Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

Giveaway:BLOGTEST #2 – WEEK #1 USE UP THOSE NOVELTY YARNS

by

This month, you can win TWO BOOKS!

The one pictured above, Making Eyelash Crochet Leis 2 and the first book in the series, Making Eyelash Crochet Leis.

These books are by Coryn Tanaka and May Masaki and were published in 2004 – BUT they are brand, spanking new.  The authors are from Hawaii and offer some interesting and attractive necklaces.  Most of the patterns and techniques they describe can be adapted for other uses too.

QUESTION #1 FOR FEBRUARY:  What is the last thing you made using eyelash yarn?

Here are the rules:

Each item will be mailed to the winner by USPS – books by media mail.  For now, this contest will only be open to participants in the US.  Sorry, but international postal rates, customs forms, etc are just too much for me now.  That may change.

This is how it will work.  Each Monday, I’ll pose a question on my blog.  Everyone who answers the questions will be entered in the drawing on the last day of that month.  Some ‘answers’ may require you to post a link to a specific pattern or site.  The winner will be announced along with the next first Monday’s question.  The winner will have 48 hours to contact me with mailing information.  If the winner doesn’t contact me, the prize will be offered on another occasion.

RESPONSES MUST BE POSTED HERE AND NOT EMAILED TO ME PRIVATELY OR POSTED ELSEWHERE FOR ENTRY.

TO MAKE IT CRYSTAL CLEAR, THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON THE LAST FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH AND THE WINNER MUST EMAIL ME ([email protected]) WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT.  So, for sanity’s sake, that deadline will really mean that I need to hear from you no later than 8 PM the following Monday (so you have plenty of time to email me and I’ll get the email for sure even if I don’t sign on to my email on a Sunday).

Competiton Closes – February 26th

Competition Conditions – Open to US residents only.

Comments

  3. I have never made anything using eyelash yarn. I have been afraid to try using it. It looks like it would be hard.

    NO – it’s not really hard to work with, especially if you carry along a strand of something else. I prefer to carry along a strand of
    #10 (bedspread weight) thread with it. Makes it MUCH easier to work with. jd

  4. Actually, this is too funny…the last thing I made with eyelash yarn was a lei. My friend’s parents were stationed in Hawaii for 3 years and his mother learned how to make leis, who taught him, who taught me how to make one using a straw. He said that his mom does these really involved ones!

  5. I did socks with the top in eyelash and the rest in a variegated yarn. Can’t use them though, ticklish 🙂

  6. To behonest I;ve only used the eye lash yarn on trimmings for doll clothes Idon;t have good sight to use eyelash yarn bobbijk

  8. I used eyelash yarn with complementary yarn to make hat and scarf sets to donate to homeless shelters-they work up warm and were fashionable at the time. I made 12 sets using different color combinations of yarns. I am still looking for patterns to finish using some of my stash of the very pretty eyelash.

  9. I made matching hats and scarves for 4 of my nieces for Hannuka- the hats used the eyelash as the trim and I used the eyelash alone for the scarves. They loved them.

  10. I made a purse for each of my 2 young teenage nieces for Christmas that used eyelash yarn around the top of the purse, pastel Homespun for the body–they were thrilled with them!!

  11. I last used eyelash yarn to trim a headscarf that I gave as an exchange gift at our Christmas party.

    I next plan on making a doll shawl for the girls…

  12. I last used it to make an elegant, wide, “fur” collar, tied with black ribbon. It goes with my gray “swing” coat. However, I have more- what to do?

  14. I’ve used the furry type yarns for scarfs and trims on purses and hats for kids. They loved the feel of them.

  16. I just fininshed a 6 1/2′ stole in Phentex Fashion Eight yarn, there’s a picture on my blog. I need more ideas to use up a lot of novelty yarns. Buying from thrift shops there always seems to be some novelty yarn mixed into each bag. At least that’s my excuse. I just can’t resist anything shiny, fuzzy, blue or all of the above. Please help me out here!

  17. For Christmas, I made my daughter a poncho with bright neon colored furry type yarn – she loved it!! Wow is it bright!!

  19. The last thing I used eyelash yarn for was a trimming on a doggie blankie for my chihauhau. When he pasted away last month hubby put it in the casket with him before buring him.

  23. I make little girl capelets with it. The most preferred colors are white, pink, purple, lavender. The last one I made was a deep purple. Love the fact that they wash so well and are not scratchy.

  26. I just finished making a muff that I designed for my granddaughter. The trim and strap are made in eyelash yarn. I will be posting the pattern on my blogspot soon.

  27. The last thing I made with eyelash yarn was a pair of wrist wasrmers. They were sagte Green for my granddaqughter.

Have you read?

Pattern Review: Granny Dots Crochet Bucket Hat Pattern

There is something wonderfully cheerful about a crochet bucket hat, especially when it has that granny-style texture that makes us all say, “Oh yes, I could make that in five colours from my stash.” And let’s be honest, any pattern that lets me justify keeping those half-balls of yarn tucked away in a basket is already off to a strong start.

