AboutMarla Expertise I have crocheted many doilies, I enjoy working with crochet thread. I have crocheted numerous afghans. But I have little to no experience in hairpin lace, or the afghan stitch. If you have a question pertaining to a pattern in a magazine, book or leaflet, please include the name and # of it, and the page or pattern #. There is a slight possibility I may have that pattern, and can refer to it. Although I have crocheted sweaters and slippers,I don't feel I have done enough of them to really give good advice as to assembling the pieces, but can give advice on the type of stitches.
Experience I have been a crocheter for almost 30 years.
Question QUESTION: The pattern is from michaels.com project # 25280a. It is called Crocheted Hooded "bear" Baby Blanket. I've already crocheted the blanket part and am working on the hood but it seems to me that its coming out way to small and oddly shaped and not big enough for the bear muzzle to go on it. I've done it twice and its come out exactly the same each time...an uneven triangle. Not sure if I'm doing it right or not. I am making this for my brothers first baby and would GREATLY appreciate some help! thank you
ANSWER: Hi Shannon!
I am back. Thanks for waiting. I tried a couple of different ways to try this pattern, and this is the conclusion I came up with, which may or may not be correct. See if this looks better to you. The first and second rows, crochet as instructed. But the third row, when you go to decrease near the end, instead of dc to the last 3 sts, you crochet to the last 4 stitches (counting the turning chain). Then you decrease over the two sts as instructed, and then trc in the next stitch. You ignore the next st (the turning chain) then turn and ch 3 and proceed as in the 2nd row. So you are,in a sense, decreasing 2 stitches on one row (the third row), and decreasing one stitch on the second row. In the end, the triangle looks more even than the other way, and two sides are pretty close to the same length. If this still doesn’t look right to you, there is another way you can start at the point of the hood and increase the sides so that the width of the hood can be any size you want. Now, I didn't pay attention to my gauge. I was just trying to see if the shape turns out right. Let me know how it goes for you. good luck!
Marla
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QUESTION: Thank you for your advice! I actually googled a different hooded blanket pattern ("hooded baby blanket" pattern #: cpl-bafg off of www.lionbrand.com) and took the hood from that blanket. It was very easy. It does what you said by starting at the point and increasing. So I got the hood finished and tried to attach it to the blanket and realized the blanket was a rectangle and it needed to be a square to have a hood and correctly wrap around a baby. so I am now copying the blanket part from the same pattern I took the hood from. The only thing I am keeping from the original pattern is the bear muzzle and the ears and the colors of yarn. I'm working on the blanket right now so i hope it works! Thank you for your time!!
Answer Hi Shannon!
Glad to help. Most patterns tell you what the dimensions are, which is helpful. I don't think this one did, did it? They give the gauge, but then you have to figure out the dimensions from that. Yes, starting the hood from the point is the better way to go, so you can make the hood the size you want, and fit the muzzle to that. Sometimes the patterns I have started were so frustrating I just did my own version and was satisfied. I'm glad you found a better pattern. It really is a cute bear. Good luck! I know it will turn out beautiful.
