This pattern brings together two concepts I've really enjoyed playing with. The first is the square top hat. I published the pattern for this hat as a girl's cloche a few years ago. Now I've re-edited the pattern and adjusted it both for size and gauge differences to be a baby cap. The crown is essentially a granny square, and the rest of the hat is worked in chevron stitch.
The booties are something I've played with much more recently. There's a boxy cardigan pattern going around where you make two hexagons, and each hexagon is made up entirely of right angles, making a shape that doesn't lie flat. When folded in half, these hexagons make an L shape that can be used as half a cardigan. A few months ago, I published a variation on that concept, where I added some shaping to the hexagons to create a baby cardigan with a better fit.
But these hexagons aren't just good for sweaters. Years ago, Elizabeth Zimmerman used a knitted version of the same shape to make baby booties, because an L shape that is two layers thick is awfully close to the shape of a sock. The booties in this pattern are a crocheted variation on the EZ concept, but, just as I did with the hexagon sweater, I've added shaping to the cuff, heel, and toe to create a better fit, and I'm very pleased with how they came out. Do be aware that these booties have to be eased over the foot, just like most crocheted socks.
This pattern uses light fingering weight yarn--I used one 50 gram skein of sock yarn--and a size E (3.5 mm) hook. I really like the texture and drape of the resulting fabric. Despite being worked flat, the booties have no sewn seams, which is always a plus in my book. The result is a practical and attractive hat and bootie set, that is both fun to stitch and perfect for a baby shower. The set is sized for about a three month old baby.
This post has been linked to Busy Monday, Inspire Me Monday, Senior Salon, Wonderful Wednesday, WITS, the Stitchin' Mommy, and Thursday Favorite Things.
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