RUDE BOY CAP
However you wear it, you’ll certainly catch some eyes with this colourful hat. By Matthew Spiers.
YOU WILL NEED
■ Patons Fab DK (100% acrylic, 100g/274m), 1 ball of Fruity (02324)
■ A 3.5mm (US E/4) hook
■ 1mm aluminium craft wire, approx
3m (1 yds)
■ ▼ire cutting pliers
For yarn stockists contact Wool Warehouse 01926 882818 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk MEASUREMENTS
Circumference (not including stretch) at base is approx 56cm (22in); depth 14cm (5 in)
ABBREVIATIONS
For a full list, see page 92 This cap has been designed in a cycling hat style, which you can wear at a jaunty angle and is shallower than most sorts of baseball caps. As the peak contains wire it can be moulded into your preferred style: curve it upwards for a cycling hat, straighten it flat, or just give it a slight arch for a normal cap look.
NOTES
The main part of the Cap is worked using the amigurumi method. Work in a continuous spiral without closing off each round with a slip stitch. You may find it helpful to place a marker in the first st of each round and move it up as you work. The pattern has been split into three sections to make it easy to keep track of where you are in the design, but the Cap as a whole is made in one piece.
For a more classic baseball cap style simply increase your hook size to 4.5mm and add extra rows as indicated after Row 28. To avoid any sharp edges at start and end of wire, wrap duct tape around ends before crocheting over it.
When you turn the wire at the end of each row on the Peak, you can give the wire a pinch with the pliers, which should help it stay in place a bit better.
If, at the end, there are still parts of wire visible at the edges of the Peak, cut a length of yarn and sew cross stitches over the visible wire – this will not only help conceal them, but will also keep the wire in place.
CAP
CROWN
Ch2.
Round 1 6dc in second ch from hook.
[6 sts]
Round 2 2dc in each st around. [12 sts]
Round 3 (1dc, 2dc in next st) 6 times.
[18 sts]
Round 4 (2dc, 2dc in next st) 6 times. [24 sts]
Round 5 (3dc, 2dc in next st) 6 times. [30 sts]
Rounds 6-16 Continue in same fashion, increasing by 6 sts evenly each round until there are 96 sts.
Rounds 17-28 Dc in each st around, do not fasten off after Round 28.
For a more classic baseball cap style, repeat Round 28 two times more.
PEAK
Row 29 Working in front loops only: ch1 (does not count as st throughout), ss in next 3 sts, ch1, dc in same st, (from this point start working over wire, once you have done the next st twist wire end around itself so it is attached to work), dc in next 9 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 10 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 10 sts, turn. [34 sts]
Stretch out the stitches just made so wire and crochet sit naturally and aren’t bunched up. At the end of each row bend wire towards underside of Peak so it is ready to be worked over on next row. As you progress remember to stretch work at end of each row. You may get your wire turns sticking out a bit, try to keep this to a minimum but you will cover over these on the last row.
Rows 30-32 Ch1, dc in first st, dc2tog, dc in next 8 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 10 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 8 sts, dc2tog, dc in last st, turn. [34 sts]
Row 33 Ch1, dc in first st, skip next st, dc2tog, dc in next 7 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 10 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 7 sts, dc2tog, skip next st, dc in last st, turn. [32 sts]
Rows 34-36 Ch1, dc in first st, dc2tog, dc in next 8 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 8 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 8 sts, dc2tog, dc in last st, turn. [32 sts]
Row 37 Ch1, dc in first st, skip next st, dc2tog, dc in next 7 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 8 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 7 sts, dc2tog, skip next st, dc in last st, turn. [30 sts]
Rows 38-40 Ch1, dc in first st, dc2tog, dc in next 7 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 8 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 7 sts, dc2tog, dc in last st, turn. [30 sts]
Row 41 Ch1, dc in first st, skip next st, dc2tog, dc in next 6 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 8 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 6 sts, dc2tog, skip next st, dc in last st, turn. [28 sts]
Row 42 Ch1, dc in first st, dc2tog, dc in
next 6 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 8 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 6 sts, dc2tog, dc in last st, turn. [28 sts]
EDGING ROW
Work your edging stitches over any exposed bits of wire to cover them and hold them in place.
Row 43 Repeat Row 42 but do not turn at end, cut wire leaving 3cm at end and work over the end with the following sts; working into row ends, 3dc in next st, dc in next 12 sts, dc in next available st of Row 16 of Crown and in next 63 sts around (when you get to the last 3 sts dc into same place as ss from Row 17), working evenly up unworked side of Peak, dc in next 12 sts, 3dc in next st, ss to join.
Fasten off and weave in ends.