Thanks and Giving

Thanksgiving is another festivity of good food and family get together.  I love cooking, but it is just too much work cooking for more than myself lol  My two furballs are easy going and would not mind if there is no turkey on the table.

Although saying all these, I decided to make a one of a kind turkey for this Thanksgiving.  You don't see a blonde turkey very often (okay, I confess I have a lot of yellow yarn :p).  I use the brown / yellow criss-cross edging to capture the autumn atmosphere. The colour feathers are the highlights of the hat; go crazy on it :D, perhaps using variegated yarns too .... lovely!!!

I find it very difficult to write crochet pattern, your comment for improvement is welcome.  Please don't hesitate to leave me message to clarify certain step(s) in the pattern.

Here is my crochet hat "recipe" Turkey a la Blonde to celebrate Thanksgiving. "Cook" your turkey the way you like it and enjoy :)

Turkey a la Blonde

Crochet technique involved 

Turkey a la Blonde

1.       Magic circle

2.       single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, triple crochet, slip stitch and chain stitch

Materials

Yarns, worst, multiple colours

·         yellow

·         brown

·         white

·         black

·         red

·         Multiple colours

Crochet hooks, 4.25mm and 3.75mm

Scissors

Yarn needle

Polyfil or waste yarns (optional)

Abbreviations

st(s) = stitches

Rnd = Round
sl st = slip stitch
sc = single crochet
hdc = half double crochet
dc = double crochet
tc = triple crochet
approx = approximate
mm = millimeter(s)
" = inch(es)

Gauge

Length  ch10 using 4.25mm = 2"

Measurement (approx)

Hat circumference = 15"
Hat length = 6"

Hat

Using yellow yarn and crochet hook 4.25m, start with a magic circle, ch2, hdc8 (8 sts); sl st into the 2nd ch to join; pull on the tail to tighten the circle
Rnd 1     ch2, *hdc2, sc1*; repeat * * for 8 times (16 sts); sl st into the 2nd ch to join
Rnd 2     ch2, *hdc2, sc2*; repeat * * for 8 times (24 sts); sl st into the 2nd ch to join
Rnd 3     ch2, *hdc2, sc3*; repeat * * for 8 times (32 sts); sl st into the 2nd ch to join
Rnd 4     ch2, *hdc2, sc4*; repeat * * for 8 times (40 sts); sl st into the 2nd ch to join
Rnd 5     ch2, * hdc2, sc5*; repeat * * for 8 times (48 sts); sl st into the 2nd ch to join
Rnd 6     ch2, hdc2 to the end of rnd; sl st into the 2nd ch to join

Repeat Rnd 6 until the piece is measured 6" in height (from the centre of the magic circle to the edge); cut yarn leaving a 3" tail

Criss-Cross Edging

Rnd1      using yellow yarn and crochet hook 3.75mm, sl st in the 1st st, sc1, ch7,skip 3 sts, sc1, put the yarn to the back; using brown yarn, st st into 3rd st, sc1, ch7, skip 3 sts, sc1, put the yarn to the back; *using yellow yarn, ch7, skip 3 sts, sc1, put yarn to the back; using brown yarn, ch7, skip 3 sts, sc1, put yarn to the back*; repeat * * to the end of rnd; change to sl st to the sc of the same colour instead of sc1 to end

If you have problem following the above pattern, try this

Beak and Skin Flap

Using brown yarn and crochet hook 3.75mm, start with making a magic circle; ch1, sc3 (3 sts); pull on the tail to tighten

Rnd 1     sc3

Rnd 2     *sc2, sc1*; repeat 2 more time (9 sts)
Rnd 3     sc9

Repeat Rnd 3 for 2 more times; cut yarn leaving a 6" tail
Eyeball the position of the beak on the hat; using the 6" tail, sew the beak onto the hat; stuffing the beak with waste yarns or polyfil before closing optional

Using red yarn and crochet hook 3.75mm, start with a slip knot, ch12 (foundation chain)

Rnd1      sl st into the 2nd ch from the hook; sl st 6, sc1, hdc1, dc1, tc5 into the same st; dc3, hdc3, sc3, sl st to the end, sl st to the sl st to join; cut yarn leaving a 6" tail

Using the 6" tail, sew the piece to the right side of the beak

Cross Eyes

Using black yarn and crochet hook 3.75mm, start with makin a magic circle, ch1, sc6 (6 sts); add white yarn, st st to the 1st ch st to join, pull on the tail to tighten; cut black yarn leaving a 3" tail

Rnd1      sl st, sc1 into the same st; hdc1 , dc1 into the same st; tc2 into the same st for the next 4 sts; dc1, hdc1 into the same st; sc1, sl st into the same st; sl st to the sl st to join; cut yarn leaving a 14" tail

Repeat the pattern to make the second eyes
Eyeball the position of the eyes above the beak with the black pupils toward the centre

Feathers

Using a colour yarn and crochet hook 3.75mm, start with a slip knot, ch12 (foundation chain)

Rnd 1     sl st into the 2nd ch from the hook; sc1, hdc1, dc8, hdc1, sc3 into the same st; hdc1, dc8, sl st 2; sl st to the sl st to join; cut yarn leaving a 10" tail

Weave in the tail from the starting slip knot

Repeat the pattern for 8 more times using different colour yarns

Organized all the feathers together to form a rosette, use the tails of one pieces sewing into another piece to hold them in position; tie all the tails together



Rosette for Turkey a la Blonde

Eyeball the position for the feathers (in between the beak and top of the hat) , divide the tied tails into 2 bundles, pull 1 through the space in between sts to the ws; pull the other through the next space to the ws

Tie the bundles in the ws

Finish

Weave in all tails as necessary