6DKB Popsicle Effect Hat
Concept by Jeana Lynn Roberson, Pattern developed by Betty McKnit
Sizes – S, M, L (see chart)
Yarn: DK weight (3), Worsted (4), or Super Bulky (5)
Yardage will vary depending on weight of yarn and size, very small amounts of each color are needed. (I used Vanna’s Choice and made all four hats shown and in this pattern and had yarn left over).
Hook: choose hook appropriate to your yarn, hook one or two sizes smaller for brim.
For this hat we are using color to create a 3D effect known in the 6-Day Kid Blanket Group as the “Popsicle Effect.” This effect was created and coined by Jeana Lynn Roberson. She uses a “color smear” technique to make the textured rows of crochet POP.
You will need five colors of yarn ranging in tone from white to very dark. Suggested sequence of white, off-white, light grey, dark grey, and then a darker color of your choice. You can use another sequence if you like, but the most important part of this technique is that Color A and B are very highly contrasted since that is what creates the “pop” effect, and then the tone of the remaining three colors graduates from dark to light.
If you aren’t sure if your chosen colors contrast well, take a photo of your yarn choices and convert the photo to black and white (reduce saturation to 0) using a photo editor. If your yarn graduates from light to dark, then your colors should work fine. If any of them look like the same color of grey, you may not get as dramatic of an effect.
Suggested Colors:
Color A: White (Shown: Vanna’s Choice #100 – White)
Color B: Something with a deeper tone than the dark grey. (Shown: Vanna’s Choice #118 Midnight Blue, # 148 Burgundy, #147 Purple, #176 Peacock)
Color C: Dark Grey (Shown: Vanna’s Choice #151 – Charcoal Grey)
Color D: Light Grey (Shown: Vanna’s Choice # 149 – Silver Grey)
Color E: Off-White (Shown: Vanna’s Choice #099 – Linen)
Abbreviations:
ch: chain
BLO: back loop only
dc: double crochet
dc2tog: Work dc2tog into one stitch (like a cluster)- not over three stitches (as you would a decrease) [yarn over, pull up a loop, pull through two loops] twice in the same st/sp. Yarn over, and pull through all loops on the hook (the stitches you just made and the chain). Be sure to pull up your loop in the same st/sp every time. dc2tog complete.
dc3tog: Work dc3tog into one stitch (like a cluster)- not over three stitches (as you would a decrease)
[yarn over, pull up a loop, pull through two loops] 3 times in the same st/sp. Yarn over, and pull through all 4 loops on the hook. (Be sure to pull up your loop in the same st/sp every time.) dc3tog complete.
rep: repeat
sc: single crochet
sdc: standing double crochet
sk: skip
sp(s): space(s)
st(s): stitch(es)
For Size S, start with Color D. For M and L start with Color A
Foundation Chain: 50 (68, 85)
(for fsc start, do not add or subtract sts)
Taking care not to twist, Join in the round w sl st into 1st ch made.
Round 1 (Color D for size S, Color A for sizes M and L): (RS) ch 1, sc in same sp, sc around, sl st into first sc.
For size S skip to Round 5 and complete the hat from there.
Round 2 (Color A): sl st in next 2 st, ch 2, dc2tog in same st. *sk next 2 sc, 3dc into next sc, sk next 2 sc, [3dc, ch 3, 3 dc] in next st, sk 2, 3 dc into next st, sk 2, dc3tog, sk next 4 sc, dc3tog, repeat from * around, sl st into top of dc2tog at beginning of round. Fasten off.
Round 3 (Color B): working into sp between dc2tog and 3 dc, dc3tog. 3 dc into next sp
[3dc, ch3, 3dc] into next ch-3 sp *3 dc into next sp, dc3tog into next sp
sk next sp, dc3tog into next sp, 3 dc into next sp, [3dc, ch3, 3dc] into next ch- 3 sp
rep from * around, sl st into top of dc3tog. Fasten off.
