A few weeks before Christmas Mom and I saw a picture of a hat on Pinterest. Not just any hat, but a crocheted toddler beard-hat with. "This would be a great Christmas present for cousin James!" we thought. It was decided. That would be the present for James.
Since James is a redhead, we had to get red yarn for the beard. Now, you see, red hair comes in many different shades, just as blonde and brown do. Last time we visited we noticed that James' hair was closer to the strawberry-blonde of Zoe's hair than the dark auburn of mine. The first time we went to buy yarn Zoe was not with us, so Mom and I guessed at the color. That was a bad idea. When we got home the yarn was much too orange, so next time we were in town we made sure to bring Zoe. We returned the yarn, found the perfect color (which was much more brown than we guessed) and came home. I found some light green yarn which went well with the red, and then went to look for a hat pattern.
All of the pictures I could find online came from a single Etsy store, so I had to make up a pattern. Due to the texture of the green yarn, I decided to find a knit hat pattern.
This is the pattern I started using. After a couple rows of the swirl, I found that it would be easier to just do plain stockinette stitch instead. After the ribbing was finished, I cast off 3-4 stitches on one side of the hat, and then the same number on the opposite side. On the next row I cast on the same amount just above where the stitches were cast off (the number cast off and on really depends on what size buttons will be used to attach the beard). To be honest, I made the hole and found two buttons that would fit through afterwards.
Once the hat was finished I started on the beard. Since James is Stephen's size, I was using Stephen as a model. First I did a crochet test swatch to find what my tension was (I used a size J/10 6.00mm crochet hook), then I put the hat on Stephen with a button hole over each ear. I measured from 1/2 in above the button hole on one size, down over Stephen's chin, and up to 1/2 in above the other button hole. Using the tension, I found how many stitches to chain.
For example, if the length measured was 10 in, and my tension was 7 stitches per inch I would chain 7x10 or 70 stitches (I don't actually remember how many I did). Work 2 rows in double crochet and finish off. This forms a strap which goes under the chin. I then tried the hat on Stephen and held the strap up on his chin. I marked two places on his chin, each slightly below/to the side of the corners of his mouth. These two points marked the ends of the portion of the beard which goes on the front of his chin. I started at one of the points, did a single crochet in that stitch, a double crochet in the next stitch, and then skipped a stitch. I then repeated the pattern "double crochet, double crochet, skip a stitch" until I got to the second marked stitch in which I did a single crochet. Next I held the hat up to Stephen and found what the length of the mustache would have to be. I then chained the right number of stitches, did a single crochet into the stitch directly opposite the one the mustache started on, and then single crocheted back across the mustache, and finished off.
I could have ended here, but since James' hair is curly everyone thought it would be hilarious if I added curls to the beard. I attached the yarn to the beard, chained 11, worked 6 single crochets in the fourth chain from the hook, and worked 7 single crochets in each remaining chain, attached the yarn to the beard again, and finished off. I then repeated this all over the beard until there was a sufficient amount of curls. The last thing needed was to weave in all the ends and stitch the buttons on 1/2 in from the ends of the beard.
It turned out that James loved the hat! His mother, Rachel, was giggling because it was so funny, and Grandma thought it hilarious. James really likes dress up clothes right now and the beard-hat was a perfect addition.
Lucas: "I like werning (learning). Do you know how I wern (learn)?"
One day Stephen walked into the kitchen with an apple in his hand.
