My sweet Emily wanted a hat for Christmas. Not just any hat. She wanted a hat that she spotted at Rockin' Rudy's, a groovy little store full of lots of fun and sometimes quirky things. The hat was the bomb. I even thought so. It was crocheted in a lovely woolen yarn. It had a scalloped edge and an amazing crocheted froufrou flower that was stitched to it in just the right place. It was cute, and jaunty, and perfect. It also had a $42 price tag. OUCH!! Forty two dollars for a hat that may or may not find its way home from school each day seemed like A LOT. What's a girl to do? Of course. Why didn't I think of it sooner? I could make one...maybe...perhaps...hmmm, I don't know. My original enthusiasm for the plan was dulled by uncertainty and doubt. After all, I only kind of know how to crochet. It seemed a wee bit risky. I shushed the voices in my head. "Breath deep and carry on," I told myself.
One skein of blue yarn, a little ball of magenta yarn, the tail-end of green yarn, and some determination...Yes, I can. I can crochet a hat with scallops and a froufrou flower. Tah-Dah...
Sweet Emily told me it was better than the one at Rockin' Rudy's because I made it. Awww, shucks. Stop it already, Emily.
Breath deep and carry on...I think that will be my mantra for 2011. It works for so many different situations. Try it.
Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2011.
Breath deep and carry on, friends~
Cassie
Absolutely bloomin' gorgeous! xxx
Posted by: amanda makes | January 07, 2011 at 02:03 PM
Adorable! Emily and her hat!
Posted by: Jennifer | January 07, 2011 at 02:04 PM
Wow, super-cute!! And your daughter is adorable. I want one. Did you use a pattern or just wing it? The flower makes it.
Posted by: Tina @ Squirrel Acorns | January 07, 2011 at 02:08 PM
Oh Wow, what an awesome hat and a cute girl 'neath it. You did good AND that is the best mantra I've heard!
Posted by: D Spack | January 07, 2011 at 02:12 PM
BEAUTIFUL hat!!! I crocheted an similar one for my daughter last winter but the 'fashionable thing' over here then was to have the flower in the same colour as the hat, the only difference really. She wore it all winter and then this winter... not at all anymore, everyone has a hat with those woolen braded things on both sides, like two tales, you know, those Scandinavianlike hats, with lovely figures knitted in it. We found one for only 5 euros. Good thing cause I wouldn't be able to knit her one of those I think, or could I have ;-) ??? I am looking forward to june because then the book 'knitting christmasbaubles' by arne and carlos (two Norwegian designers) is coming out in the US, yes, the US, not here in the much nearer Belgium, so I'll have to order it from there then. Couldn't order it in Norwegian cause I don't speak nor understand that language. But anyway, what I was trying to say, those baubles have those nice Scandinavian figures and I think it would be a good learning opportunity to knit those and have a christmastree full of knitted baubles next, no, THIS year!
Well, hope I didn't bore you with this LOOONG comment. Very inspiring hat, must be!
Bye,
Marian
Posted by: marian | January 07, 2011 at 02:32 PM
How adorable is that? I think the only thing cuter than that hat is Emily herself. She's a doll. Good job!
Posted by: Hoosier at Heart | January 07, 2011 at 02:36 PM
Pretty, Pretty hat on a Pretty, Pretty girl- and, a nice Mom!
Posted by: I Love Pretty Little Things | January 07, 2011 at 02:53 PM
That is one BEAUTIFUL hat and I love the colors. What a perfect gift for your darling daughter. Love it!!!
Posted by: Kim Walus | January 07, 2011 at 03:29 PM
Tah-Dah is right! She looks beautiful in it. Had you not told us about the lack of crochet experience, I never would have guessed it. I say you throw $42 in a jar in your sewing room for future project stash refurbishment. Great job. Carolina
Posted by: The Muse of The Day | January 07, 2011 at 04:40 PM
Wonderful results! The hat is darling, as is your daughter. And the colors are so flattering on her! I can't imagine that the original could have been any nicer.
