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Cranium

Jun 22, 2006 posted by Chloe
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by Chloe Nightingale

Introduction

Cranium Hat
I learned to crochet because my college roommate returned from fall break one year with a really cute hat she'd just crocheted. I was jealous and told her I wanted the hat for myself. I begged. I pleaded. She refused, but offered to teach me to crochet so I could make my own hat. I've been making hats ever since.

I like making hats because it's a good way to try out a new kind of yarn, it only takes one or two skeins, it's a fast project, and if I don't want the hat for myself I can always give it to one of my friends.

This hat comes in two sizes: Regular head (will fit most women), and big head (for those of you with above-average sized craniums -- this size fits my husband nicely). The yarn is stretchy, too, so it will fit comfortably and you will have less of a chance of getting hat-head.

Materials List

  • Louisa Harding Fauve yarn, (100% Nylon, 127yds/116m per 50 g), 2 skeins, shade 06 (Note: I made the big head version with 2 skeins, but I had less than a meter of yarn left after making the hat; you might want to have a third skein on hand just in case.)
  • 5.00mm (US H-8) hook
  • Stitch marker (I find a dangle earring works well in lieu of a proper stitch marker)

Finished Size

Regular head: 7" (18cm) from top to brim, 24" (61cm) in diameter at the brim

Big head: 8.5" (22cm) from top to brim, 26" (66cm) in diameter at the brim.

Gauge

18 sts x 16 rounds of sc (blo) = 4" x 4" (10cm x 10cm)

Notes

All stitches are worked through the blo (back loop only), except where noted.

The hat is crocheted in a spiral, so you will not make a join at the end of every round. To keep track of rounds, place a marker in the first stitch of the round; work in pattern, moving the marker with each round.

The Pattern

All Sizes

Cranium HatCh 3, sl st in first ch to form ring.

Round 1:  Work 4 sc into ring. (4 sts)

Round 2:  Begin working through blo, 2 sc in each st around.  (8 sts)

Round 3:  Work 2 sc in each st around.  (16 sts)

Round 4: Work 2 sc in each st around.  (32 sts)

Rounds 5-6: Sc in each st around.

Regular Head Only 

Round 7: Work 2 sc in each st around ending with sc in last st.  (63 sts)

Rounds 8-12: Sc in each st around.  

Round 13:  *Sc in each of next 2 sts, work 2 sc in next st,* rep from * to * around.  (84 sts)

Rounds 14-19: Sc in each st around.  

Rounds 20-23: Working in both loops, sc in each st around.  

Rounds 24: Working in blo, sc in each st around.  

Round 25:  *Sc in each of next 3 sts, work 2 sc in next st,* rep from * to * around.  (105 sts)

Rounds 26-28: Sc in each st around.  

Round 29: Sl st in each st around.  

Fasten off. Weave in ends.  

Big Head Only

Round 7: Work 2 sc in each st around.  (64 sts)

Rounds 8-12: Sc in each st around.  

Round 13:  *Sc in next st, work 2 sc in next st,* rep from * to * around.  (96 sts)

Rounds 14-22: Sc in each st around.  

Rounds 23-27: Working in both loops, sc in each st around.  

Rounds 28-30: Working in blo, sc in each st around.  

Round 31:  *Sc in each of next 2 sts, work 2 sc in next st,* rep from * to * around.  (128 sts)

Rounds 32-33: Sc in each st around.  

Round 34: Sl st in each st around.  

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

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Comments

maryse wrote
on Jun 24, 2006 7:11 AM

very cute hat. and thanks for including instructions for the large craniumed out there.

Diane in Louisiana wrote
on Jun 24, 2006 7:57 AM

I am glad you are sharing a pattern for a larger head. I have two sons with HUGE heads. :) Thanks again. Diane

marie in florida wrote
on Jun 24, 2006 7:01 PM
really cute hat; i've been a hat maker since 1970something....early 2 or 3 i think. got a brochure from Woman's Day magazine; still have it. what kind of yarn is that though? nylon? any reason for using nylon? would something else work?
marie in florida

where i use fishing lure swivels for markers

Chloe wrote
on Jun 24, 2006 8:54 PM
I picked the Louisa Harding yarn because I liked the way it looked -- it's a ribbon-shaped yarn that has a bit going down the middle with a sort of iridescent finish.

