I was recently asked to create one of my Springtime Ruffle Brim Hats in an infant size. I had plans to tackle that pattern anyway so I got to work experimenting and quickly realized that the best way to scale it down was to start with your basic granny square.

To begin your granny you will want 4 groups of 3 dc and 4 chain 1 spaces. Your hat will begin to form by placing strategic increases in later rounds (I promise it’s simpler than it sounds).

So let’s begin!

Springtime Ruffle Brim Hat: (Size 6-12 Months)

Materials Needed:

Size I (5.50mm) hook (If you crochet very tightly, use a J hook)
Red Heart Super Saver 4 ply yarn in two or three complimentary colors.

Completed hat circumference measures approximately 15.5 inches and will stretch an approximate 17 inches.

Stitches used:

ch=chain
sc=single crochet
dc=double crochet
sl st=slip stitch

Note: The term SPACE (sp) is used throughout this pattern and refers to the area between each group of 3 dc.

Using your main color, ch 3.

Round 1: In third ch from hook (2 skipped chains count as 1st dc) work 2 dc, ch 1; (3 dc, ch 1) 3 times in same ch. Join with a sl st at the top of the ch 3.

When you have completed this round you should have 4 groups of 3 dc and 4 ch 1 spaces.

Round 2: Sl st in each dc to the next ch 1 sp. (Sl st, ch 2, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in ch 1 sp, *(3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch 1 sp, rep from * around 3 times. Join with a sl st at the top of the ch 2.

When you have completed this round you should have 8 groups of 3 dc and 4 ch 1 spaces. Your work should also look like a traditional granny square!

Round 3: Sl st in each dc to the next ch 1 sp. (Sl st, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch 1 sp, *(3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next sp, 3 dc in next ch 1 sp, rep from * around 3 times ending with a (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc). Join with a sl st at the top of the ch 2.

When you have completed this round you should have 12 groups of 3 dc and 4 ch 1 spaces. Your work should now have a slight bulge to each of the sides as the hat begins to take its shape.

Round 4: Sl st in each dc to the next sp. (Sl st, ch 2, 2 dc) in sp, *(3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch 1 sp, 3 dc in next sp, 3 dc in next sp, rep from * around 3 times ending with a 3 dc in next space. Join with a sl st at the top of the ch 2.

When you have completed this round you should have 16 groups of 3 dc and 4 ch 1 spaces. Your work should still be looking VERY granny like (and by now you are probably wondering if I’m pulling your leg)–but I promise, it will turn into a hat very soon!

Round 5: For this round we will only have 2 increases–strategically spaced on either side of our granny to turn it from square to hat! Sl st in each dc to the next sp. (Sl st, ch 2, 2 dc) in sp, 3 dc in the next ch 1 sp, 3 dc in the next sp, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in the next sp, (3 dc in the next space) seven times, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in the next sp, (3 dc in the next space) four times. Join with a sl st at the top of the ch 2.

When you have completed this round you should have 18 groups of 3 dc and 2 ch 1 spaces. Your work should still be round.

Rounds 6-8: Sl st in each dc to the next sp. (Sl st, ch 2, 2 dc) in sp, *3 dc in next sp, rep from * around. Join with a sl st at the top of the ch 2.

When you have completed these rounds the top of your hat should be obvious!

Round 9: Change color to your accent by joining with a sl st and chaining 1. Sc in each st around. There should be a total of 54 sc’s when you get back to your beginning ch 1. Do not join. Instead you will work in a continuous round for the next several rounds.

Rounds 10-13: Sc in each sc around.

When you have completed these rounds the main body of your hat is finished! The next section will be for the ruffle.

Round 14: Change color to your main by joining with a sl st and chaining 2. Dc in same sp as join, *1 dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, repeat from * around. Join with a sl st at the top of the ch 2. (82 dc)

Round 15: Ch 2, dc in the same sp as join, *1 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, rep from * around. Join with a sl st at the top of the ch 2. (108 dc)

Round 16: Change color to your accent by joining with a sl st and chaining 1. 1 sc in the same sp as join, *1 sc in the next 3 sts, 2 sc in the next st, rep from * around. Join with a sl st at the top of the ch 2. (133 sc)

Finish off and weave in all tails.

