If you know me, you know I love cacti! So it was so much fun for me to design this cactus hat!
The pattern is super simple, and perfect for beginners. Unlike many of my other baby hat patterns, this hat is worked flat in a rectangle, and then cinched together to form the hat. To create the striated-look of cacti, we'll be creating a ribbing by crocheting in the "back loops only" of all the stitches. And of course, a pink pom on top for the cactus flower!
The pattern comes in two sizes: Newborn and Preemie! I hope this pattern inspires you to make some little Cactus Beanies for a NICU near you :)
Materials:
1 Skein Caron Simply Soft in "Pistachio" (for the hat)
1 Skein Red Heart with Love in "Gum" (for the pom)
Size G Crochet hook
Tapestry Needle
Abbreviations:
Ch = chain
St = stitch
Hdc = half double crochet
Newborn Size:
Row 1: Ch 29
Row 2: Hdc in 2nd Ch from hook, and in each St across. At the end of the row, Ch 1 and turn.
Row 3-28: Hdc in each St across. At the end of the row, Ch 1 and turn.
Row 29: Hdc in each St across. Tie off, leaving an 18'' tail of yarn for assembly.
Preemie Size:
Row 1: Ch 20
Row 2: Hdc in 2nd Ch from hook, and in each St across. At the end of the row, Ch 1 and turn.
Rows 3-16: Hdc in each St across. At the end of the row, Ch 1 and turn.
Row 17: Hdc in each St across. Tie off, leaving a 12'' tail of yarn for assembly.
Hat Assembly: Fold the rectangle in half, wrong sides facing. Using a simple whip-stitch, sew the two ends together. You should now have a tube. Tie a knot and the edge of the hat to secure the row of whip stitches. Now we will cinch the hat together. With your needle and yarn at one end of the tube, weave your needle in and out stitches around this edge of the tube. When you reach your starting point, pull your yarn tightly to cinch. Tie a couple secure knots and weave in ends.
Pom: Using the pink yarn, wrap it 90 times around your first three fingers, then cut the yarn. You should have a neat bundle of yarn around your index, middle, and ring fingers. Carefully slide the bundle off of your fingers and place it down. Now cut another 8'' piece of yarn. Using this 8'' yarn, tie a couple secure knots around the bundle, perpendicular to the direction of the yarn strands in the bundle.
Now we're ready to cut, trim, and shape the pom!
Holding onto the strands of yarn you used to tie the bundle together, use a pair of scissors to cut the loops in the bundle. Fluff the strands with your fingers, and trim into a ball shape. Be sure not to cut the strands you used for tying, as we will need these to attach the pom to the hat!
Attaching the pom to the hat: To attach the pom to the hat, we will be using the two long strands of yarn on the pom. First, position the pom at the top of the hat. Using a tapestry needle, take both of the long yarn strands and insert them down into the inside of the hat, right under the pom. Now, turn the hat inside-out. Tie the two pink yarn ends together with two secure square knots. Trim both yarn ends to about 0.5''.