Crochet: Best Baby Cloche and Tutorial

I am excited to be contributing to luvinthemommyhood today as part of their Babyhood Bonanza. I feel like a babyhood bonanza of my own at the present as I'm shortly expecting my third girl in a little over four years!

 

Motherhood has not come easy for me in terms of actually getting my children here and I feel so incredibly fortunate and blessed to now find myself with these two darling daughters and a third on the way. The phrases, "late bloomer, " "better late than never," and "good things come to those who wait" come to mind! You just never know how things will turn out. I can't imagine my life without my little muses. While I've always sought creative outlets nothing has been more creatively fulfilling for me than nurturing babies into little children. The possibilities are so endless! The discovery process so fascinating. And the fact that they are individuals with their own opinions makes it even more interesting and challenging. I try to shape, but I also try to learn and I anticipate more learning in the future as they become more independent. Scary.

While I am surprised to find myself mothering three girls rather than some more varied combination, I just couldn't be happier about it (and their father is pretty spoiled too I have to say). Hard to imagine where I would direct all my creative energy if, for instance, I had three boys. I absolutely love knitting, crocheting, sewing, painting and throwing parties for my girls. My blog documents the activity and there's a lot of it going on lately as I'm in full blown nesting mode. So, I was thrilled when Shannon invited me to share something in the Bonanza.

 

I put this little crochet cloche on my nesting list and am sharing a pattern and tutorial for it today (great to have the motivation to actually document the pattern!). I made the original, little pink version, for my daughter, Scarlett, when she was born and loved it! I love a cloche on a little babe because it emphasizes her already large eyes.

The cotton yarn makes it super easy wash-and-wear and versatile in terms of seasons. And the worsted weight crochet means this is fast. I'm all about finishing so a love a quick pattern! This would be good for a beginner and would make a darling baby gift. Who can resist the oversized flower and eyelet edging? This hat is all girl! 

You can find the PDF of the pattern (*UPDATED WITH SIZES 0-3, 3-6, AND 6-12 MONTHS*) and a full tutorial after the jump.

Thanks for the LUV, Shannon!




Download a PDF of this pattern  in all three sizes here:
Best Baby Cloche Crochet Pattern_www.aestheticnest

TUTORIAL: Best Baby Cloche

(Tutorial provides instructions for size 3-6 months only)

MATERIALS

• 1 skein Lily Sugar’n Cream 100% cotton yarn (or another worsted weight cotton/blend yarn)

• Size H crochet hook

• Yarn needle for finishing

GAUGE: about 4 hdc= 1 inch

CLOCHE

Foundation Ring: Chain four. Join with a slip stitch to form a ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as first hdc here and in subsequent rounds). 6 half-double-crochet in ring. Join with a sl st in top of chain 2. (You should have 7 hdc)   

Round 2: Ch 2. 1 hdc in same space as last sl st. 2 hdc in each hdc around. Join with a sl st in top of ch 2. (You have increased 7 hdc for a total of 14 hdc)

Round 3: Ch 2. 1 hdc in same space as last sl st. * 1 hdc in next hdc. 2 hdc in next hdc. ** Repeat from * to ** around. 1 hdc in base of beginning ch-2. Join with a sl st in top of ch 2. (21 hdc)

Round 4: Ch 2. 1 hdc in same space as last sl st. 1 hdc in next hdc. * 2 hdc in next hdc. 1 hdc in next 2 hdc stitches.** Repeat from * to ** around to last hdc. 1 hdc in base of beginning ch-2. Join with a sl st in top of ch 2. (28 hdc)


Round 5: Ch 2. 1 hdc in same space as last sl st. 1 hdc in each of next 2 hdc stitches. *2 hdc in next hdc. 1 hdc in each of next 3 hdc stitches.** Repeat five times from * to ** around to last hdc. 1 hdc in base of beginning ch-2. Join with a sl st in top of ch 2. (35 hdc)

Round 6: Ch 2. 1 hdc in same space as last sl st. 1 hdc in each of next 3 hdc stitches. *2 hdc in next hdc. 1 hdc in each of next 4 hdc stitches.** Repeat from * to ** around to last hdc. 1 hdc in base of beginning ch-2. Join with a sl st in top of ch 2. (42 hdc)

