A little while ago, I got an email from Age UK about innocent big knit 2013. Now, I CANNOT knit. I’ve tried. When I was little, my grandma (an excellent knitter), tired to teach me. I suck at it. I recently had another go. It didn’t go well. There are now photos as evidence, as well, not even the cat wanted to play with what I’d managed to create. Anyway.. Back to the big knit! basically, you knit litlle hats for innocent smoothies. In the winter, the little smoothie bottles where hats to keep warm (they’re kept in the fridge, poor things) and everyone which gets sold with a hat means Age UK get 25p. Now.. I like smoothies. Particularly innocent, who use a portion of their profit for charity and general good deeds, and I like making stuff. But not knitting.

So.. I had a look for a crochet pattern, and didn’t find one. I eventually emailed the lovely people at Age UK, who sent me a couple of knitted hats to try and make a pattern from – This is the result:

I was nowhere near as imaginative as a lot of people who make the hats, but I’m hoping someone will buy the poor smoothies which end up wearing them!

So, for anyone else out there who wants to have a go:

Note: This pattern uses US terms, for UK crocheters, please replace SC with DC and DC with TR.

Hook: Use any yarn you like, and hook size 4mm-4.5mm, which gets you the right size hat!

Basic Innocent Smoothie Bottle Hat

 Ch2

1. 6sc in 2^nd ch from hook (6sc)

2. 2sc in each stitch (12sc)

3. 2sc in each stitch (24sc)

4. sc in back loop of each stitch (24sc)

5. 5- 9 sc all round

6. 10. slip stitch round

7. Fasten off and sew in ends

 You can embellish this basic pattern using stripes, or sewing on googly eyes or ears:

Small Ears:

ch3

6 double crochet in 3^rd chain from hook

fasten off

Big Ears:

ch5

sc in 2^nd ch from hook, sc in next 3 stitches, chain 1, turn

sc in each st, chain 1, turn

sc in each st, chain 1, turn

2sc in 1^st stitch, sc in next 2 stitches, 2sc in last stitch, chain 1, turn

sc in each st, chain 1, turn

1 dec sc, sc in next 2 stitches, 1 dec sc, chain 1, turn

2 dec sc

fasten off

Trunk:

ch 11

sc in 2^nd chain from hook, sc to end.