VALENTINE CROCHET MINI HATS & HEARTS GARLAND
Hi friends! I’ve decided to do a couple of Valentines posts this year, and the first one is a crochet craft. This post is all about the super cute winter hats & hearts garland I made to decorate my fireplace mantle. It’s really cute, I think you will like it! It is super easy crochet as well, and if you don’t crochet, find your nearest crochet friend to help you out. You won’t regret it, the cuteness is totally worth it!
Ya’ll see this cuteness?? How can you not?? So lets talk about how to make these cuties happen, and then I’ll show you what I did with mine.
It’s the season of love! In preparation for the upcoming holiday for lovers, I’ve put together a fun post for creating some “love” in your home. I’m not a notorious celebrator of Valentine’s Day, but I decided to do a couple fun things this year, and I have some little touches that I’ve added the last couple years just to add a little “love” to our living spaces.
Last year, I made the cutest little garland out of old book pages and stamps that I put on the mantle. It was so simple, I just took some pages out of an old book and stamped “love” words on the pages, like “be mine”, “true love”, “kiss me”. I then took the pages and used mini clothes pins I got at Hobby Lobby and attached them to a piece of twine that I’d hung across the fireplace mantle. It was a simple and fun look. I pulled the rest of the room together with a red throw with hearts on it and a couple red plaid pillows. Adorable, simple, and fun.
This year, I decided to put my crochet craft into motion and I crocheted by mini winter hats in red and pink with little fur pom poms and I made red and pink hearts out of the same yarn. I attached these little cuties to a piece of winter white yarn and hung it on my mantle with some other wintery yarns and felt ball garlands. To bring the living space together, I Put 2 dozen red roses in a milk glass vase on the dining table and added some red gingham hearts around the vase. Another simple but effective valentine’s décor complete.
The mini winter hats are the same as I made in December for decorating my Christmas packages and for tree ornaments. So cute and fun to make. Here’s the pattern I created using crossed double crochet. If you aren’t familiar with the crossed double crochet stitch, please see below for an explanation.
Abbreviations:
CDC – Crossed Double Crochet
SC – Single Crochet
CH – Chain
SS – Slip Stitch
RS – Running stitch (sewn not crochet)
TO – Tie Off
SK – Skip
Ch 17, SK 1 SC 16 into the chain, CH 3 and turn
(the CH 3 counts a 1 stitch, so you will not work into the stitch it is off of) Begin first CDC in the 3rd ST [which should be the top of the left leg of the CDC below])
*CDC 8 sets for a total of 16 stitches. 1 DC in last ST, CH 3 turn *
Repeat from * for a total of 8 rows CH 1, SS creating a seam. TO and RS to create a closure at top. Pull tight to cinch closed TO and secure well. Keep tail attached and turn hat right side out so seam is inside. Bring string through top center of hat and attach pom pom. Once this is attached, use the tail to create a hanger on the back side of the hat.
I hope you enjoy this little pattern, I think it makes the cutest Christmas tree ornaments, decorative garland, or package trim. I also made one that was a few more rows of CDC and it fit our Elf on the Shelf. Such a cute little touch.
Crossed Double Crochet Stitch:
To work the crossed double crochet, you will work two double crochet as you normally would, but you’ll be placing them in different stitches.
Step One: Skip 1 stitch, place first DC into next stitch. {Yarn over, insert hook into the next stitch. Pull up a loop. Yarn over, draw through two, yarn over, draw through two}. First double crochet complete.
Step Two: Now we want to place a double crochet in the stitch we SKIPPED. Do not chain, go behind the post or do anything fancy here. Simply go over the DC you just placed and put a DC into the skipped stitch, working over the top of the first DC you placed. {yarn over, insert your hook into the skipped stitch, pull up a loop. Yarn over, pull through two, yarn over pull through two.}
Your Cross Double Crochet is now complete. You continue by skipping the next stitch, and working the stitch again. Each CDC is made with 2 DC stitches so working 8 CDC will equal 16 single stitches.
I will link the tutorial where I learned the stitch HERE CROSSED DOUBLE CROCHET TUTORIAL
And now for the hearts.
The simple crochet heart begins with a magic circle. If you are unsure how to work a magic circle, simply search “crochet magic circle” on YouTube and you will find directions.
Abbreviations:
CH – Chain
DC – Double Crochet
TC – Treble (triple) Crochet
SS – Slip Stitch
HDC – Half Double Crochet
TO – Tie Off
Magic Circle
CH 2
Place 11 DC in circle, SS to join, CH 3
3 TC in same stitch
3 TC in next
1 DC, 1 HDC in next
1 SC in next 2
1 SC, 1 DC, 1 SC in next
1 SC in next 2
1 HDC, 1 DC in next
3 TC in next
3 TC, 1 DC in next
SS into remaining space to close the heart.
TO and leave a long tail for hanging
I truly enjoy sharing my love for crochet and creating fun and easy crafts. I hope you find some enjoyment in these posts. If you are not a crocheter, I encourage you to search YouTube, there are so many fabulous teachers and crafters sharing how to get started in crochet. My best advice is to learn how to “chain” and just keep making chains until you are comfortable with holding and using the hook. Then learn how to begin placing stitches into the chain and building from there. It is such a relaxing hobby for me and the best part is you can take it anywhere! I always carry a bag of crochet, you can take it on plans, in the car, in a waiting room, a the doctor’s office, anywhere you may have to set and wait, you can stitch.
Have a wonderful and blessed week my sweet friends,
XOXO
