....a Totoro hat!!!!

A couple of weeks ago, my sister Varinia (I've talked about her right here  ) asked me to crochet a Totoro hat for my niece...she sent me a picture with a related link and so ...I did it!!

I needed my living model to fix the ears in the right place...

....and then to give you the idea of the hat done!!!! ;oD....

..... Cara Mara (brief message written in Italian for my niece!) spero tanto che il berretto ti piaccia! Io mi sono divertita molto nel farlo e sono soddisfatta del risultato! Tuo cugino si e' divertito molto a fare da modello e vorrebbe tenersi Totoro per se'..... con <3 zia Ale

To crochet this hat I followed this pattern and links :

Free crochet patter-monkey hat (adult size) found at Easy Makes Me Happy
Totoro Hat Medium by Silver88 on ravelry
and for the ears just follow : Crochet Bunny Hat Patern .
Thank you all for your help in this "Totoro hat adventure"!!!!

My personal touches:

•  the eyes (hook 5) : with black yarn, chain 4, close the ring with a slip stitch, chain 3, 11 double crochet, slip stitch in the 3rd stitch of the first "chain 3"(12 stitches); for the second round, use white yarn and 2 double crochet in each stitch (24 stitches). Slip stitch in the first double crochet. done! (I use american crochet terms!)

the Dust Sprites hanging from the ear flaps : with white yarn (and 5mm hook), chain 25 stitches from each ear flap and bind off. With black yarn and a pom pom maker (mine is one from Clover, small size), make 2 pom poms and attach them to the cords with some knots!!

xxxx Alessandra

Today link : Link Your Stuff! and Craft Schooling Sunday !!!