Round 4 (Color C): With new color sc in same sp, 1 sc into each of next 6 dc
*3 sc into next ch 3 sp, 1 sc into each of next 14 sts
repeat from * to end. sl st into sc at beginning of round. Fasten off.
Round 5 (Color D): sdc into next st, 1 dc into each of next 6 sts *3 dc into next st, dc into each of next 7 sc, sk next 2 sc, 1 dc into each of next 7 sc
rep from * around, sl st into top of first dc of the round. Fasten off.
Round 6 (Color E): sdc in next st, ch 3, dc into each of next 6 dc
*3 dc into next dc, dc into each of next 7 dc, sk next 2 dc, 1 dc into each of next 7 dc
rep from * to end. Sl st into top of first dc of the round. Fasten off.
Round 7 (Color A): Ch 1, sc in same sp, sc around, sl st into first sc of round.
Round 8 (Color A): sl st in next 2 st, ch 2, dc2tog in same st. *sk next 2 sc, 3dc into next sc, sk next 2 sc, [3dc, ch 3, 3 dc] in next st, sk 2, 3 dc into next st, sk 2, dc3tog, sk next 4 sc, dc3tog, repeat from * around, sl st into top of dc2tog at beginning of round. Fasten off.
Round 9 (Color B): working into sp between dc2tog and 3 dc, dc3tog. 3 dc into next sp
[3dc, ch3, 3dc] into next ch-3 sp *3 dc into next sp, dc3tog into next sp
sk next sp, dc3tog into next sp, 3 dc into next sp, [3dc, ch3, 3dc] into next ch- 3 sp
rep from * around, sl st into top of dc3tog. Fasten off.
Round 10 (Color C): With new color sc in same sp, 1 sc into each of next 6 dc
*3 sc into next ch 3 sp, 1 sc into each of next 14 sts
repeat from * to end. sl st into sc at beginning of round.
For size L, or if your hat needs more length, you can repeat rounds 5-7 here in colors D, E, and A. Measure from the tip of one of the points at the start (this will be the top of the hat) and draw a line between points at the bottom and measure to that point (you will be squaring off the bottom). Remember your brim will add an additional 1.5” (2.5”, 4”)
SQUARE OFF
For the next three rounds, continue in the established color sequence of D, E, A, or if you repeated rows 5-7, use A for the following 3 rounds.
Round 11 (Color D, or A): sdc, 2 dc * 3hdc, sc, sl st, sc, 3 hdc, 3 dc, sk 2, 3dc, repeat from * to end, sl st in top of sdc. If using color D, fasten off.
Round 12 (Color E, or A): sdc, dc, *3 hdc, sc, sl st, sc, 3 hdc, 2 dc, sk 2, 2 dc, repeat from * to end, sl st in top of sdc. If using Color E, fasten off.
Round 13 (Color A): sdc, 2 hdc, *7 sc, 6 hdc, repeat from * to last 3 sts, 3 hdc, sl st into top of sdc. Fasten off.
Round 14: (Color B): sc around. Sl st to first sc.
BRIM
Color B: using a hook one or two sizes smaller if you would like a tighter circumference for your rim, work ribbing onto the bottom of the hat as follows. You will be working perpendicular to the bottom edge of the work.
Ch 10 (if you want a longer or shorter brim, you can adjust this number)
Turn
Brim Row 1: sk 1, 9 sc. Working into the edge of the hat, sl st in the next two sts
Turn
Brim Row 2: Sk 2 sl sts, sc back across the brim, working into the BLO.
Turn
Brim Row 3: ch 1, sc to end working into the BLO.
Repeat Brim Row 2 and 3 until the brim reaches the end of the last hat row. Seam the ends of the brim together.
Close the top of the hat by bringing the points of the peaks together in the center and seamimg the slanted sides to one another where they meet.
Add a pom pom (or not).
Weave in all ends.
This pattern is the intellectual property of Jeana Roberson and Betty McKnit/Beth Elliott, and it is protected by copyright. Publishing corrections, translations, written or video tutorials, or variations of this pattern, online or elsewhere, without written permission from the owner is a violation of copyright.
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