Crocheted Fezzes Are Cool!

It's finally here! After countless crocheting and frogging and recrocheting and refrogging, I think I've perfected my crocheted fez and I'm thrilled to share it with everyone.

To determine the size of fez you want you need to measure the top of your head where you want to wear it. If you google "how to measure your head for a fez," you will find lots of websites that have charts and instructions. The Doctor seems to wear his higher, but I think that might be because of all his hair.

If you are not sure where you would like your fez to sit you can cut a piece of paper the length you are thinking about by 5", which seems to be the standard height for fezzes. Tape it together and try it on. Wear it around for a while. If you aren't satisfied, lengthen or shorten the paper until you find a length you like. This will be the circumference.

Crocheted Fez
copyright Kimberly Saunders 2014

Also on Ravelry

This fez is crocheted in rounds using 2 strands of yarn held together and is worked rather tightly. Changing hook size on the sides allows it to angle outwards more smoothly than using increases.

Worsted weight yarn. The 20 1/2" circumference fez used exactly 4 oz. Larger fezzes would, of course, use more

Hook sizes: G, H, I, J

Gauge: With G hook 4 sc = 1”

With J hook 3 .5 sc = 1”

Do not join until the very end. Use removable stitch markers or a piece of yarn to mark beginnings of rounds.

Choose the finished circumference you want and crochet the top up to that point. Do NOT finish off! Then continue with the side.

TOP

Using G hook and holding 2 strands together make an adjustable ring and ch 1.

               Rnd 1: 6 sc, close ring. --6sc

               Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc around. --12sc

               Rnd 3: (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) around. --18sc

               Rnd 4: (sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) around. --24sc

               Rnd 5: (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts) around. --30sc

               Rnd 6: (sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st) around. --36sc

               Rnd 7: (sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts) around. --42sc

               Rnd 8: (sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st) around. --48sc

               Rnd 9: (sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts) around. --54sc

18 1/2"   Rnd 10: (sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st) around. --60sc

19 1/2"   Rnd 11: ( sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts) around. --66sc

20 1/2"   Rnd 12: ( sc in next 10 sts, 2 sc in next st) around. --72sc

21 1/2"   Rnd 13: (sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 6 sts) around. --78sc

22 1/2"   Rnd 14: (sc in next 11 sts, 2 sc in next st) around.  --84sc

23 1/2"   Rnd 15: (sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 7 sts) around.  --90sc

24 1/2"   Rnd 16: (sc in next 12 sts, 2 sc in next st) around.  --96sc

25 1/2"   Rnd 17: (sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 8 sts) around.  --102sc

For sizes right on the inch mark, crochet to the round 1/2" before what you need. On the next round increase every other increase for a total of 3 increases on that round. Then continue with the side.

SIDE

Still using G hook

Rnds 1-5: sc around. 

Switch to H hook

Rnds 6-10: sc around.

Switch to I hook

Rnds 11-15: sc around.

Switch to J hook

Rnds 16-20: sc around.

The side of the fez should measure 5” high. Add or subtract a row or two if needed to reach this measurement.

Very tightly sc in the next st two rounds below, so you are doing a sc over a sc. Slip stitch in next st and fasten off. Weave in ends.

Where the top and side meet you need to pinch them together so they form more of a right angle.

Have fun! Enjoy! And remember, Fezzes are Cool!!!

Staggering Increases

Working on perfecting my crocheted fez pattern. What a difference staggering the increases makes! I made two examples to demonstrate. 

The circle, or hexagon, on the left is made by making the increases in the second stitch of the increases on the previous row.

The circle on the right is made by offsetting the increases on every other row.

The hexagon on top of the fez just didn't look quite right when I had the sides done. I had read about staggering the stitches before, but I haven't really seen written directions for where to put the staggered stitches and I'm a bit of a perfectionist and didn't just want to put them wherever. So I started experimenting this morning. And I LOVE the results!