The yarn is nice and stretchy and helps the hat bounce back into shape (after being crumpled in my pocket or some such). You could make it in a different material, but may have to tweak the pattern, especially if your yarn substitution isn't as stretchy. I'd love to see what you come up with!

DarlaTremere wrote
on Jun 26, 2006 10:49 AM

This is totally wicked awesome--made one every time i got on the bus and now I have a ton of them in many colours:)

Joy wrote
on Jul 13, 2006 8:59 AM

I have not heard of Louisa Harding Fauve yarn. Where can I find it and what type of yarn does it compare to? Thanks

Gini wrote
on Jul 24, 2006 11:10 AM

I love to crochet hats and am constantly playing with new ideas. I was inspired by the one Kirsten Dunst wore in Elizabethtown and it's similar to our pattern except it's only like 10 rows because the middle row is a shell so it's airy and has holes. I was just looking for a new pattern and yours is great. Thanks for the pattern!

dena wrote
on Aug 29, 2006 11:00 PM

Thanks for sharing this cute hat. I'm really into crocheting hats this year and will be starting one as soon as I post this. We've already had snow on our mountains here in Alaska so this will remind me of next year's spring and summer.

kmsmaverick wrote
on Aug 30, 2006 8:12 AM

this patern is very good. i'm very pleased you posted it. though i couldn't find lousia harding yarn either, so i guessed- i used moda dea yarn- the metro variety. i used a 4mm hook instead of 5 (the store was out of 5mm). so far the hat is looking very nice, and the pattern is so easy to understand. i'm a complete newby, i mean i can chain and SC only, so this pattern is going to make me feel very confident. yay! thanks for posting it!

k

Melissa wrote
on Sep 7, 2006 5:01 PM

I think this will really look pretty in a suede yarn.

mona wrote
on Nov 11, 2006 4:56 PM

Miss Chloe-

Aren't you glad that your roommate taught you to crochet instead of giving you the hat? Kinda like that teach a man to fish thing....Best of luck with your cute hats.

Chloe wrote
on Dec 4, 2006 10:27 PM

Mona, you are absolutely right! I've stayed in contact with her since college and always make sure to thank her every so often for teaching me to crochet.

bchapdel123 wrote
on Oct 13, 2007 8:07 AM

Loved this pattern. I made it with a misti cotton/silk yarn and it came out so nice and soft. and it didn't use nearly as much yarn as i thought it would so i ended up making a scarf to match. thanks for posting the pattern! i like it so much, i'm planning on making a bunch for christmas gifts!

begonia1977 wrote
on Nov 15, 2007 1:21 PM

chloe, do have have any good sock patterns. I did the "toe up socks" on this site and followed it to a T and it turned out terrible. any suggestions would even help.

idoruNYC357 wrote
on Nov 27, 2007 7:17 AM

Love this pattern! made on this weekend and it helped keep my ears from freezing off while doing my black friday shopping!

My mom's waiting for one too - thank goodness for the extra big head instructions! (I mean, I love my mom but she has a noggin the size of a basket ball :) )

somecrochet wrote
on Nov 6, 2008 9:51 AM
Absolutely stunning. I love it!

SomeCrochet

TaniaP@2 wrote
on Dec 6, 2008 8:54 PM

Thanks for the hat pattern, it's great! I'm on my second one so far and they've both come out beautifully. In fact, with your permission, I may make several and donate them to my library's mitten tree next year.

jordybear wrote
on Dec 22, 2008 11:59 AM

I love this hat. Great work!!!

heatherandcrake wrote
on Jan 5, 2009 11:08 AM
Thank you for this pattern! This was the first time I've ever followed a real pattern, and I had no trouble following your cues.

Very cute hat; I'll be making more for friends and family!

kristi@12 wrote
on Jan 5, 2009 10:00 PM

i have used this pattern several times and it always turns out great. i made several for my mom in law and her friends when they went on a trip about a year and a half ago- they all loved them, but i forgot to take photos of the hats. i just came across the pattern again and plan on making one for my oldest daughter. thanks so much for an easy and hip hat!!

jsimm wrote
on Jan 19, 2010 1:34 PM

I did for the regular size head and it came out large. I do crochet tight. what happened?????

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