New Video: Yarn Hopping. *Baha Hopping in Cebu.

Related stories: Buying Yarns in Cebu, Philippines


The things a crocheter would go to just to get her yarn fill. I made this video last December 31, 2018; I realized that I spent the last day of my 2018 haunting for yarns in a stormy weather. I should have an award for this! =)

The video is not so clear but nevertheless, ENJOY! =)

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Looking for crochet hooks, check my shop: shopee.ph/craftynanay.

Little Hats Big Hearts Project: Getting the Right Size Hat With Whatever Yarn Weight or Hook Size

Upcoming Hat-making session: Jan. 26, 2019, Robinson’s Galleria, details >>


For the upcoming anniversary of Cebu Crochet Group, we’re doing the “Little Hats Big Hearts Project.” The project is about making hats for preemie babies to be given to NICU department of hospital.

When I made my first preemie beanie, it was a struggle to get the right size of it especially that I’m only used to making beanies for adults, in which I basically have the estimated number of stitches in my mind.

After a few trials, here’s how I got the beanie / hat sizing right using whatever yarn weight and hook size that are available:

Start with any number of DCs or SCs. Then increase the number of stitches in the succeeding rounds until you get to the desired “DIAMETER” of the hat (not circumference as diameter is easier to measure). Once you reach the right diameter, you maintain the number of stitches or you stop increasing your stitches. Continue crocheting in rounds until you get the right hat length measurement.

This applies to “Basic Top-Down in a Round” crochet hat patterns. Top Down in a Round hats is when you start at the top of the crown, and then in circles (I hope this definition makes sense.)

Materials: Yarn, Hook, Tape Measure / Ruler, Hat Size Chart (see below)

Source: www.petalstopicots.com

Here’s a more detailed steps. Hopefully, this helps than confuse you. =)

1. Start with a Magic Ring. You may start with chains and slip stitch to make a circle. But it’s also great to learn Magic Ring. Once you learn magic ring, you don’t want to go back. =)

2. How many count of single crochet or double crochet should I start with? When you’re used to following a pattern when creating beanie, you’re used to being given a number of DCs or SCs to start with.

But since we’re kind of winging it, you make as many DCs until you get a flat round after a slip-stitch.  For me, I’m lucky starting with 8 or 10 DCs.

10 DCs in this photo

3. In the next round, increase the number of stitches until you get the DIAMETER size (not the circumference) of the preemie hat you want to make.

For this example, I’m doing the smallest preemie hat size.

When increasing the size of a hat, the rule I follow is: multiply the beginning number of stitches with the number of row. For example, I began with 10 DCs so I will multiply it with 2 in the 2nd row, meaning you’ll have 20 DCs in 2nd row. If you had made coasters or any thing round pattern, you’re familiar on how to add the stitches for the increase like 1-2 then 1-1-2, etc.

For those who are not familiar, you can do it by grouping your stitches by the number of row you are in. For example, in Row 3, I group the stitch by 3. So 1 DC in first stitch then 2 DCs in the next stitch. And, when in Row 4, it would be a group of “1DC 1DC 2DC” repeat until the end.

4. Measure the DIAMETER of the circle every now and then. Once you reached the desired diameter size, you can now stop increasing the number of stitches in the following rows. You just then maintain crocheting the number of stitches in the following rows.

In this example, the desired diameter size was met in my 4th row which has 40 DCs. The following rows will then have 40 DCs or stitches.

5. Continue adding rows until you reached the right length size.


The finished product:

OTHER TIPS:
1. If you find your hat stiff, try a bigger hook size to make it stretchier.
2. To add designs to your hat, add different stitch patterns. It’s easier to do different stitch patterns once you’re done increasing. In my example, I add a different stitch pattern on the 6th row. You can check different stitch patterns from mypicot.com.  But no pressure, the best thing is that we’re making something to give warm to the tiny babies.

Ganchillo Artistico 2 at The Outlets at Pueblo Verde, Lapulapu City: Cheers to 2019 (and onwards)!!!

Crochet Installation: “Shapes” and “Earth, Sea and Sky”
Location: The Outlets at Pueblo Verde, MEZ II, Basak, Lapu-Lapu City
Upcoming crochet event: Little Hats Big Hearts Project. Meetup Every Saturday Starting Jan. 12, 2019. More details >>


The 2018 had been exceptionally really good to me, and likewise, I believe that I was also being very good to 2018. Crochet-wise, it was like a tsunami of goodness. And as they say, “time flies when you’re having fun;” I felt like it left in me in a speed of light.

And, just like that, here comes 2019. Is it just me or is it everyone’s general feeling to have that certain (self-imposed) pressure to be better than last year? And, with the awesomeness of 2018, it feels it’s so hard to exceed it. The last weeks of December 2018 got me feeling a bit lethargic from the uncertainty from my made-up pressure that I should do better in 2019 that I kind of just want to freeze in a corner, and just watch the world pass by.

But those feeling of uncertainty dissolved going to the first yarn-bombing activity of 2019 with some members of the Cebu Crochet Group at The Outlets at Pueblo Verde in Lapu-lapu City. When you’re surrounded with well-meaning talented creative hardworking (and all the positive adjectives) people, it’s like a confirmation that everything is going to be alright this 2019 and onwards.

It’s hard to put into words that all-positive feeling when you’re surrounded with people who are all just pushing for the best, not minding the limitations or who gets the credits. It’s just all about how our creation would hopefully lighten up another someone’s day.

Seeing the final work after putting it up, it’s WOWWWW!!! We do love our own work because it’s the greatest love of all!

After a year since Cebu Crochet Group was created,I don’t want to say that we’ve come a long way because it would feel that we’re done. Instead, I want to say that we just started. =)

So personally (and also on behalf of the Cebu Crochet Group), I’m grateful to The Outlets at Pueblo Verde / AboitizLand for this yet another chance for the group to work on a crochet installation. It’s such a great and inspiring way to start our 2019!

To whoever who will come across the crochet installation in The Outlets at Pueblo Verde, we hope that it will cheer you up this 2019 and onwards, just how it cheers us up!

CHEERS to another year of growing, or simply of being a sunshine to others and most of all to ourselves! =)

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Other Photos:

Also, big thanks to all the ABLE staff and security staff of The Outlets at Pueblo Verde for helping us during the installation.

Photo credits: Sarah Palmares, Judith Cimafranca, Angel Mangapis