STRIPES ARE US!

Mourning stripes..

Early last week, in the very early hours of the day, whilst attempting to update my website, my laptop expired.

Various attempts at revival failed dismally with the annoying beeping sounds bellowing from the black screen.

With despair and disbelief, I reluctantly accepted the inevitable - a trip to the local "fix it" place.  A mere two hours later and the bad news hailed - the motherboard - "she is kaput" - and considering the age of the laptop (44 months) plus the cost of labour, advice was that I be better to replace it with a new laptop!

Basically I was NOT happy! 

All my docs where retrieved and downloaded onto my external hard drive and 24hrs later I took possession of the remains.

To console myself, what else could I do but crochet, and inbetween I had to spend time getting up to speed with my husband's laptop, with all it's bells and whistles, and Windows 7.  Nothing like getting taken out of my comfort zone, having to download software I had become dependent on and familiar with, and having to share a laptop. OMG !

Simple pleasures!

So with all the technological stuff going on I really needed an escape into a  simple creative project and I found myself creating a simple stripes pattern which can be used in a number of ways.

Firstly, I will introduce you to the Crochet Hat "Simple Stripes" 

It is the perfect sun hat - bucket style with alternating colours and varying stripe widths. Absolutely simple and all you need is a knowledge of colour change.

PATTERN DETAILS:
Basic stitches are single, half double and reverse crochet.  
YARN:  King Cole "Bamboo Cotton" 
HOOK: 4.5mm 

SIZE:  The hat will fit 45.5cm (18in) to 50.8cm (20in) head circumference.  
TERMINOLOGY: Pattern is written in US crochet terms.

Included is the "Flower Brooch" pattern and an adjustable drawstring for the perfect fit.  
This pattern can be adapted to other yarns.

Secondly, is the Crochet Hat "Persimmon Stripes"

A simple crochet hat pattern with a turn-up brim and Perfect Heart Brooch and featuring the alternating colours and varying stripe widths.

PATTERN DETAILS:
YARN: Rowan "Belle Organic DK"
HOOK: 4.5mm
SIZES: The hat will fit 44.5cm (17.5in) to 48cm (19in) head circumference.
TERMINOLOGY: Pattern is written in US crochet terms.

Included is the "Perfect Heart Brooch" pattern.
This pattern can be adapted to other yarns.

Thirdly,  to cater for the little boys in our lives Crochet Hat "Bucket Stripes"

It is the brother of Crochet Hat "Simple Stripes" -  the perfect bucket sun hat for your little man, with alternating colours and varying stripe widths.

PATTERN DETAILS:

YARN: Bendigo Cotton 8ply
HOOK: 4.5mm
TERMINLOGY: Pattern is written in US crochet terms.

Included is a "Starfish Motif" pattern and an adjustable drawstring for the perfect fit.

This pattern can be adapted to other yarns.

Optimism reins!

So, there you have it... whilst one door had closed (laptop dying), another door had opened (a flurry of crochet hat patterns) now on with the not so interesting stuff, proof-reading the pattern and checking, checking, and re-checking. Ho Hum!

Ciao! Ciao!