And that’s how you turn a traditional granny square into an adorable hat! You can play with colors or yarns and have an infinite amount of looks for this sweet hat. Leave the ruffle brim off and put a flower on it for an entirely different take!

I hope you enjoyed this project as much as I did and if you’d like to share your finished project, why not post a pic in our facebook group!

Keep an eye out for an update with a larger size: 18-24 months!!

CHEEKY MONKEY BOOTIES

At the request of a super lady, I was asked to tackle Sock Monkeys. I’m not a fan of monkeys but I told you–this particular lady is awesome, so I decided to take on the challenge.

The first thing I did was to take a look at the original pic she sent me to replicate. I looked like this:

Cute…adorable…but more sock than bootie. I guess that makes sense since they are Sock Monkeys, but I wanted to do something different with mine. So, playing on the idea of working in the round (from the toe and moving on back to the heel) and changing colors to separate and highlight the mouth, I got to work. After my first try, I ended up with this:

Frightening, I know. But it was a start–and obviously a work in progress. (When I’m working on new patterns this is always the fun part for me. The more times I completely frog something, the more satisfying the finished result is!)

Now that I had the basic idea down, it was time to get to work and scale this monkey down. When I’d finished, this is what I had (Ignore the Hello Kitty applique in the background–I’m working on her for a purse and she got in the way of Mr. Monkey here):

Sock Monkey Bootie

I decided to change up my colors and rework the entire shoe so that it was more traditional brown monkey than Mr. Sock Monkey and what popped off my hook was absolutely adorable even without a face!!

CHEEKY MONKEY BOOTIES

For a FREE PDF Download (which includes gauge, materials needed, and other important information), please head on over to my Craftsy Shop right now!

CHEEKY MONKEY BOOTIE: (Make Two)

Beginning at toe with brown (or whatever color you have chosen): make a magic ring and ch 2 (or ch ch 4, sl st in first ch to form ring, ch 2)

Rnd 1: 9 hdc in ring, join with a sl st in top of ch 2. (10 hdc)

Rnd 2: Ch 2, hdc in same space as ch 2, 2 hdc in each st around, join with a sl st in top of ch 2. 20 sts.

Rnd 3: Ch 2, hdc in same space as ch 2 (1 st increased), hdc in each st around, join with a sl st in top of ch 2. 21 sts.

Rnds 4-5: Repeat Rnd 3. (22; 23 sts)

Change color to coffee fleck for the body of your bootie (or whatever color you have chosen.)

Rnd 6: Ch 2, hdc in each stitch around, join with a sl st in top of ch 2. (23 sts)

Rnd 7 & 8: Ch 1, sc in each stitch around, join with a sl st in top of ch 1. (23 sts)

Rnd 9: Ch 2, hdc in the next 15 sts (leaving the last 7 sts unworked), ch 2, turn (16 hdc)

Rnd 10: hdc in next 15 sts, ch 2, turn (16 hdc) Continue until the bootie measures 4 inches from top to toe to heel.

To finish:

Ch. 1, turn bootie inside out (making sure right sides are together) and slip stitch back seam together creating the heel. Finish off and weave in tails.

Optional edging and ears:

Attach coffee fleck (or whatever color you have chosen for the body) with a sl st in any st in the back of the bootie.

Ch 1, sc around side of boot. When you get to the 1^st corner at toe top, sc2tog. Sc across toe top to the next corner, sc2tog. Sc around to beginning join and sl st in the top of the ch 1. Finish off and weave in tails.

OPTIONAL CHEEKY MONKEY EARS: (Make Two)

With brown (or whatever color you have used for the toe top): Ch 2, 5 sc in 2nd chain from hook. Change color to coffee fleck (or whatever color you have used for the body of your bootie)

Ch 1, 1 sc in same space as join, [2 sc in next stitch] twice, sl st in each of the next 2 sts, join with a sl st in the top of the ch 1, finish off leaving a long tail for sewing.

CHEEKY MONKEY ASSEMBLY:

Working over rnds 4 and 5: Arrange ear on side of slipper and sew securely. Repeat for second ear. Attach two buttons on top of slipper and sew securely.

Using a small amount of coffee fleck (or any other color you choose) thread a tapestry needle and embroider a smile.

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If you’ve tried this project (or any other on this blog) and want to share, post a pic to our facebook group! You can also find other pattern freebies over in my Craftsy shop!