Go Your Own Way Hat ( A Choose Your Own Ending Adventure)

I saw a picture of a cloche and challenged myself to make one all on my own. I knew I'd never understand how they worked if I didn't manage it with my hands and my head. I couldn't believe it when I came out with something so very easy, so very simple, and so very striking in my first try. I wrote down the pattern as I went. Then I grabbed my yarn and tried it again. It worked!!

I really like this hat because it's like getting SIX hat patterns at once. I'm not exaggerating. It's not even something that changes in the modifications - it's all a matter of when you stop. It'll be clearer in the instructions.

This hat, as pictured, is merely 20 rounds. Even stopping to take pictures and model, I made this in less than an hour and half. If you can chain, double, single, and treble, you're good to go!

For the sake of clarity, I'm going to do my original pattern first and then I'll break down the "endings" after. I do hope someone else tries and loves this pattern. I really do.

 

Go Your Own Way Hat

- used Red Heart Super Saver Light Gray; Black

- used "H" Bates hook

- used size 18 tapestry needle for ends

- used Walmart 5/8" ribbon

- multiples of 4* to in/decrease

*as long as you can evenly place post stitches, count is really up to you

- special stitch: front post treble (frptr): make a treble AROUND stitch in 4th row from work.

 

~~~ If you like seeing the individual stages, check out the pics in the "endings" at the bottom. ~~~

 

Round 1: Magic Circle > chain 2, 12 dc. connect with slip stitch to first dc of round. (12 dc)

 

Round 2: chain 2, 2dc in same stitch. 2dc in each stitch around. connect with slip stitch to first dc of round. (24 dc)

 

Round 3: chain 2, 2dc in same stitch. dc in next stitch. (2dc, dc) around. connect with slip stitch to first dc of round. (36 dc)

 

Round 4: chain 2, 2dc in same stitch. dc in next 2 stitches. (2dc, dc, dc) around. connect with slip stitch to first dc of round. (48 dc)

 

Round 5: chain 2, 2dc in same stitch. dc in next 3 stitches. (2dc, dc, dc, dc) around. connect with slip stitch to first dc of round. (60 dc)

 

Round 6: chain 2, 2dc in same stitch. dc in next 4 stitches. (2dc, dc, dc, dc, dc) around. connect with slip stitch to first dc of round (72 dc)

 

Round 7 - 12: chain 2, 2dc in same stitch. dc in next 5 stitches. (2dc, dc, dc, dc, dc, dc) around. connect with slip stitch to first dc of round. (72 dc) [+]

 

Round 13 - 15: chain 1, sc in same stitch. sc in each stitch around. connect with slip stitch to first sc of round. (72 sc) [++]

 

 Round 16: chain 1, sc in same stitch.frptr around second dc in Round 12. (sk 1, sc, sc, sc, frptr) around until you have two stitches remaining. sc in each. connect with slip stitch to first sc of round. (18 frptr, 54 sc; 72 stitches) [+++]

 

Round 17: chain 1, 2sc in same stitch. sc in next stitch. (2sc, sc) around. connect with slip stitch to first sc of round. (108 sc) [++++]

 

Round 18 - 19: chain 2, dc in same stitch. dc in each stitch around. connect with slip stitch to first dc of round. (108 dc) [+++++]

 

Round 20: chain 1, sc in same stitch. sc in each stitch around. connect with slip stitch to first sc of round. (108 sc)

 

 

Notes:

~ Round 16 is the ONLY finicky part of the whole thing. Please don't let the weird abbreviation scare you. It's just a treble. You're just wrapping it around a post instead of into the stitch.

 

Modifications:

**Keeping this strictly to the hat as an end product. Will do all the various mods in a bit.**

~ Layer ribbons to coordinate outfits or to show support of a sports team. For instance, the black hat could have white ribbon and thinner orange ribbon. For my area, it'd be an OSU hat or a Tigers hat for a local college AND a local high school. Use white yarn and silver and blue ribbon for Dallas Cowboys, etc.

~ For me, this sits just above my ears. I can easily pull it to cover just the tops of my ears. If you like your hats to cover your ears, add another Round 7 or two.

~ The ribbon allows you to tighten the hat really easily, so if you're wavering on how big to make it, go with slightly too big and use the ribbon to adjust.

~ The ribbon can easily make the hat too snug. Be careful you don't tie yourself right out of it.

 

Without the ribbon.

I must've pulled the hat wonky because it isn't crooked normally.

If you like, you can roll the brim.

The brim is easily shaped.

Hahaha, my nose looks massive from this angle.

My poor little round nose.

It's not seamless, but it's also not obtrusive.

In the very first picture up top, you can see the seam on the left side of the picture.

I didn't plan that photo very well.

The black version, which I rather love since it was the first I made.

 

 

And now, the "Endings"

Pictures, then instructions.

Just so you know the order.

