Elegant Angel Topper

I was asked to recreate a loved angel topper… I did, but of course I couldn’t help but make another one that was better. The original was only about 7 inches tall and of course it’s go big right?! This wonderful angel comes in at 9 inches tall! So here’s my take on the angel Christmas tree topper.. Though it would look just as lovely as a centerpiece. I hope you enjoy!

size 10 cotton thread
1.50mm crochet hook
small amount of poly-fil
stiffening solution (I used 1 part Elmer’s glue to 2 parts water)
rust proof pins
pinning board
foam cones and cover with saran wrap to make it easier to remove the angels

Head is worked without joining in each round. Use a stitch marker if you prefer to mark the beginning of each round.

10 sc in magic circle
Inc in each around
*inc, sc in next* around
*inc, sc in next 9* around (33 sc)
sc around for 6 rounds
sc, *dec, sc in next 2* around (make sure to stuff head firmly)
sc *dec x12* this time go ahead and join with a sl s to beginning sc but do NOT bind off and continue on to the body (13 sc)

Body
Round 1: Ch 4, dc in same space *(dc, ch 1, dc)* in each st around, join with st st to 3rd ch of beginning ch
Round 2: Ch 4, dc in same space *(dc, ch 1, dc)* in the next 8 dc. *(tr, ch 1, tr)* in next 4 dc. *(dc, ch 1, dc)* in the next 9 dc. *(tr, ch 1, tr)* in next 4 dc, join with st st to 3rd ch of beginning ch
Round 3: Sl st to ch between original ch and dc. Ch 4, dc in same space *(dc, ch 1, dc)* in next 8 ch 1 space. *(tr, ch 1, tr)* in next 4 ch 1 space. *(dc, ch 1, dc)* in next 9 ch 1 space. *(tr, ch 1, tr)* in next 4 ch 1 space. join with st st to 3rd ch of beginning ch.

Wing 1
Round 1: Sl st to ch between original ch and dc. Ch 4, (tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in same space. *(2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr)* in next 8 ch 1 space. Join with sl st to top of ch 4 of original ch, leaving the rest unworked for now.
Round 2: Sl st to chs between tc clusters. Ch 4, 2 tr, ch 2, 3 tr in same space. *(3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) around. Join with sl st to top of ch 4 of original ch.
Round 3: Sl st to chs between tc clusters. Ch 4, 2 tr, ch 2, 3 tr in same space. *(3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) around. Join with sl st to top of ch 4 of original ch.
Round 4: Sl st to chs between tc clusters. Ch 4, 3 tr, ch 3, 4 tr in same space. *(4 tr, ch 3, 4 tr) around. Join with sl st to top of ch 4 of original ch.
Round 5: Sl st to chs between tc clusters. Ch 3, 4 tr, ch 3 picot, 4 tr in same space, dc, ch 1, sc in the space between tc clusters. *(dc, 4 tr, ch 3 picot, 4 tr, dc) in ch 2 space. Ch 1, sc inbetween tc clusters, ch 1* around. Join with sl st to top of ch 3 of original ch. Bind off and weave in end.

Wing 2
Skip 4 of the (tr, ch 1, tr) and join thread with sl st in the next space between the next (dc, ch 1, dc).
Round 1: Ch 4, tr, ch 2, 2 tr in same space. *(2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr)* in next 8 ch 1 space. Join with sl st to top of ch 4 of original ch, leaving the rest unworked for now.
Round 2: Sl st to chs between tc clusters. Ch 4, 2 tr, ch 2, 3 tr in same space. *(3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) around. Join with sl st to top of ch 4 of original ch.
Round 3: Sl st to chs between tc clusters. Ch 4, 2 tr, ch 2, 3 tr in same space. *(3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) around. Join with sl st to top of ch 4 of original ch.
Round 4: Sl st to chs between tc clusters. Ch 4, 3 tr, ch 3, 4 tr in same space. *(4 tr, ch 3, 4 tr) around. Join with sl st to top of ch 4 of original ch.
Round 5: Sl st to chs between tc clusters. Ch 3, 4 tr, ch 3 picot, 4 tr in same space, dc, ch 1, sc in the space between tc clusters. *(dc, 4 tr, ch 3 picot, 4 tr, dc) in ch 2 space. Ch 1, sc inbetween tc clusters, ch 1* around. Join with sl st to top of ch 3 of original ch. Bind off and weave in end.

Skirt
Round 1: Join thread with sl st in the first ch 1 space of the back (tr, ch 1, tr). Ch 5, tr in same space. *(tr, ch 1, tr)* in the next 3 ch 1 spaces, in the joining of the wing base, in the next 4 and in the next joining of the wing base. Sl st to the 4th ch of the beginning ch 5.

