Just Hatched

Here it is, Easter hat #1.  I have another hat planned for next week, thus the early Easter preview.  Some of you may have seen next weeks' hat on my facebook page, but if you haven't, it's a good one!  

Enough about next week, this week was a busy one for us, I barely found time to fit in a hat.  Between yoga, taking Oma to the dentist, seeing a movie and visiting with some friends not to mention fitting in time to feed Henry solids and get naps in, I'm surprised I found time at all!  Good thing I now find myself able to make a hat in about an hour, so even if it comes right down to it, I can whip one up really fast before a little photo shoot.  

This week my mother put him in a shrub for his photo shoot, he liked it, but was a little distracted:  

Oh no!  Incoming Tilly kisses!  Yucky!

This is as close as we could get to a smile.  At this point, after having tried to make him smile for some time, my mom announced she understands why photographers charge what they do to take baby's pictures.  Not as easy as it looks.

Next week we'll have some pictures of awesome family Easter traditions.  See you then!

King of the Jungle

It was only after I put last week's post up that I realized the frog hat was even more appropriate than I imagined, what with it being a leap year this year.  Thank you subconscious.

This week's hat was requested by Trevor.  He said March is coming in like a lion (or winter is going out like one) so we need a lion hat.  Once I completed the hat and showed it to him, he immediately regretted requesting it and told me he is worried that the kids are going to tease Henry for all his awesome hats some day.  I find this unlikely, and once he's in school, we'll tone the hats down a little.  Might as well put him in the funny hats while he is too young to protest, right?

For this hat I did the usual crochet base then added ears and a mane as well as some earflaps with braids to match so it looks like an extension of the mane.  I think it turned out pretty cute.

Trevor thinks this hat looks like Luna's Gryffindor hat in Harry Potter:

I think he's exaggerating.  It's nowhere near that outrageous.  Here we go, you can judge for yourselves:

Checking out the weird plant.  Then we had a minor fail which resulted in the next image:

Help me dad!  There was also a certain kitty cat trying to photobomb us the whole time (please note, the photobomb link can be NSFW so beware if you decide to click).  

Henry practicing his roar (or running out of patience for the photoshoot).  I've saved the best picture for last:

Success!  Wishing you all a wonderful week!

G.

The Frog Prince

Since we've been dreaming of spring lately, I thought it only appropriate that we have a spring-ish themed hat this week (one that our Granny would definitely approve of).  GG on the other hand has a different opinion of frogs.  I encourage you to listen to the audio in that link, so you get the full idea, there was a spring peeper living outside my parents home for weeks last year, and looks like the time is soon arriving when he'll be back!  

This hat was pretty simple, I just made a beanie and added eyes and a mouth.  I was going to put earflaps on it, but I ran out of yarn.  I've been sticking with the crocheted hats because they lend themselves beter to caricatures than knitted hats (crocheting holds its form better).  I'm beginning to wonder what we're going to do in the summer when it's too hot for hats.  I suppose we could just pose with them.  Anyone have any good ideas for summer hats we could create?  

Today I had a smiley little "snack pirate,"  enjoy! 

 Henry's eyes look a little like frog eyes here:

Froggy pose!

Superbowl XLVI, Are you ready for some football?

I don't really watch football.  I don't understand what's going on and it seems to go on forever, whatever it is that is happening.  But my husband enjoys watching football, the superbowl at the very least.  I've decided I may as well embrace this because I have a lifetime of noisy boys cheering and shouting at the tv in my future.

As part of my new, lets say tolerance of the sport, our hat this week is in honour of Superbowl XLVI.  Henry feels he is too young to have a favourite team, so his photo shoot is team neutral.  Henry's just enjoying his doritos and beer...ok, maybe too little for that too, doesn't mean he isn't going to try!

Pattern by Beezy moms Creations

Now how do I get into this bag?

Oh, hi mom, are you taking my picture?

I don't think I'm old enough for this yet...

Well, ok, I'll try to get in

This bag is empty!  What a rip off!

My etsy shop is still under construction, but if you see a hat here that you simply must have, please feel free to email me at hatsofftohenry[at]gmail[dot]com and we can probably arrange something!

Good luck New York and New England!

Year of the Dragon!

As many of you know, this week marked the start of the Year of Dragon.  In honour of this celebration, as well as my own magnetism towards dragons, I decided we'd make a dragon hat for the little man.  Also featured in this photo shoot, my beloved Puff who was my childhood companion (and I suppose will now be Henry's best friend too).

I crocheted this hat, once again using Vanna's Choice yarn which is nice and washable and doesn't felt.  I made the pattern up on the fly, I really ought to write these things down, but I'm pretty sure I could recreate it.

At first I was worried that the ridge wouldn't stand up on this hat, but as you can see, that was no concern after all:

Daddy making him smile:

Best buds already!

Oh, hi Puff, where did you get that wicked bandana?

