crocheted lion mane hat

What do you think of my new digs?   I decided the old blog could use a spruce and decided to get professional help this time.  Kate from Smitten Blog Designs took excellent care of me and I am thrilled with the new look.  Thanks, Kate!

Last night as it was all being installed, I was poking around with things, reorganizing some labels, and editing my archives.  When I first started blogging (all the way back in 2006), I had no idea how to operate a sewing machine.   Instead, I was an avid crocheter.  In fact, my very first post ever was a crocheted bear hat.

I made a lot of animal hats that winter, but only kept one, which I realized is the perfect size for Oscar now.

This lion hat is kind of funny looking, but I love it.  As with all of my animal hats, I just made it up as I went along, so unfortunately there is no pattern to share.  But I will try to explain how I made the curly mane.

Single crochet tends to curl into itself, so I did fingers of single crochet off of a chain stitch.   Basically, you chain stitch however long you want the piece to be, then single crochet a long finger, turn and single crochet back the other direction toward your chain stitches.  Move to the next chain and do it again (repeat, repeat).  The single crochet strands will curl into twisty spirals.  I hope that makes sense to you if you are a crocheter.  There is a reason I've never tried to write down my crochet patterns!  :)

Check out my past posts to see my bear, frog, puppy, hippo, fish, pig, blue tiger (ha!), and monkey hats (but beware of the icky photography).