch = chain
- st = stitch
- sl st = slip stitch
- dc = double crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- *instructions* = repeat all the way around
Directions
- R1: ch 3, sl st to join into ring, ch 2, 10 dc’s in ring, sl st to join (10).
- R2: ch 2, 2 dc’s in ea st around, sl st to join (20).
- R3: ch 2, *1dc in first 4 st’s, then 2 dc’s in next st*, sl st to join (24).
- R4-R6: ch 2, dc in ea st, sl st to join.
- R7: ch 1, hdc in ea st around, sl st to join.
- Finish, weave in ends.
Basic Preemie Beanie
Materials
- Worsted Weight Yarn
- Crochet Hook size I (“I” as in icecream)
- Darning Needle (for weaving in ends)
- Sizing of Hat: Head circumference is 12.5″, Height is 4.25″, Length from brim to top back to brim is 11.5″.
Abbreviations
- R# = row number
- ch = chain
- st = stitch
- sl st = slip stitch
- dc = double crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- *instructions* = repeat all the way around
Directions
- R1: ch 3, sl st to join into ring, 12 dc’s in ring, sl st to join (12 dc).
- R2: ch 2, 2 dc’s in ea st around, sl st to join (24 dc).
- R3: ch 2, *1dc in first 3 st’s, 2 dc in next st*, sl st to join (30 dc).
- R4-R7: ch 2, dc in ea st around, sl st to join.
- R8: ch 2, hdc in ea st, sl st to join.
- Finish, weave in ends.
Permission to Use these Patterns:
You may use these patterns for personal or commercial use, but please reference this website as their creator and link back to this pattern page. The pattern (including any photos associated with it) may not be reproduced or posted elsewhere in any capacity. Thank you!
I’m off to the post office now with all TWENTY of the hats!
How is the Madness of March treating you?
The Mad Crochet Hatter,
~M
P.S. A BIG thanks goes out to my Mother-in-Law, Sheryl, who came over to play with Quincy so I could get out of the house, sip on a latte, and write my heart out. THANK YOU!