Infant Newsboy Ensemble - a free pattern

I love making baby clothes. Next to full-size afghans (which take forever, but are so rewarding), baby clothes are my favorite things to make. I love making little girl dresses, and little girl or boy sweaters, but I was getting tired of those, and so I went hunting around the web (mainly via Pinterest, 'natch) to get some inspiration.

And boy, did I get inspired.


This set is fairly simple to make, works up quickly, and makes an absolutely darling outfit. I made a few, and as I did so, and using and adapting a few patterns I found here and there, I wrote down my process, mainly so that I could do it again at some point when I'm in the mood. So, as long as I did it for myself, I thought you might appreciate then instructions as well.

Right?

I thought so.



Infant Newsboy Set
Adapted with gratitude from the following sites:
-Little Sprinkles of Fun
-Peachy Knits
-Creative Me!
-Repeat Crafter Me 
-Crochet a Flower


Newsboy Cap
Hook size G&H

Start with size G hook
Round 1: Ch 5 and join with slip stitch to create circle. Ch 2
Round 2: Dc 10 in the circle.
Round 3: 2 dc in each stitch around (20 dc)
Round 4: Dc in next stitch, 2 dc in next stitch around (30 dc)
Round 5: Dc in next two stitches, 2 dc in next stitch around (40 dc)
Round 6: Dc in next three stitches, 3 dc in next stitch around (50 dc)
Round 7: Dc in each stitch around (50 dc)
Round 8-10 repeat round 7 (50 dc)
Round 11: Ch 1, sc in each stitch around (50 dc)
start brim here
Brim Row 1: turn, ch 1, skip first sc, sc in each of next 4 sc, 2 sc in next stitch, sc in each of next 12 st, 2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 4 sc, dec 1, ch 2, turn (24 sc, 1 dec)
Brim Row 2: Skip first sc, sc across, dec over last two stitches, ch 2, turn (22 sc, 1 dec)
Brim Row 3: Skip first sc, sc in each of next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc around until there are only 7 stitches left. 2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 4 st, dec. ch 2, turn (21 sc, 1 dec)
Brim Row 4: Skip first sc and sc across, dec over last two st. (19 sc, 1 dec) Do not ch2 or turn.
Brim Row 5: Switch to H hook, continuing from brim, sc down the edge of brim and then sc in each sc around the hat. Sc up the other side of the brim. Sl stitch to close.
To Make Newsboy Band 
Ch 30, dc in 3rd ch from hook and to end. 29 dc. Ch 2 and sc around top, sides, and bottom of band, placing 2 sc in each corner. Fasten off.

Sew band onto hat just above the brim by securing it with two buttons on either side as shown. Then tack brim down using coordinating yarn.



Diaper Cover
Hook size H

Ch 47
Row 1: sc in second ch from hook and in each st across. Ch 3, turn
Row 2: dc across, ch 2 turn (47 dc)
Row 3: sc in st across, fasten off. (47 sc)
Row 4: Turn work and count in 11 stitches from the right, attach yarn. Ch 3, dc in next 24 stitches, ch 1, turn. (24 dc)
Row 5: sc across, ch 3, turn. (24 sc)
Row 6-9: repeat rows 4-5 twice
Row 10: dec dc, dc in next 20 st, dec, ch 2, turn (22 dc)
Row 11: dec sc, sc in next 18 st, dec, ch 3, turn (20 sc)
Row 12: dec dc, dc in next 16 st, dec, ch 2, turn (18 dc)
Row 13: dec sc, sc in next 14 st, dec, ch 3, turn (16 sc)
Row 14: dec dc, dc in next 12 st, dec, ch 2, turn (14 dc)
Row 15: sc in each st across, ch 3, turn (14 sc)
Row 16: dc in each st across, ch 2, turn (14 st)
Row 17-20: repeat rows 15-16 twice
Row 21: sc in each st across, ch 3, turn (14 st)
Row 22: dc twice in first st, then one in every stitch across, ch 2, turn (15 st)
Row 23: sc twice in first st, then one in every stitch across, ch 3, turn (16 st)
Row 24: dc in every st across, ch 2, turn (16 st)
Row 25: sc in every st across, ch 3, turn (16 st)
Row 26: dc in every st across, fasten off (16 st)

Join yarn in any dc, make a sc border all around cover, using 2 sc on the turns of each corner. Sew buttons on front as shown.




Bow Tie
Hook Size H

Chain 35 loosely, leaving a long beginning tail. Being careful not to twist chain, join to first ch, ch 2, do not turn.
Row 1: Hdc in each chain around. Join, Ch 2
Row 2: Hdc in each st around, join, ch 2
Row 3: Hdc in each st around, join, ch 2
Row 4: Hdc in each st around, join, finish off.

Wind an amount of free yarn around the center, making the "knot" in the tie. Thread through and finish off.

For the strap: Join yarn with sl st in 2nd row, just left of bow "knot". Chain 20 loosely.
Row 1: Hdc in second ch from hook and across, 18 dc. Sl st to back of bow, leave a tail.

Repeat on other side of bow for second side of the strap.

Attach button as shown in picture.



Suspender Straps
Hook Size H

MAKE TWO

Chain 48 loosely, working in the bottom "bumps" of chain, dc in third ch from hook, and in each ch to end. Finish off, (46 dc)

a rainbow of dishcloths

I've been running low on dishcloths lately, so I figured it was time to make some new ones.

I did some sets using the old classic color combinations . . .

















and I also branched out into some neon hues.






Always fun to play with colors!

Pieced Hexagon Stocking--quick and semi-cryptic instructions (more for my own records than anything)

A bit ago, I had a customer purchase a listing I have in my etsy shop, one for the Custom-Made Granny Square stocking. She had purchased stockings for her family elsewhere at some time in the past, but now had a new member of the family, wanted a stocking to match, and found that her previous source for stockings had ceased operations. So, she gave me her color choices, and a picture of one of the stockings she had already purchased and asked if I could make something similar.

The stockings she needed to match were a little different in style than the ones I had made previously, and so I agreed to try my hand at imitating the style of what she needed. After a bit of trial and error, I managed to get something pretty close, and since she was pleased with the result, and since I didn't want to have to "re-invent the wheel", should I want to make that kind of stocking again, I've decided that I should take a minute and write down what I did. So, here it is:






Pieced Hexagon Stocking

Hexagon- make 15



Magic circle

Then do 12 hdc in center

then 24 hdc in next row

then 36 hdc in next row

then 48 hdc in last row, finish off

Square- make 1
Magic circle
Then do 8 hdc in center
then 16 hdc in next row
then 24 hdc in next row
then 32 hdc in next row, finish off

Here's where it gets cryptic--In my opinion, the very best way to lay out these squares is according to this pattern at holidayimaginations.etsy.com. But, it wouldn't be fair or ethical for me to copy those layout instructions here on my own blog now, would it? So, I'm just going to refer you to that pattern for the layout instructions. The pattern is only $4.75, and it's easy to follow, and in my opinion, well-worth the purchase price.

Following the layout in the holiday imaginations pattern, crochet sides together with wrong sides facing and with single crochet, thus making a ridge along the joining.

Beginning at back top of stocking, hdc around top one time. Join and chain 10, joining to make a loop for hanging.

Weave in ends.