Round 2: Sl st to ch between tc clusters. Ch 5, tr in same space. *ch 1, 5 tr in the next ch 1 space, ch 1, (tr, ch 1, tr) in next ch 1 space* around. Sl st to the 4th ch of the beginning ch 5.
Round 3: Sl st to ch between tc clusters. Ch 6, tr in same space. Ch 1, (tr, ch 2, tr) in 3rd tr of next cluster, ch 1, *(tr, ch 2, tr) in next ch 1 space, (tr, ch 2, tr) in 3rd tr of next cluster* around. Sl st to the 4th ch of the beginning ch 6.
Round 4: Sl st to ch between tc clusters. Ch 6, tr in same space. Ch 2, 5 tr in next ch 2 space, ch 2, *(tr, ch 2, tr) in next ch 2 space, ch 2, 5 tr in next ch 2 space, ch 2* around. Sl st to the 4th ch of the beginning ch 6.
Round 5: Sl st to ch between tc clusters. Ch 5, (tr, ch 1, tr) in same space. Ch 1, (tr, ch 3, tr) in 3rd tr of next cluster, ch 1. *(tr, ch 1, tr, ch 1, tr) in next ch 1 space, ch 1, (tr, ch 3, tr) in 3rd tr of next cluster, ch1* around. Sl st to the 4th ch of the beginning ch 5.
Round 6: Sl st to ch between tc clusters. Ch 7, tr in same space. (tr, ch 3, tr) in next ch 1 cluster *ch 2, 5tr in next ch 3 space, ch 2, (tr, ch 3, tr) in next 2 ch 1 spaces* around. Sl st to the 4th ch of the beginning ch 7.
Round 7: Sl st to ch between tc clusters. Ch 5, tr in same space, (tr, ch 1, tr) in space in-between previous round, (tr, ch 1, tr) in next ch 3 space, ch 2, (tr, ch 1, tr) in in 3rd tr of next cluster, ch 2, *(tr, ch 1, tr) in next ch 3 space, (tr, ch 1, tr) in space in-between previous round , (tr, ch 1, tr) in next ch 3 space, ch 2, (tr, ch 1, tr) in next ch 3 space, ch 2* around. (tr, ch 1, tr) in last ch 3 space. Sl st to the 4th ch of the beginning ch 5.

Round 8: Sl st to ch between tc clusters. Ch 5, tr in same space. *3 tr in next ch 1 space, (tr, ch 1, tr) in next ch 1 space, ch 2, 5 tr in next ch 1 space, ch 2, (tr, ch 1, tr) in next ch 1 space* around. 5 tr in last ch 1 space. Sl st to the 4th ch of the beginning ch 5.
Round 9: Sl st to ch between tc clusters. Ch 6, tr in same space. *(tr, ch 2, tr) in 2nd ch of previous 3 tr cluster, (tr, ch 2, tr) in next ch 1 space, ch 2, (tr, ch 2, tr) in 3rd tr of next tr cluster, ch 2, (tr, ch 2, tr) in next ch 1 space* around. Ch 2, (tr, ch 2, tr) in 3rd tr of next tr cluster, ch 2. Sl st to the 4th ch of the beginning ch 6.
Round 10: Sl st to ch between tc clusters. Ch 5, tr in same space. 5 tr in next ch 2 space. *(tr, ch 1, tr) in next ch 2 space, 5 tr in next ch 2 space* around. Sl st to the 4th ch of the beginning ch 5.
Round 11: Sl st to ch between tc clusters. Ch 6, tr in same space. Ch 1, (tr, ch 2, tr) in 3rd tr of next cluster, ch 1, *(tr, ch 2, tr) in next ch 1 space, (tr, ch 2, tr) in 3rd tr of next cluster* around. Sl st to the 4th ch of the beginning ch 6.
Round 12: Sl st to ch between tc clusters. Ch 5, tr in same space. *ch 1, 5 tr in the next ch 1 space, ch 1, (tr, ch 1, tr) in next ch 1 space* around. Sl st to the 4th ch of the beginning ch 5.
Round 13: Sl st to ch between tc clusters. Ch 7, tr in same space. (tr, ch 3, tr) in each (tr, ch 1, tr) and each 3rd st of the 5tr clusters around. Sl st to the 4th ch of the beginning ch 7.
Round 14: Sl st to ch between tc clusters. Ch 6, tr in same space. Ch 2, 5 tr in next ch 2 space, ch 2, *(tr, ch 2, tr) in next ch 2 space, ch 2, 5 tr in next ch 2 space, ch 2* around. Sl st to the 4th ch of the beginning ch 6.
Round 15: Sl st to ch between tc clusters. Ch 6, tr in same space. Ch 2, *(3 tr, ch 3, 3tr) in 3rd ch of next 5 tr cluster, ch 2, (tr, ch 2, tr) in next ch 2 space, ch 2* around. (3tr, ch 3, 3tr) in last 3rd ch of next 5 tr cluster. Sl st to the 4th ch of the beginning ch 6.
Round 16: Sl st to ch between tc clusters. ch 1, 2 dc, sc in same space. *2 sc over next ch 2 space, ch 1, (dc, 4tr, ch 3 picot, 4tr, dc) in next ch 3 space, ch 1, 2 sc over next ch 2 space, (sc, 2 dc, sc) in next (tr, ch 2, tr)* around. Finish with 2 sc over next ch 2 space, ch 1, (dc, 4tr, ch 3 picot, 4tr, dc) in next ch 3 space, ch 1, 2 sc over last ch 2 space. Sl st to the the beginning ch 1. Bind off and weave in end.