Posted by: Jan | January 07, 2011 at 05:44 PM
You have outdone yourself Cassie - Emily's hat is amazing. The colours are perfect.
Love your new mantra - will have to remember that one! Best wishes for a fun and creative 2011.
Posted by: Lisa | January 07, 2011 at 06:41 PM
The hat is darling, as is the girl wearing it!
Posted by: Renna | January 07, 2011 at 06:57 PM
Stunning, looks so professionally made, not any dorky home made things...stylish and awesome, she is adorable...can you share a pattern. So glad you didn't listen to those negative voices we all hear. You go girl!
Posted by: Rosebudquilter-Michelle | January 07, 2011 at 08:26 PM
Beautiful!!! Great job!
Posted by: Tammy | January 08, 2011 at 12:12 AM
Gorgeous hat! You did an amazing job! It always makes it so worth it when they love what we make them. =)
Posted by: Jennwith4 | January 08, 2011 at 12:19 AM
Perfect! Who says you can 'only just crochet'?? That looks preety darn good to me! :) I'd love to be able to 'only just crochet' if this is what you can produce. It really suits her too. Just perfect! x
Posted by: Gem | January 08, 2011 at 02:14 AM
You go girl! I need to get busy on my crochet items for Etsy shop too. First a baby hat for new niece!!
Posted by: Kris | January 08, 2011 at 10:47 AM
Great job mom!
Posted by: Shari @For the Little Doll In Your Life | January 08, 2011 at 11:54 AM
That is the coolest hat! I love it when you are inspired by something in the store and then go home to make it, especially better than the store version. You rock!
Posted by: Terri | January 08, 2011 at 06:04 PM
Love the hat, the colors and the cutie wearing it! Would love to know if you used a pattern, is it your pattern? , can you share the pattern?
Blessings! :)
Posted by: Renee Lange | January 08, 2011 at 08:18 PM
What a lovely hat, well done! It really suits your daughter's colouring too! I love your blog too, keep up the good blogging :D see ya.
Posted by: cassie | January 09, 2011 at 01:16 AM
I've been away from reading Blog posts for a LONG time and decided for the new year that I'd start up again.
YOUR blog was the first one I read.
What a delightful story and beautiful hat
you made! So inspiring!
Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Tammy | January 09, 2011 at 03:56 PM
That is just too cute sweet Cassie. What lucky girls to have such a cool mom!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | January 09, 2011 at 07:56 PM
Fabulous! Love it when you take a leap and it works, congratulations.
Posted by: Kathleen | January 11, 2011 at 05:52 PM
i love it! if you kind of know how to crochet, how did you manage to do an awesome job!??!! do you have a tutorial??
Posted by: jea. | January 12, 2011 at 02:47 PM
Awesome hat!
Posted by: Patty Boyd | January 15, 2011 at 02:31 PM
It's wonderful! And your daughter is wonderful IN it! And YOU ROCK!
I like your new mantra. I'm going to try it.
Jody
Posted by: Gumbo Lily | January 17, 2011 at 09:36 PM
Wonderful hat, wonderful girl, wonderful mama...
Miky
Posted by: Michela | January 19, 2011 at 07:59 AM
Cute hat! Did you use a pattern that you can share? I have a matching daughter that loves this kind of hat too! I have made several for her this winter, and also some headband types with a flower.
Posted by: Laurie | January 19, 2011 at 03:47 PM
I am so trying to learn how to crochet! Not my thing but I am going to persevere! That is just too cute...and so is your daughter!
Posted by: Penny | January 22, 2011 at 09:11 PM
I just found your blog today. When my oldest (who is almost 21) was about 7 she was in a band called YGG (You Go Girl-or Youth Glorifying God, depending on the day). I also have a red head named Emily who looks to be about your daughter's age. Small world. You did a fabulous job on that hat! My daughter would love a hat like that too. I made her a headband like that with a big flower, but out here in California where it is mostly warm she doesn't often wear it.
Posted by: Marilyn | February 25, 2011 at 08:45 AM
love the hat... is there a tutorial in the works ;)
Posted by: Elizabeth | April 20, 2011 at 07:52 AM