Round 7: Ch 2. 1 hdc in same space as last sl st. 1 hdc in each of next 4 hdc stitches. *2 hdc in next hdc. 1 hdc in each of next 5 hdc stitches.** Repeat from * to ** around to last hdc. 1 hdc in base of beginning ch-2. Join with a sl st in top of ch 2. (49 hdc)

Round 8 (this is the last increase row): Ch 2. 1 hdc in same space as last sl st. 1 hdc in each of next 15 hdc stitches. *2 hdc in next hdc. 1 hdc in each of next 15 hdc stitches.** Repeat from * to ** to last hdc. 1 hdc in base of beginning ch-2. (you have increased 3 hdc for a total of 52 hdc)

Round 9: Ch 2. 1 hdc in same space as last sl st. 1 hdc in each hdc around. Join with a sl st in the top of ch 2. (52 hdc)

Rounds 10-11: Repeat Row 9. (52 hdc)

Round 12 (this is a decrease row): Ch 2. 1 hdc in same space as last sl st. Hdc in the next hdc and each of the next 14 hdc stitches. Now you will work a decrease hdc [to dhdc, (yarn over, insert hook in next hdc, yo, draw loop through) two times, yo, draw through all 5 lps on hook]. *Hdc in next 15 hdc stitches. Work one dhdc.** Repeat from * to ** one more time and finish round with a sl st in the top of ch 2. (you have decreased 3 hdc for a total of 49 hdc)

(These following photos illustrate the decrease stitch)

(above photo shows work after first yo, insert hook in next hdc, yo, draw loop through...)

(above photo shows next yo...)

(above photo shows work after second yo, insert hook in next hdc, yo, draw loop through, with 5 loops on the hook...)

(above photo shows work after drawing final yo through all 5 lps on hook)

Round 13 (this is the eyelet row): Ch 3 (counts as first hdc and ch-1 sp). Skip the next hdc. *Double crochet in the next hdc. Ch 1. Skip the next hdc.* Repeat around and finish with a sl st in the 2^nd ch of the beginning ch-3. (25 ch-1 spaces and 25 dc)

Shell edging:  Ch 3. Dc in same space. Skip the next ch-1 space. Sl st in the next dc. *Skip the next ch-1 sp. Work 3 dc in the next dc. Skip the next ch-1 sp. Sl st in the next dc.** Repeat from * to ** around to the last dc. Sk next ch-1 space. 3 dc in last dc. Sk next ch-1 space. Work 1 dc in base of the beginning ch-2 and sl st in top of the beginning ch-2 to complete the shell. (13 shells)

Fasten off. Weave in ends.



FLOWER

Foundation ring: Chain 4. Join with a sl st to form ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as dc). 13 dc in center of ring. (14 dc)

Round 2: Ch 5 (counts as first dc and ch-3). Skip next dc. *Dc in next dc. Ch 3. Sk next dc.** Repeat from * to ** around and finish with a sl st in the 2nd chain of the beginning ch-5. (7 ch-3 spaces and 7 dc)

Round 3 (this is the back row of petals): *In next ch-3 space work (single crochet, hdc, 3 dc, hdc sc).** Repeat from * to ** around and join with a sl st in the first sc. (7 petals)

Now slip stitch around the post of the beginning double crochet to work your way down to round 1. Slip stitch through the first skipped dc in that round. (This is easier in my mind than fastening off and joining with a new piece of yarn.)

Round 4: Ch 3. *Sl st in the next skipped dc. Ch 3.** You have created a ch-3 space in front of the first dc from round 2. Repeat from * to ** around and finish with a slip stitch in the base of the first ch-3.

Round 5 (this is the front row of petals): (sc, hdc, 2 dc, hdc, sc) in each ch 3 space around to form seven petals. Join with a sl st in the first sc.

Fasten off. Leave a longer tail of yarn to attach the flower to the cloche.

Attach flower to hat as pictured using yarn ends. Weave in ends.

 *If you make a cloche please consider sharing a photo in the Flickr group. Thanks!*