Expert: Patricia - 2/8/2010

Question
Hi Patricia,

I have a query relating to the Olivia's butterfly crochet hat:

http://vallieskids.blogspot.com/2009/06/olivias-butterfly.html

I have to thank you firstly for the advice you gave on this gorgeous hat previously. Being an absolute beginner at crochet and my this being my first project (it was too gorgeous to resist and all the comments said it was very easy) it was like a gold mine when I stumbled across your answer.

Anyway I have successfully completed the hat apart from the last row. No matter what I do my stitch in the middle of the butterfly does not seem to look like any of the pictures I have seen on the net of this hat. So even although you have written the last row is self explanatory would it be possible to have a bit more direction on the butterfly part?

Thank you in advance.

Amanda

Answer
Hi Amanda,
You are most welcome.  I hope I can help you again.

Row 13:  You'll be crocheting 21 single crochets into the doubles of Row 12.
When you get to the "butterfly part" where you were making long loops of chain 10, chain 5.
Now reach way up with your hook, over the three previous chain 10 loops, and make a single crochet into the middle stitch of that 9 stitch area on row 9.  Make that single crochet very loose.  It will be encircling those three chain 10 loops, like a little belt. That belt is about 3/4" I guess. Then continue with another chain 5 and pick up on the other side of the "butterfly" to finish the single crochets all around the rest of the hat.

I've reread my instructions and I hope you understand what I'm trying to tell you.  If not, please let me know and I'll be happy to approach it from a different angle perhaps.

-Patricia