Thursday, 18 July 2013

AGE UK ~ Innocent Smoothie Hats

The Big Knit 2013




 
For the past 10 years Big Knit supporters have knitted and donated millions of little woolly hats for innocent smoothies, with money from every bottle sold going towards supporting older people during the cold winter months.
 
This year's Big Knit marks the tenth anniversary of the campaign. Knitters from across the land are sending their hats (until October), they will be put onto bottles and sent out to stores.  They're available to buy in stores across the country in November, and for every hatted bottle sold, 25p is donated to Age UK.

Here are some of my creations so far ~



 


striped bobble hats
 
bobble hats with pompoms

'Fair Isle' knitted hats
 
striped hats with top knots

 
Hats may be crocheted too!
 
ski hats with pompoms
 
baseball caps
 
brimmed hats
 
 It's lots of fun ~ and for such a great cause !
 
 
 
 

I am thrilled that 2 of  my designs are included on Jo's Big Knit Web-site

http://www.thebigknit.devonartist.co.uk/Crochet.html

Knitted Hats ~ All Hats use DK yarn and  4mm needles
Basic Bobble Hat
Cast on 28sts. Knit 2 rows.
Continue in stocking stitch ( one row knit, one row purl) for 12 more rows.
Knit 2 together  all across next row.  Purl 2 together across next row.  7sts
Cut off yarn, leaving a tail to use for sewing up.
Thread this tail on to a sewing needle, run it through the remaining 7sts. Remove the knitting needle.
Pull the tail tightly to gather up the stitches. Secure with a stitch and join up the side seam.
Add a little pompom if desired.

I make the pompoms using the fork method ~ it makes cute little bobbles just exactly the right size for these little hats. 
There is a good tutorial at http://www.molliemakes.com/projects/how-to-make-tiny-pom-poms/
 

Striped Bobble Hat
Make in the same way as for the basic bobble hat.  Use 2 or more colours in any combination of stripes.
2 or 3 colours in two row stripes looks good.  Make a few then experiment !

‘Fair Isle’  Hats
Make in the same way as for the basic bobble hat using colour change yarn.

Hats with a Top Knot
Make in the same way as for the basic bobble hat until you have 7sts.
Knit 2 tog,  knit 3 tog, knit 2 together .  3sts
Knit 20 rows on these 3sts.  Cast off.  Sew up the side seam.  Tie the top in a knot.


http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/innocent-smoothie---age-uk---striped-hats



Crocheted  Hats ~ All Hats use DK yarn and  a 3.5mm hook
These patterns are written using UK crochet terminology, and are crocheted using joined rounds.


Basic Bobble Hat

Chain 3, join with a slip stitch into a ring
Round 1: ch2, make 10tc into ring, slip stitch to join (11sts)
Round 2: ch2, 1tc into same stitch, 2tc into every stitch to end, slip stitch to join (22sts)
Round 3: ch2, 1tc into each stitch, slip stitch to join (22sts)
Work a further 2 rounds the same as round 3.  Fasten off.


I think it looks good to make the last round in a contrasting colour & add a matching pompom. (See link above for making a fork pompom.)

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/innocent-smoothie---age-uk---basic-crochet-hat
                                                                                                                                                  


Baseball  Hat

Chain 3, join with a slip stitch into a ring
Round 1: ch2, make 10tc into ring, slip stitch to join (11sts)
Round 2: ch2, 1tc into same stitch, 2tc into every stitch to end, slip stitch to join (22sts)
Round 3: ch2, 1tc into each stitch, slip stitch to join (22sts)
Work a further 1 round the same as round 3
For the brim   ~    I like to use a contrasting colour  - usually white    

ch2,  1tc into same stitch, 1tc into next 4stitches, 2tc into next stitch  (8sts).  Fasten off. 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/innocent-smoothie---age-uk---baseball-hat 



Brimmed  Hat

Chain 3, join with a slip stitch into a ring
Round 1: ch2, make 10tc into ring, slip stitch to join (11sts)
Round 2: ch2, 1tc into same stitch, 2tc into every stitch to end, slip stitch to join (22sts)
Round 3: ch2, 1tc into each stitch, slip stitch to join (22sts)
Round 4: ch2, 1tc into each stitch, slip stitch to join   

Round 5: ch2, 1tc into same stitch,  2tc into every stitch to end, slip stitch to join (44sts). Fasten off.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/innocent-smoothie---age-uk---brimmed-hat


 
 UPDATE - March 2014
You will find my new designs for crochet hats at ~
 
 
 
 

19 comments:

  1. What an interesting idea for charity. I'm glad you showed a photo because I didn't know what an Innocent Smoothie was. We have similar products here but not that brand. You've done such a nice job with the hats, and so many of them!

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  2. What a fantastic selection Marianna and what a great way to use up your scraps :)

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  3. Wow, you really helped for a whole LOT of contribution...they look SO cute.

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  4. I love the hats, particularly the Fair Isle ones, and the new styles. My daughter is very good at pestering me to buy them whenever we see the hats in our local shop, but then the decision on which one is always very tricky.

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  5. Thank you all for your lovely comments. I love helping with this each year.

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  6. What a fabulous fundraising idea :) and for an excellent cause! Thank you for linking up at the "Link & Share Wednesdays" party - Rhondda

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  7. I love your little hats. The baseball hats and the little old-lady hats are awesome! I forgot all about the innocent smoothie hats. Note to self for next year. Thanx for sharing

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  8. Hi Marianna :) Your lovely project was featured on Link & Share Wednesdays as one of the most clicked projects :) Congrats!
    Rhondda
    Here is the link to the post: http://oombawka.blogspot.ca/2013/08/link-share-wednesdays-sowhats-on-your.html

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    1. It is so much fun to be featured!! Thank you for hosting such a great link party.
      You made my day!

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  9. thanks for the crochet pattern! love the baseball caps.

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  10. Those caps are cute!! Especially, the base ball ones are great!!

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  11. Thank you so much for sharing your little hats and the patterns! I will feature your post on my Facebook page, I love this campaign!

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    1. Thank You Barbara. I would be delighted if you would do that!. It's great fun and for such a great outcome. :)

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  12. Hi There, A friend told me about your blog and your hat patterns. You may have come across my site for Innocent Smoothies hats - http://www.thebigknit.devonartist.co.uk/index.html
    I have created a page of links to crochet patterns for hats and hope you don't mind but I've added a link to your pattern. People are often asking for crochet patterns and I'm gradually collating all those I can find. Let me know what you think. Jo

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    1. Hello Jo. I would be delighted if you added my link to your website.
      I make hats every year - it is such a great idea - for a really great cause.
      Thank you, and good luck for your project. Best wishes. M

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    2. Just done it - if you have any more crochet / knitting patterns you would like to share - let me know! Always open to new ideas and trying to grow the website so we've all got lots of different knitting ideas. Just finished a set of Pudsey Bear hats - the bandages nearly drove me cross eyed! Many Thanks Jo

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    3. I just had a look at your website Jo - your Pudsey Bear Hats are awesome!

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    4. Jo - I tried to e-mail you but had no success! I have added a few new crochet designs.

      http://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/age-uk-innocent-smoothie-hats-crochet.html

      If you like them then please feel free to add them to your site. It's a great site. A real 'go to' for patterns.
      Thank you so much. Marianna

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    5. A friend just emailed me to say you had uploaded some new hat patterns - sorry your email didn't come through but at least I know now! My address is jo@devonartist.co.uk I'll work on the new patterns now (they are lovely) - Thank You

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