Ok mom, I'm done!

In other news, I am in the process of building some stock so that I can reopen my Etsy store, so stay tuned for that!  I will make an announcement when it's ready to go.

G.

He's making a list, checking it twice...

Greetings everyone!

On to our final Christmas themed hat.  For this hat, I went back to knitting.  I also designed the pattern myself, but it's very basic, all you need to know how to do is knit and purl (and how to work in the round). You could also use a magic loop to accomplish this, but it's a bit more advanced.  

This particular hat fits 3-6 months, if you want to make it bigger or smaller, all you have to do is add or subtract 4 stitches at a time (it's important that you use multiples of 4 to keep the rib pattern).  

I've written out the pattern below for anyone who may be interested in making their own, you can of course change the colours to make it a less holiday specific hat.  

I should mention here that my particular style of knitting in the round uses 5 needles rather than 4.  I learned to knit in Austria where the predominant style of knitting is Continental knitting vs. English knitting which is what most people I've met in Canada use.  As a result, any time I buy double pointed knitting needles in Canada, I am forced to purchase two packages because here they are sold in packs of 4 and I always need 5.  Personally, I think they should just sell them in packs of 5, I mean, everyone can use a spare needle now and then.  

I know what you're thinking, who knew these things even existed/what on earth is she even talking about, right?  Well then, onto the pattern (and then pictures)!

3-6 month

The yarn I used is Vanna's Choice by Lion Brand (available at Michaels) in White and Scarlet (1 ball of each leaves lots left over) and size 6 needles (remember, I distribute my stitches across 4 needles and use the fifth to work in the round).

Cast on 56 stitches in white and distribute evenly among needles.

Rows 1-16 K2, P2 repeat to end of row

cut yarn and switch to Scarlet

Rows 17-37 K2, P2 repeat to end of row (if it's looking like your hat is too long at this point, feel free to skip to the casting off section sooner than row 37, it's all very flexible)

Casting off: 

Row 38 K2, P2tog repeat to end of row

Row 39 K1, K2tog repeat to end of row

Row 40 K2tog repeat until 6 stitches left, pull yarn through remaining stitches and pull tight.  Weave in ends.

Make 1 pom pom in white instructions here  and sew to top of hat.  

Voila!

 Thank you to my wonderful husband for helping me pose the baby in these pictures!

So cute!  If you have any questions about how I made this hat, please leave it in the comments and I will be happy to help you out!

Merry Christmas!

Henry the elf, what's your favourite colour?

Leading up to Christmas, I have 2 hats planned, as such I've decided to post the first one today.  This hat will end our series of crocheted hats, it's also the simplest hat I've featured so far.  Again I used a pattern that I bought on etsy.  Usually I make my own patterns, but these ones were oh so cute, I couldn't resist.

Since starting this blog just a few weeks ago, we've gotten many compliments on Henry's many hats.  I'd like to apologize to anyone who's seen Henry sans hat the past few days.  It's been awfully warm for hats and it's too hot in his car seat so we don't always wear one in public.  But don't fret folks, Winter is well on it's way and as you all know it lasts forever in Ontario, so there will be many opportunities to see Henry's hats in person.  When Summer hits, we're going to have to come up with some creative solutions to the too-hot-for-hats problem.

Now with no further ado...

I tried to take a picture of Henry while he was awake:

 No dice.  Very well then little boy, I'll catch you while you sleep:

 Much better.  Helping Santa is hard work after all.

Bonus picture:  Henry with the big man (and no hat)!

Next week's hat is one of my own design, so I'll share the pattern with you all, just in case there are any knitters out there who want to give it a try (it's an easy one).

G.

Henry the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Hey everyone!  To start, I'd like to mention that you can now follow @hatsofftohenry on twitter (I added a handy button).  I also added some buttons so you can easily share posts on facebook and twitter (should you feel so inclined).  Oh, and of course, the mad hatter background :) Enough housekeeping, onto the hat!

With less than 2 weeks until Christmas, I thought it would be appropriate to have a few holiday themed hats.  This week is a bit of a hybrid on last weeks' hat, with a few epic elaborations.  To be honest, it may be too elaborate to wear out in public, but we'll probably do so anyways.  When I say elaborate, I mean elaborate to the point of having to stuff part of it so it would stand up.  I ended up using part of last weeks' hat pattern and another pattern for a christmas tree ornament (the ornament was awesome btw, see it here: Rory the Reindeer) to complete the look.

Making this hat brought me back to my childhood when I used to make pompoms by the dozen.  This one worked out well, nice to know I've still got it after not having made a pompom in at least 15 years. 

With no further ado, here is the hat!  (I had to take a few pictures so you can get the full picture)

 I know, he's asleep in every picture, it's easier to pose him this way!

 Next week: another holiday hat!  (Maybe a little less elaborate than this one, no antlers or ears).

G.