Last-Minute Gift Idea: I Made a Hat in One Evening, and So Can You!

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Last-Minute Gift Idea: I Made a Hat in One Evening, and So Can You!

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With Hanukkah starting this evening and Christmas this weekend, it might feel like you’re down to the wire, but with the right project, I’m telling you there’s still time to squeeze out one more project! Just remember the 3 secrets of a fast gift project: thick yarn or multiple strands of yarn, easy stitches, accessory pattern.

Using the formula I shared in my “How to Crochet a Beanie” blog post, I made this quick hat in less than 2 hours.

Beanies Hat (Crochet)

To make it, I paired a strand of Superwash Merino Cashmere (in Sangria, Wine, and Charcoal) with a strand of Vanna’s Glamour (in Grey Stone, for bling!) and used single crochet stitches. By holding two strands of yarn together, it was like I was working a thicker yarn, and of course a thicker yarn means a faster project!

Editor’s note: Need to figure out how much yarn you need for a hat (or other project)? Click here for our handy guide.

For this project, instead of using the spiral method of making crochet rounds, I used the “joined rounds” method. That means I joined at the end of each round with a slip stitch, and then started each progressive round with a chain stitch (just as you would start a new sc row when crocheting flat back and forth).  The “joined rounds” method allowed me to have smooth stripes without a “jog” where the colors changed.

For the color pattern: after the first 5 rounds in Sangria, I changed colors every 3 rounds for my stripes. Finally, I improvised a quick trim for the edging: slip 1, *[hdc, dc, hdc] into the next stitch, slip 2, repeat from *. Voila! A finished hat in just one evening.

I think it’s a rather cute project, if I do say so myself, and I hope my cousin likes her gift! Good luck with any last-minute projects, and have a wonderful holiday season!

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8 Comments

  • Very nice Zontee. I love yoru color choices.

    • Thanks, Grace! I’m working on a matching cowl too.

  • This is so adorable, Zontee. I’m sure your cousin will love it (and so will I!!). I think, though, since I’m really into flowers right now, I might add a small sangria-and-charcoal flower to the side. So super cute! And a matching cowl is an excellent idea.

  • Great Idea to share. I, too, made similar beanies for 3 older grandchildren in each of their favorite colors, using 2 thin strands of yarn for one of the beanies. I added  a monetary gift inside the beanies, which was their Christmas gifts. 

  • VERY pretty!  I made a somewhat similar hat about 25 years ago for a daughter who wanted something very  ‘different.’ LOL She always did, she was a VERY ‘different’ child!!  So I made a hat like this but the pattern had longer and a bit pointier edging and was called a ‘Pixie Hat.’  I sewed a little charm on each point, including one that was her zodiac charm and one that was for her Chinese zodiac. I found the most gorgeous flashy pretty crystal charms, and some snakes too!  Some charms were gold and some silver in colour.  Some were brilliantly coloured in shiny glass looking beaded patterns.  A couple of cute fairies were on there and I remember an alligator and a brilliantly beaded gecko type salamander charm too and a sun, moon and star.  The top was just smooth like this one.  She LOVED that the charms were very different from each other with no pattern to them and her Friends thought it was FANTASTIC! They all wanted me to knit them one but I said no for 2 reasons.  One – My daughter wanted to have the ONLY one!!  Two – The little charms cost me a FORTUNE! LOL She wore the hat for years and years!  I don’t know what finally happened to it but it definitely had a very long life and was absolutely worth the cost!

  • Thank you for sharing your wonderful story.  That was a real win-win situation.  I have been knitting since I was a teenager and I am 75 now.  I don’t know how I would have lived this long without my knitting – my sanity and my peacefulness and joy! <3

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