[+ Ending One +]

 

The bodies of these, at least, are basic beanies.

My gray one won't load for some reason.

The first six rounds.

Don't panic if you have a flat round - that's supposed to happen!

The slope won't come in until you start Round 7.

A view of the stitches up to Round 12.

[+ Ending One +]

This is the pattern for a basic beanie. If you continue on with Round 7 and nothing more, you'll have what I refer to as a basic beanie. Nearly all of my hats start with this formula. I might add some pizzazz along the way, but at its base, this is it. Starting with 12, evenly increasing. I've found 15 (barely hitting the ears) - 18 (just covers the ears) to be ideal for me and my family.

 

You can add any of the following steps to this if you'd like. It's a very forgiving pattern. If you find you don't like, pull it out, end it off, and you have a basic beanie.

 

This is also the base pattern for bowls or baskets.

 

[++ Ending Two ++]

Basic Beanie with SC Border

So you can see the progress.

If you did more Round 7 and jumped to the sc rounds, you'd have a complete hat.

 

So you can see the difference in stitches.

I love this camera! You can clearly see the last three rounds are different.

[++ Ending Two ++]

This is a basic beanie with a bit of edging. Sometimes you want your hats to have a more finished look or for them to have a little visual interest to differentiate the end. Single crocheting around is also a great way to add length to a hat that's just a bit too short. Just this week, I made my dad a hat. He put it on, immediately said it was too short, and took it off. A few rows of sc later and he loves it.

Because sc naturally uses tighter tension, it's a nice way to bring in a brim that's a little loose. It also tends to fit the head a little more snugly, if that's what you're looking for. Just be sure you don't get it too tight because it'll dig into your forehead unpleasantly. A great many hat patterns will end this way (sc two rounds, finish off). It's not my favorite, but to each their own.

 

 

[+++ Ending Three +++]

Beanie with Post Border

Where my thumb is? That's where you'll work your treble.

I found it to be easier to count three from the last treble instead of trying to count down the rounds.

Do whatever works for you. Just be sure you don't work in the stitch "behind" the treble.

Can you see the 3 rows of sc?

You just hop right over those and hook under the posts of the last round of dc.

If you stop here, this is what you'd have.

Again, if you PLAN to stop here, I would add a few more rounds of 7 to lengthen the hat.

As you can see, you get a wee bit of flare here.

That's due to the trebles "pushing" the edge just a bit.

If you want to stop on this row and want to control the flare, do a round of sc to pull it back a bit. 

 

[+++ Ending Three +++]

You now have a hat with a border. This is the point where you can start to get creative with your hat. If you like the look of posts, do one every other stitch or every third stitch. If you don't, just do one every twelve stitches. If you like the look of the hat overall but don't want the posts, simply don't do them and you'll have a clean hat. If you want thicker posts, do a 2trpuff (it's like 2trtog or dec2tr except that it's done in one stitch).

 

 

[++++ Ending Four ++++]

Beanie with a Hint of a Flare

It flares just a bit.

It's not much, but it's a bit of pop.

Some people like subtle but different.

This works for that.

Again, a shot of the stitches and how it looks.

[++++ Ending Four ++++]

This is a little bitty brim. It flares out a bit, adds just a hint of interest. If you're looking for a hat with just a smidge of "oomph" then you can stop here and be done.

 

 [+++++ Ending Five +++++]

Beanie with Bendy Brim

With just one round of dc.

It's a shallow, short brim.

I give you options because I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT!

Or need. Or can use. Whatever.

With two rounds but no sc border

You can see, even from just how I posed it, that it's much more malleable than the sc version.

 

[+++++ Ending Five +++++]

You now have a brim. You can do one round or two. I like the added depth of having two rounds, but that's just me. I tried to end after one, but it looked stumpy to me. If you stopped here, you wouldn't really be missing out on anything. The brim would be slightly looser and slightly floppier than if you did the next step. I prefer the look and feel the last round of sc gives the hat, but it's totally optional.

Ta-da!!

 

So, there you have it. Six different hats: the original, the basic beanie, the basic with sc, the front post border, the slightly flared, and the bendy brim. And of course you can do so much with the different options.

YAY!!!

You made it!!!

 

Please excuse the gratuitous use of Keith Urban pictures.