STITCH IT: VINYL KNITTED PURSE STITCH IT

Crochet Caps a la Carte
Build your own hat with this mix-and-match menu.

BY AMY O’NEILL HOUCK

When my grandmother taught me to crochet at
the age of 8, she first showed me how to make
hats. While I occasionally crocheted other things,
over the next 20 years or so I mostly made hats — often silly
ones. With so many design possibilities, I never get tired of them.

Each crochet stitch is complete and stands on its own, not dependent on its neighbors; therefore, crochet offers the freedom and stability to create fabric that easily takes any form or shape. Hats are perfect executions of crochet’s sculptural qualities. With so many fun ways to mix and match, this tutorial approaches the hat in a build-your-own-sundae menu style.