Snowflake Hat

Since our temperature has been roaming about the 15 degrees area for the past month,

I decided that my little girl needed a warm hat to wear outside.

I started searching around Pinterest and I found this.
Original Snowflake Hat Pattern

I decided that this would be the perfect hat for me to make.

I grabbed my yarn and crochet hook and started.

 I discovered that there were a few things in the pattern that I didn't want.

I was looking at the picture she had on her blog as well as the pattern.

A few things didn't add up.

The hat wouldn't turn out like the picture, so I modified it.

I am in no way taking credit for this pattern.

There are very few modifications and Simply Sweet deserves all the credit.

After all, it was her pattern to start off with.

Here is how it turned out.

 

 Here is my little model!

She doesn't like having it on unless her jacket is on too.

Here is a better view of the whole hat.    

This is my modified pattern:

Snowflake Hat Crochet Pattern

This should fit a 19-21" head, probably 12-24 months.

Hook - H
Yarn - ww (#4) - I used Red Heart red and white.

R1: hdc 10 into magic circle – join with slip stitch
R2: HDC into first hdc *2 HDC in each hdc* all the way around (20 HDC)
R3: HDC into first hdc from previous round *1 HDC, 2 HDC in next hdc* around (30 HDC)
R4: HDC into first hdc from previous round *1 HDC in next 2, 2 HDC in next hdc* around (40HDC)

R5: HDC into first hdc from previous round *1 HDC in next 3 hdc, 2 HDC in next hdc* around (50HDC)

R6: HDC into first hdc from previous round *1 HDC in next 4 hdc, 2 HDC in next hdc* around (60HDC)
R7-10: HDC around (in red)
*Change Color*
R10-11: HDC around (in white)

*Change Color*
R12: HDC around (in red)
*change color*
R13: HDC around (in white)

*Change Color*
R14-15: HDC around (in red)

Earflaps instructions were found at (http://amray1976.blogspot.com/2011/10/crochet-earflap-hat.html):

For the first ear flap, continue from the last stitch on R15.

sc in next 9 stitches.

(Follow directions below for both ear flaps):

ch 1. hdc in next 14 stitches, turn. -14 sts

ch 1. hdc2tog, hdc in the next 9 stitches. hdc2tog. hdc in the last st., turn. -12 sts

ch 1. hdc2tog, hdc in next 7 stitches. hdc2tog. hdc in last st., turn. -10 sts

ch 1. hdc in each stitch across, turn. -10 sts

ch 1. hdc2tog, hdc in the next 5 stitches. hdc2tog. hdc in the last st., turn. -8 sts

ch 1. hdc in each stitch across, turn -8 sts
ch 1. hdc2tog, hdc in the next 3, hdc2tog. hdc in the last st., turn -6 sts
ch 1. hdc2tog, hdc in next 1, hdc2tog. hdc in the last st., turn. -4sts
ch 1. hdc in each stitch across, pull through and fasten off. -4 sts

2nd flap, (make sure that there are 16 stitches in between each earflap) fold hat in half and sl st in hdc directly across from the last hdc from the other ear flap.

sc around hat in red
sc around hat in white

Snowflake -(still using a h hook)
12 sc in magic circle, sl st into first sc to join
*ch3, skip 1 sc, sc in next sc* - around until you have 6 loops
in all 6 loops - *2sc, ch3, 2sc*
ch3, then in the ch3 from before, *1sc, ch3, 1sc, ch5, 1sc, ch3, 1sc ch3* repeat in each ch3 until 6 have been done.

Attach snowflake to hat.

You can attach it to a clip or you can sew it on.

Create candy-striped strands.

I did a 4 strand braid so that it would be striped.

Start out your braid with your yarn like this:

Make sure that you braid matching colors twice, before switching to next color.

Braid white on the left, then white on the right.

Braid red on the left, then red on the right.

That will create the striped effect on the braid.

Repeat until braid is the length that you want.

Add pom pom to end of braid (optional).

Martinelli's Jello "Shots"

Hello everyone!

I hope that you had a fabulous Christmas and New Year!

I want to share with you one of my favorite New Years Eve recipes.

It is called Cava Gelatin.

I saw Dave Lieberman make it on the Food Network.

The episode is called Elegant Dinner Party.

I have made it three times now.

It is very easy and super fancy!

This is what you will need:

Here is the recipe.

•  1/2 cup ultrafine sugar
• You can find it in your baking section of the grocery store
• 1 1/2 cup boiling water
• 2 packages unflavored gelatin (Knox brand is recommended)
• You can find it in your jello section at the grocery store.
• 2 bottles of Martinelli's Spraking Cider
• 1 package of raspberries (optional)

Directions:

1. Place sugar in a bowl.
2. Cover with boiling water and whisk until sugar has dissolved.

     -This is why you use ultrafine sugar. It has smaller granules and will dissolve quickly.

 

 3. Sprinkle gelatin over the solution and whisk lightly to incorporate.

 You can see the different color.

There was already gelatin sticking to my wisk and settling at the bottom of the bowl.

4. Let gelatin mixture cool to room temperature.

    -It took 30 minutes for my mixture to cool to room temp.

5. Pour gelatin mixture into a large pitcher.

6. Pour 2 cups of Martinelli's into a glass.

   -This will not be used in the recipe. So drink it while you're making this. :)

7. Pour the rest of the Martinelli's, on an angle, into the pitcher.

  -You want to hold the pitcher at an angle while you pour the Martinelli's slowly into pitcher.

  -This will minimize the amount of foam that you will have at the top of your mixture.

  - You will still have some foam, but you want to save the carbonation for your jello.

8. Stir gently with the whisk.

   -If you stir too vigorously, it will reduce the amount of carbonation. Stir gently!

9. At an angle, pour into wine glasses or plastic cups.

   -I poured my mixture into 10 - 9 oz. clear plastic cups.

   -You can see in the picture that I wasn't able to fill them to the top.

 

10. Put into refrigerator immediately.

11. Refrigerate until set.

   -The recipe says for at least 2 hours. It took 3 hours for mine to set.

12. Garnish with raspberries.

   -They were out of season so I did not do that.

13. Grab a spoon and enjoy!

 

When this sets in the fridge, bubbles form in the jello, it looks really cool.

When you take a bite out of this, you will be surprised!

It still tastes carbonated and it is fabulous!

If you try it out, let me know.

I'd love to hear how it worked out for you.

Happy 2013!!