The Granny Dots Crochet Bucket Hat Pattern is a fun, easy crochet bucket hat pattern worked in colourful granny-style clusters with a simple single crochet brim. It has that lovely retro handmade look without needing to sew together a stack of separate granny squares, which is always a win in my book because joining motifs is where many good intentions go to quietly disappear.

This pattern is written for adult one-size fit and uses medium weight yarn in five colours. It is a great stash-busting crochet project, especially if you have leftover worsted weight yarn from blankets, scarves, or all those “I only bought one skein because it was pretty” moments.

The finished hat has a playful dotted look across the crown and body, then a neat striped brim that gives it a polished finish. I especially like how easily the mood changes depending on the yarn colours. Soft pastels make it sweet and springy, oranges and browns give it a warm autumn feel, and greys and blacks make it look more modern and unisex.

If you love granny-style crochet accessories, you might also like our free Georgie Granny Cluster Bucket Hat over on CraftBits, which has a similar beginner-friendly feel and works well as a companion project for anyone wanting to try more crochet hats. You can also browse our roundup of crochet bucket hat patterns to make this summer if your hat-making mood has officially taken over the craft table.

What I Like About This Crochet Bucket Hat Pattern

The best thing about this pattern is that it gives you the look of granny crochet without becoming overly complicated. The crown begins in the round and builds out using double crochet groups, then continues into the body with repeating granny-style rounds. Once you understand the rhythm, it becomes one of those cosy “just one more round” projects.

The brim is worked in single crochet, which gives the edge a little more structure than the body. I always appreciate that in a crochet bucket hat because a floppy brim can go from cute to “why is this sitting on my eyebrows?” very quickly. You could also gently steam or block the brim if you want a smoother shape, especially if you are making it for photos, gifting, or selling finished hats at markets.

This is marked as an easy crochet pattern, and I think that is fair. It is not a first-ever crochet project, but it would suit a confident beginner who knows how to chain, slip stitch, single crochet, double crochet, work in rounds, and change colour. The colour changes are the only part that require a little attention, but they are also what make the hat so much fun.

For yarn, a medium weight cotton or cotton-blend would be lovely for a summer bucket hat, while acrylic or wool-blend yarn would make it warmer and softer for cooler weather. If you are buying supplies, Mary Maxim is a good place to look for colourful worsted weight yarn, and Amazon is handy for crochet hooks, yarn needles, and blocking supplies if your craft drawer has mysteriously eaten them again.

Colour Ideas For The Granny Dots Bucket Hat

This is where the pattern really shines. Because it uses five colours, you can make it feel completely different each time.

A few combinations I would try:

Soft Pastels: blush pink, mint, lilac, buttercream, and pale blue
Autumn Spice: mustard, rust, olive, cranberry, and camel
Earth & Sky: teal, chocolate, goldenrod, dusty pink, and denim
Modern Neutral: black, charcoal, silver, cream, and soft grey
Cottage Garden: rose, lavender, sage, butter yellow, and robin’s egg blue

This is also a lovely pattern for using up scrap yarn, provided your yarns are all a similar weight. I would avoid mixing very stiff cotton with very soft acrylic in the same hat unless you are prepared for a little shaping drama. Ask me how I know.

Helpful Tips Before You Start

Check your gauge before you begin, especially if you want the adult fit to come out neatly. The pattern gauge is 15 single crochet and 16 rows to 4 inches, and because hats need to fit around an actual head — not just look pretty flat on the table — gauge matters more here than it might on a scarf.

Use stitch markers to mark the beginning of each round. When you are changing colours often, it is very easy to lose track of where a round starts, particularly if you are crocheting while watching television and pretending you are “just doing one more row.”

Weave in ends as you go if you can bear it. Five-colour crochet is gorgeous, but it does come with ends, and future-you will be much happier if you don’t leave them all until the end in one terrifying little yarn nest.

Who This Pattern Is Best For

This crochet bucket hat pattern is a good fit for makers who enjoy colourful crochet accessories, quick wearable projects, and stash-friendly patterns. It would make a great handmade gift for teens and adults, and it has strong market stall potential because you can create several versions in different colour palettes without changing the main pattern.

It is also a nice project for anyone who loves the look of granny squares but does not necessarily want a sewing-up session at the end. The texture gives that familiar granny crochet feel while keeping the construction more straightforward.

You could make one in soft spring colours for a festival look, one in earthy shades for autumn outfits, or one in monochrome greys for someone who insists they “don’t wear colourful things” but still secretly appreciates handmade.

Etsy Listing Note

This is a digital PDF crochet pattern, not a finished hat. The PDF includes the written pattern, materials, abbreviations, gauge notes, colour change guidance, brim instructions, stitch key, mockup inspiration, and colour palette ideas.

For crocheters who enjoy easy crochet hat patterns, granny stitch texture, and colourful stash-busting projects, the Granny Dots Crochet Bucket Hat Pattern is a sweet, wearable make with lots of room for personality. It is cheerful without being fussy, practical without being boring, and exactly the sort of project that makes you start looking at leftover yarn in a whole new way.