I have been on a crafting kick lately, and it got me thinking how practical crocheting is. Living in Indiana my kids need a lot of layers to wear outside playing. Of course they need hats, scarves, and gloves to keep nice and toasty warm. Since I have been a crocheting machine, it made me think about how much more frugal it would be to make my children the hats and scarves that they need. It helps me enjoy my hobby, allows my kids to pick out their favorite colors, and it is a lot less expensive than buying them at the store.

To make this the least expensive as possible, I am always on the prowl for great deals on yarn. A couple of times a year, I post on Freecycle to see if anyone has any yarn that they are trying to get rid of. This is a great way to keep the yarn out of landfills plus it’s free! Can’t beat free!

If I can’t seem to score any yarn that way, I hit the sales. I am on Michaels and JoAnn’s mailing  lists, plus I have downloaded both of their free applications for my iPhone. I get coupons straight to my phone that way they can scan right at the checkout. It’s really great. They both have coupons for 40% or 50% off regular priced items pretty much every month. If you can’t wait for a sale, this is an amazing way to make your own sale.

I recently found a few daily deal crafting sites as well. Craftsy is by far my favorite. I have been able to score some really great deals on yarn of all different shapes, sizes, and colors for half the price I would normally pay! Plus it’s free to sign up and check out their favorite deals. If you just don’t want to make things yourself you can check out GroopDealz where you can buy handmade items. It’s more fun when you make them, I promise.

Here is a really easy hat pattern that I want to share with you guys. I am relatively new at crocheting so if I can do this, anyone can! I was able to score a skein of yarn on sale for at Michaels for only $2.50! From one skein you should be able to make 2-3 hats depending on the size of the hats you are making.  That’s 85 cents a hat!

Supplies

Crocheting Sewing Needle

One Skein of Yarn (in color of your choice)

5 mm Crocheting hook

Stitch markers or something to mark your stitch

Scissors

Instructions

To make this hat you are going to take the end of your yarn and loop it over itself to make a loop. Make sure to leave about 4 inches on the tail to be able to stitch into the hat later.

Then take the long end of the yarn and tuck it up into the loop and pull down on the other ends to pull tight and make a knotted loop. Place the knotted loop on you crochet hook.

Make 6 chain stitches. 

Then make a slip stitch through the first stitch on the chain to make a circle.

Next Chain 3

Make 9 double crochets into the center of the ring to form the first round of double crochets.

Once you have finished the 9 double crochets, you are going to make 2 more double crochets in the space between the chain three and the first double crochet on that round. Place a stitch keeper, a paper clip or brad works well too, on the stitch on your hook so you know where the end of the round is.

Next, you will double crochet in the next stitch, then repeat the following pattern in the round until you reach your stitch saver. 1 double crochet (including one I just said) then 2 double crochet in the next stitch. You should follow this 1-2 pattern all the way around.

When you reach your stitch saver, move it to the stitch on your hook to start the next round. On the next round you will do ONE double crochet in the next TWO stitches followed by TWO double crochets in the following stitch. You continue this 1-1-2 crochet pattern all away to finish this round.

You are going to keep adding ONE more double crochet stitch between each TWO double crochet stitch for each round. Until you get the round the size you want. You rounds will look like this

First round: 2 double crochet in each stitch

Second round: ONE double crochet then TWO double crochet alternating (1-2)

Third round: ONE double crochet in two stitches and then TWO double crochet in the third stitch repeating this pattern (1-1-2)

Fourth Round: ONE double crochet in three stitches and then TWO double crochet in fourth stitch repeating this pattern (1-1-1-2)

Fifth Round: ONE double crochet in four stitches and then TWO double crochet in the fifth stitch repeating this pattern (1-1-1-1-2)

The amount of rounds that you do will equal how large the hat turns out to be. Using this size yarn and crochet hook, this is what I have found for sizing.

Infant/Toddler: 2-3 rounds

Child: 3-4 rounds

Adult: 4 rounds (usually, can add more rounds if larger is necessary)

Once you have completed your desired amount of rounds, the hard part is done. You now just put one double crochet in each stitch. Keep doing this all the way around until the hat is the desired length that you would like. When you are done make sure to pull the yarn through and leave about 4-5 inches to weave back into the hat to tie off.

Next, thread the loose ends into the crochet needle and weave them back into the hat. This is super easy to do and requires no knots!