Crafting for the Holidays

Thinking about Christmas and the holidays season in July is not unusual for many crafters. I knit and crochet all year round, but I like to start early when it comes to creating holiday gifts. This usually entails deciding on several patterns and then getting my necessary supplies. Plus, I always wait for yarn sales.

Hats are always popular so I make dozens of them each year. I look for updated and trendier patterns to keep up with styles. Sometimes I find attractive patterns on Etsy or right off a craft blog. I recently found a Bead Stitch crocheted hat pattern and I’m smitten. It’s gorgeous and very easy to make.

Bead Stitch Crocheted Hat

A craft blogger created the Bead Stitch hat pattern and I’ve been making them at record speed. The pattern calls for worsted weight yarn and a 5.5 mm hook.

There is a special bead stitch to create this hat and craft blogger Erica created a video tutorial to assist you. Swing by and check it out HERE.

You can make the hat with a single color or amp it up with variegated. In the above hat, I did the bead stitch in a pastel cotton yarn. As long as you get the same tension, you can substitute your yarns. I personally love this look.

Using a contrasting color for the bead stitch is a great way to use up smaller balls of yarn that couldn’t otherwise be used in a project. I put a big fluffy pom-pom on all the hats as that seems to be the trend.

There are several places where you can find faux fur pom-poms. I bought several packages of more neutral colors from AliExpress. Depending on which supplier in AliExpress, you can get a dozen faux fur pom-poms for around $5 US. The only drawback from ordering from AliExpress is that it can take up to 60 days to arrive. I had some packages that never arrived and it’s a bit of a struggle to get your money refunded. Plus, some of the pom-poms did not have the elastic attachment. I’ve reached out to get them replaced, but no one is responding to my requests. But that being said, most of my packages arrived within 2 weeks.

The other place is, of course, Amazon. I bought a 12 pk of multi-colors. They cost a little more, but my order was fulfilled by Amazon, so I got it within a week. You have to shop around for deals and be willing to wait a few months for your product.

If you’re on the hunt for a smart-looking hat pattern, then this pattern might be what you are looking for. It’s free thanks to Erica from 5 Little Monsters.

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