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I am so excited to share Sis’s Halloween costume with you. This costume is awesome for a few reasons: first, the Harry Potter reference –we are huge Potterheads in this house and this simple and cute crochet mandrake baby hat is an awesome way to show-off our fandom; second, the simplicity of it. You can make this little costume in a couple of hours.
My husband does not enjoy dressing up. I, on the other hand, love dressing up. So each Halloween, it’s a struggle to find a costume that is “dressing-up”, but in fact, is not really dressing up. This year is a total win, I just ordered two Gryffindor scarves off Ebay, and will be purchasing two sets of ear muffs the next time I see them in a store. If you are not familiar with the Harry Potter scene from The Chamber Of Secrets, the characters must harvest baby mandrakes and make a draught to cure petrification, which happens when you accidentally see the reflection of a basilisk. You must wear ear muffs to protect your ears from the mandrake screams (they scream when pulled up from the dirt), which causes unconsciousness with baby mandrakes, and death with full-grown mandrakes.
Very scientific.
I also created a printable mandrake label {Get a small mirrored one here and the regular one here}. You can put in on a onesie like I did (with iron-on transfer paper), or you can print it and put it on a box or pot, however you decide to style the costume.
Crochet Mandrake Baby Hat (6-12 months)
What you need:
- G Hook
- Medium Weight Yarn (Knit Picks Brava – Almond, Dublin)
- Yarn Needle
- Polyfil
Hat:
Start with Magic Ring or 3-ch loop.
1.
Hdc 8 inside the ring. (8 sts)
Join with a sl st.
2.
Hdc 2 in same st. Hdc 2 in next 7 sts. (16 sts)
Join with sl st.
3.Ch 1.
Hdc in same st. hdc 2 in next st.
*Hdc 1, hdc 2 in next st* work 7 times. (24 sts)
Join with a sl st.
4.Ch 1.
Hdc in same st. Hdc 1 in next st. Hdc 2 in next st.
*Hdc 2, hdc 2 in next st* work 7 times. (32 sts) (3 “ diameter)
Join with sl st.
5. Ch 1.
Hdc in same st. Hdc 2. Hdc 2 in next st.
*Hdc 3, hdc 2 in next st* work 7 times. (40 sts)
Join with sl st.
6. Ch 1.
Hdc in same st. Hdc 3. Hdc 2 in next st.
*Hdc 4, hdc 2 in next st* work 7 times. (48 sts)
Join with with a sl st.
7. Ch 1.
Hdc in same st. Hdc 4. Hdc 2 in next st. (Hdc 5, hdc 2 in next st) all around the hat. Join with sl st.
(56 sts)
8. – 17. Ch 1.
Hdc in same st. Hdc in each st all around the hat. (56 sts)
Join with sl st.
Tie off.
Leaves: {Make 7 (or more)}
1.
Ch 12. Sl st in 2nd ch from hook. Sc 2. Hdc. Dc 5. Hdc. Sc in last ch. Ch 1. Working fro other side, sc in same st. Sc in next st. Hdc. Dc 5. Hdc. Sc.
2. Ch 2.
Sk same st. sc in next st. Sc in next st. Hdc. Work 2 dc in next 5 sts. Hdc. Sc. Ch1. Sl st in next st. Tie off.
Stems:
Start with a magic ring.
1. Hdc 12 in ring. Join with sl st.
2.-8. Ch 1. Sc in same st. Sc 11. Join with sl st.
Leave a long tail.
Construction:
Stuff each stem with polyfil. Using the tail, sew the stems on the top of the hat. Sew them a bit forward on the hat, and not perfectly centered on the first round.
Sew on the the leaves in any manner that works for you. Sew the base of the leaves to the stem. To keep the stems uprights, baste stitch the leaves together with a few strategically places stitches. This keeps the hat and roots upright and sturdy.
I will be posting full costume photos as soon as I get the rest of my stuff.
The Boy is doing his own thing and being a robot. ;)
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Happy crocheting,
I tried printing the label on transfer paper and it won’t print clearly. Do you think it’s the paper? I’ve never used transfer paper before.
It’s possible! I printed the same exact thing and you see see the result on the onesie. Is it blurry or is it faint?
Por favor necesitaria este tutorial en español. Muchas gracias.
I know this has been awhile since this pattern was submitted, but I’m having trouble with the leaves. Would someone mind posting a close up picture of their leaves??
I don’t have a close up, I am sorry! How can I help?
Do I sew two leaves together to make one leaf? I followed the pattern and it doesn’t look like a complete leaf- if that makes sense.
Hm. It should look like a leaf on it’s own! Can you share a photo so I can assess the problem?
This comment box won’t allow me to post a photo.
I think I got it- it didn’t say if I was supposed to keep going in a round or if I turn for round two. When I went in the round it looked better
To modify for newborn size, would I use a smaller hook and reduce by a couple of stitches in each section of the instructions? Any other suggestions? My daughter has requested these for newborn photos of her twins :)
Hello!
The trick to perfectly sized hats is the circumference! You will want to make a circle with a circumference of about 12″. To find the circumference of your circle, you will take the diameter and multiple it by PI.
I hope this helps!
Melissa, how did using a smaller hook and reducing stitches work out for you? I am just starting this for project for myself. My baby will be very fresh for halloween!!
I just made one sized down for an infant. I used the same size hook, but only followed the pattern to Row 5 (40 stitches), then I added 7 additional rows for a total of 12 and it measured very close to the other newborn hats I’ve done.
I would love to make one of these for my friend who is due a baby in September, she just adores all things Harry Potter. How much of the Almond colour is required?
Thank you! You will need less than one skein.
This has to be one of the cutest baby costumes I’ve ever seen! So adorable and fitting!
Thank you so much Celeste!
what a great idea! So cute too! Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty
Thanks so much!
This is such an amazing idea! Thanks for sharing it. I’m Anita visiting from Handmade Hangout Link Party.
Thank you so much! Thanks for visiting me :)
If that’s not the cutest hat…(and baby)!
Thank you so much Cynthia!
So cute! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you!
That is the cutest thing ever!!! Would make a great hat for a newborn photo shot.
Thanks so much! That is a great idea :)
Aww…this is such a cute hat. Do you have a panda pattern btw? My daughters love panda, and I’m thinking to make a crocheted hat pattern for her.
Thanks so much! I don’t have a panda pattern, so sorry!
When I first saw the link, I thought “WHY would anyone make a mandrake hat for a baby?” Historically, mandrakes were thought to be an aphrodisiac! But ok, a baby mandrake and the two of you wearing earmuffs – that’s cute. :)
Haha! I am glad you came around to the idea :)
Oh, this is just too cute!
Thanks so much Emily!