Halo
Ch 25, join with sl st to beg ch.
Ch 1, *2 sc, 2 hdc, ch 3 picot, 2 hdc, 2 sc* 5 times in the ring, join with sl st in beginning sc. Bind off and sew onto the back of the head. (Now, without fail I always have to adjust the stitches around on the ring to space out the way I want it to look.)

Now, the not so fun part. Make your stiffening solution (I used 1 part glue to 3 parts water) and pin the head and wings into place. I used one pin stabbed through and then let the top part slide up the pin. The halo I put into place held together with pins on both sides. Let dry for 24 hours. Then dip the skirt, pin and let dry for 24 hours. I was able to find a styrofoam cone to fit inside the skirt to do this part. I did wrap the cone with plastic wrap to keep it from glueing accidently to the cone.

Halo Braid Hat

Firstly, bare with me. This is my first knitted pattern and I come to it from a primarily crocheters point of view. This pattern is more of a recipe of how I made this hat.. how to put the three pieces together. Also I should mention I usually only get to craft when I’m half awake (night shift and kids) and exact counts never seem to be my thing. This hat will work without the exact counts because goodness knows I didn’t have exact ones…

A family member found a hat and thought of me asking me to make it for them. I found the pattern for it and of course it was a paid pattern… anyone who knows me knows I don’t prefer to buy singular patterns like that. Personal preference and all… I wouldn’t have a problem with it if it was a dollar or two, but I can’t justify six dollars for one pattern. That’s just me though and my personal soapbox because I have been burned before by that.

Anywho what follows is how I made this hat in as simplest terms as I can make it. In true crocheter fashion I didn’t do a gauge swatch. My hope is that you can adjust this to fit any size yarn. Just use the corresponding straight and circular needles (or dpn I suppose) for your yarn. I will of course list what I used.

Straight needles US 10/6.00mm
16″ Circular needles US 10/6.00mm
Optional crochet hook J/6.00mm
Cable needle
Darning needle
#5 Bulky yarn (I used I Love This Chunky! yarn I found at Hobby Lobby. I bought 2 skeins and each skein has 109 yards.  I had a decent amount leftover and honestly I don’t know if I would buy that again.  The yarn got fuzzy just working with it and after the first wash… more than I would think appropriate. I did take a picture of the leftover amount to show.)
Very cute button

First thing is to make the cabled part. This is essentially a cabled headband. I found a lovely pattern already written up! WOOt! So use this pattern and make a headband to the size of 21″. For me this ended up being 13 repeats… she mentioned that she did 14. Bind off and seam the two ends together.

Now, with the right side facing and using circular needle pick up the stitches along the one side. Now since I had 13 repeats of 8 each that left me picking up 104, place marker if you want. It’ll be a spiral from here out so it doesn’t have to be exact.

Knit around for 2 rounds

Now, maybe it’s just me, but 104 stitches in this bulky yarn seems a bit excessive. I wanted to get it down to roughly 80 stitches. So this is how I did it, but you might have to adjust to decrease to the amount of stitches that works for you. Keep in mind I was designing this for an average size woman’s head.

*knit 7, decrease* around (this should give you roughly 93 stitches, seriously, don’t sweat the count to be exact)

Knit around for 2 rounds

*knit 12, decrease* around

Knit around and count how many stitches you have. If you have more than 80 stitches then on the next round just space out a few decreases around on the next round. I had 83 somehow so I just put 3 decreases on the next round. Seriously, don’t sweat it.

knit in stockinette stitch until the whole piece measures 11.5″ for a really slouchy hat like I made or 8.5″ for a loose beanie.

Decrease around

Knit around for 2 rounds then bind off using the drawstring method.

Now, you could stop now and have quite the lovely hat in my opinion or you can continue on and make the brim to make it the cloche hat.

Ok, so find the middle of the front (the seam from the headband is obviously what you want for the back), face the unworked side away from you and count 15 bumps as it were… essentially 30 stitches, but for these purposes we are only thinking of the space between the bumps. Starting here pick up 30 total stitches but only using the spaces between the bumps. You are leaving the rest unworked.

Row 1: knit across
Row 2: decrease, decrease then knit across

Repeat these two rows until you have 6 stitches left on your needles, but end on a row 1 then bind off. Here I didn’t cut my yarn, but I pulled out my crochet hook to just do a quick sc border on this piece only, I didn’t go all the way around. This is completely optional, but I am a hooker at heart…

Now, after you weave in your ends, pull the long side of the piece you made over and sew on your button and that’s that!