Here's a bit of the pattern:

Round 1:  Make an adjustable ring and ch 1, sc 6. Close circle. DO NOT JOIN  (6sc)

Round 2:  2sc in each sc. (12sc)

Round 3: *sc, 2 sc in next sc* repeat around. (18sc)

Round 4:  *2 sc, 2 sc in next sc* repeat around (24sc)

Round 5:  * sc, 2 sc in next sc, 2 sc* repeat around (30sc)

Round 6:  *4 sc, 2 sc in next sc* repeat around (36sc)

Round 7:  * 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 3 sc* repeat around (42 sc)

Hopefully I'll be able to get the fez pattern written up and posted soon. I need to make a few more in different sizes so I can get my measurements for them right.

Catherine Wheel

Going through my posts and discovered this draft. Past time to post it, so here it is!

I discovered this awesome stitch pattern called the Catherine Wheel, or Wool Eater. Absolutely love it! I made a baby blanket for my little neice.These colors remind me of Abby Cadabby from Sesame Street.

And since I loved making it so much I wanted to make one for my little one, but I had already made her way too many blankets. So, I made this cute little jumper instead. 

Fez

My oldest daughter's friend came over last summer dressed as The Doctor, and since then my younger children all call him Doctor every time they see him. So for Christmas, my daughter asked me to make him a fez. Got a bit of a late start, but finally finished it. Now I have a few kids who want one for themselves.  

Abby and Giant PomPoms

Giant Pompom Hat

Also on Ravelry

This hat was so fun to make, and quick, too!

Materials: 

   1 or 2 colors of worsted weight yarn  

       (I used Red Heart in Orchid and Pretty in Pink)

   Size J hook

   2 bows or flowers to attach (optional)

   Scissors

Gauge:  6 dc = 2 inches

             4 rows = about 2 inches

Note: ch 2 at the beginning of the rows does not count as a dc. It helps fill in the gap so the beginning of rows isn't as noticable. 

Small- 18 inch diameter

Holding 2 strands of yarn together make an adjustable ring, ch 2.

Row 1: 10 dc, join. (10dc)

Row 2: ch 2, 2 dc in each dc, join. (20dc)

Row 3: ch 2, *dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc* repeat around, join. (30dc)
Row 4: ch 2, *dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc* repeat around, join. (40dc)
Row 5: ch 2, * dc in next 7 dc, 2 dc in next dc* repeat around, join. (45dc)
Row 6: ch 2, * dc in next  8 dc, 2 dc in next dc* repeat around, join. (50dc)
Row 7- 12: ch 2,  dc around, join. (50dc)
      The hat should measure about 6 1/2 inches from the center to the edge. You can add or subtract a row here if needed
.
Finish off and weave in ends.

Now for the giant pompoms!!

Cut 4 circles from a cardboard. (I used a cereal box.)
2 large at 8 3/4" diameter.
2 small at 3 1/4" diameter.
Cut a slit to the center and a small 1 1/4" diameter circle in center.
Widen the slit to make it easier to get the yarn through.





Glue the smaller circles to the inside of the larger circles. This is important so you can get your scissors between the two larger circles later on.






Place the circles together with the smaller ones to the inside. Start winding the yarn around the circle.








Keep going until you can't fit any more yarn into the center circle.








Insert your scissors between the two larger circles and cut all the way around. Since the yarn is tightly packed in the center it won't be coming loose.







Cut a double piece of yarn  12-18" long.  Open up the cardboard circles without removing them.  Insert between the two smaller circles. 






Wrap the yarn around the cut strands and tie as tight as you can manage.







Carefully remove the cardboard circles. It's a tight fit and you'll have to bend the cardboard a bit.  Have someone hold the first knot really tight while you finish knotting it.




Decide where on your hat you want to place them. I placed mine on the 5th row.  Using the yarn used to tie it together, thread one end between dc, skip 4 dc, and thread the other end between dc.  I just tied a bow with a double knot on the inside to secure it.





Now you can add the bows or flowers if you would like to.

I ran out of yarn before I could finish the pompoms for a second hat, so I frogged an abandoned project and made pompoms from the frogged yarn. I ended up with some very cute curly pompoms.











I think this would look really cute done all in black with red and white polka dot bows!