how to … pompom and Co #3 …

I like the tassels on my new hat, but I want to try something else …
This is my hat without any pompom, tassel or anything …

In the large photo my hat is soaked in water and left to dry on a plate for a ‘beret’ look. The small photo on the right is ‘unblocked’.

And here with tassels (see previous post how to make them)

 

Maybe a pompom ?  (see here)

With other materials ? and a different look ?

Crochet chain might work … in a pop color. Let’s try.

I used some cheap acrylic yarn but with a terrific orange color to try it out. Crochet a chain of about 3 m / 3.30 yards (or longer), break the yarn and tie off.

Wind the chain around the thumb and pinky as shown. Cut another piece of yarn or use the 2 ends of your crochet chain to tie it firmly in the middle. That’s it.

 

Or ….

some curls ? knit ?

I used DK yarn  and 4 mm / US 6 needles

Curl 1:                                                 Curl 2:                                           Curl 3:
Cast on 24 sts                                     Cast on 20 sts                               Cast on 20 sts
row 1: purl all stitches.                      row 1: pfb*  every stitch              row 1: k1, yo, k1*
row 2: kfb*  every stitch.                   You now have 40 sts                              in every stitch.
You now have 48 sts                          Bind off all stitches                        You have 60 sts
row 3: purl all stitches.                                                                              Bind off all stitches
Bind off all stitches

• kfb: knit in the front and back leg of the same stitch
• pfb: purl in the front and back leg of the same stitch
• k1, yo, k1: knit 1 st , yarn over, knit 1 st in the same stitch

 

1, 2 or 3 ?

how to … pompom and Co #2 …

part two of pompom and Co: tassels and cords (see here for part 1: the real thing)

How to make tassels

Cut a piece of cardboard at the length of the tassel you want to make (the cardboard in the sample is 5.5 cm / 2“).

Wind the yarn all around           The more you wind the         Cut a piece of yarn (± 20 cm
the cardboard.                             fuller the tassel.                     / 8”), thread it in a tapestry
…                                                  Cut the yarn.                           needle. Slide the needle be-
…                                                                                                   tween the cardboard and
…                                                                                                   the yarn.                                            

Pull the needle through              At the opposite side cut          Remove the cardboard.
and tie a knot.                           through all the yarn wrapped          
…                                                around the cardboard.

    

Cut a 2nd piece of yarn
about 3 times the length of
the tassel, wind it at least
twice around the tassel to
form the head. Tie it very
firmly and cut the ends at
the same length as the tassel.

Ready … unless you want it to hang at the end of a cord …

…

…

…

How to make a cord

Decide how long and thick you want your cord to be. Each piece of yarn will be folded in half, twisted and folded on itself again, so using one strand results in a 4 strands thick cord. Using two strands will give you an eight strands thick cord (see below). Cut one (or more) piece(s) of yarn at four times the length of the cord you want to make.

Fold the strand(s) in half.             Hold the ends in your left      Stretch the yarn and place
.                                                      hand.                                        your right index finger in 
…                                                                                                     the loop at the folded side.
…                                                                                                    Start twisting.

Continue to twist in the             Remove your finger from           Tie all the ends firmly in a
same direction until the            the loop and fold the                  little knot and trim the 
yarn is completely twisted        twisted cord in half. Hold            ends but don’t cut too
and tightened up.                      the two ends together.                much because the knot
…                                                 The cord will twist on itself.        could be undone

Attach the tassels to the cord and hide any yarn ends in the tassel. As you can see in the next pic the cords are the finer ones made with only one strand.

And here they are on my new hat