One thing that I like to crochet is hats, especially baby hats. I don't always have a baby the right size to try the hats on to to take pictures so I thought it would be nice to have some kind of mannequin head to use. I decided to try crocheting one, first I looked on Ravelry to see if someone had already made a pattern for them but I didn't find anything there so I decided to make up my own. I thought I would share the patterns that I came up with in case anyone else would like to try making one fro themselves. I was trying to make a newborn size but my first attempt was a little bit to big. It is more like a 3-6 month size. I then made a slightly smaller one to get a newborn size. I will share both sizes today. I will most likely eventually make other sizes but for now these are the sizes that I have
The hats used in the pictures were both made using the owl hat pattern from Repeat Crafter Me.
I used Red Heart Super Saver yarn (I believe the color is called Buff but it was some that I had laying around, the label missing, in fact on the newborn head if you look closely you can see that I accidentally used two different colors) but any similar size worsted weight yarn will work. I wouldn't recommend something like Caron Simply Soft because it is quite a bit thinner and the size does matter on these. You may want to measure as you go to make sure you are getting the right size.
Now for the patterns.
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| 3-6 month with hat |
You will need:
worsted weight yarn
H hook
small piece of thin cardboard (I used a cereal box)
yarn needle
stuffing
3-6 month Mannequin Head
crochet in the round
round 1: 6 sc in a magic circle (6 sc)
round 2: 2 sc in each sc (12 sc)
round 3: (sc, 2 sc in next) x6 (18 sc)
round 4: (sc in the next 2, 2 sc in the next) x6 (24 sc)
round 5: (sc in the next 3, 2 sc in the next) x6 (30 sc)
round 6: (sc in the next 4, 2 sc in the next) x6 (36 sc)
round 7: (sc in the next 5, 2 sc in the next) x6 (42 sc)
round 8: (sc in the next 6, 2 sc in the next) x6 (48 sc)
round 9: (sc in the next 7, 2 sc in the next) x6 (54 sc)
round 10: (sc in the next 8, 2 sc in the next) x6 (60 sc)
round 11-26: sc in each stitch around (60 sc)
round 27: (sc in next 8, sc2tog) x6 (54 sc)
round 28: (sc in next 7, sc2tog) x6 (48 sc)
round 29: sc in each stitch around (48 sc)
round 30: (sc in next 6, sc2tog) x6 (42sc)
round 31: (sc in next 5, sc2tog) x6 (36sc)
round 32: (sc in next 4, sc2tog) x6 (30 sc)
round 33: (sc in next 3, sc2tog) x6 (24 sc)
Stuff head firmly, but not so full that you stretch it. The 3-6 month head should be between 14-17 inches around. Mine is about 16 inches around.
round 34-36: sc around (24 sc)
round 37: (sc in next 7, 2 sc in next) x3 (27 sc)
round 38: (sc in next 8, 2 sc in next) x3 (30 sc)
round 39: sc around (30 sc)
round 40: (sc in the next 4, 2 sc in the next) x6 (36 sc)
round 41: sc around (36 sc)
round 42: (sc in the next 5, 2 sc in the next) x6 (42 sc)
round 43-44: sc around (42 sc)
Finish off and stuff completely
Base:
round 1: 6 sc in a magic circle (6 sc)
round 2: 2 sc in each sc (12 sc)
round 3: (sc, 2 sc in next) x6 (18 sc)
round 4: (sc in the next 2, 2 sc in the next) x6 (24 sc)
round 5: (sc in the next 3, 2 sc in the next) x6 (30 sc)
round 6: (sc in the next 4, 2 sc in the next) x6 (36 sc)
round 7: (sc in the next 5, 2 sc in the next) x6 (42 sc)
Cut a circle from the cardboard to fit in the base of the head. Attach the base to the head by turning and single crocheting around. I turned it so that the nicer side of the single crochet would be on the top. Finish off, weave in ends and you have a mannequin head.
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| 3-6 month without hat |
Now for the newborn size-
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| Newborn size in front 3-6 month in back |
crochet in the round
round 1: 6 sc in a magic circle (6 sc)
round 2: 2 sc in each sc (12 sc)
round 3: (sc, 2 sc in next) x6 (18 sc)
round 4: (sc in the next 2, 2 sc in the next) x6 (24 sc)
round 5: (sc in the next 3, 2 sc in the next) x6 (30 sc)
round 6: (sc in the next 4, 2 sc in the next) x6 (36 sc)
round 7: (sc in the next 5, 2 sc in the next) x6 (42 sc)
round 8: (sc in the next 6, 2 sc in the next) x6 (48 sc)
round 9: (sc in the next 7, 2 sc in the next) x6 (54 sc)
round 10-25: sc in each stitch around (54 sc)
round 26: (sc in next 7, sc2tog) x6 (48 sc)
round 27: (sc in next 6, sc2tog) x6 (42sc)
round 28: sc around (42 sc)
round 29: (sc in next 5, sc2tog) x6 (36sc)
round 30: (sc in next 4, sc2tog) x6 (30 sc)
round 31: (sc in next 3, sc2tog) x6 (24 sc)
Stuff head firmly, but not so full that you stretch it. The newborn head should be between 12-14 inches around. Mine is about 13 inches around.
round 32-34: sc around (24 sc)
round 35: (sc in next 7, 2 sc in next) x3 (27 sc)
round 36: (sc in next 8, 2 sc in next) x3 (30 sc)
round 37: (sc in the next 4, 2 sc in the next) x6 (36 sc)
round 38: (sc in the next 5, 2 sc in the next) x6 (42 sc)
round 39: sc around (42 sc)
Finish off. Make base and finish using the directions listed above with the 3-6 month pattern.
Well, that's it for my first pattern. Hope it all makes sense. Enjoy.
Thanks so much for sharing your pattern, I just made the 3-6 month size and it's perfect!
ReplyDeleteLove this pattern!! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteLove this pattern! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing! Thank you
ReplyDeleteJust what I need! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteGreat job Erica. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant idea! Any chance of an adult size
ReplyDeletePerfect! I just couldn't figure how to display my new collection of baby hats, wonderful pattern.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I hope this helps you out.
DeleteTHANK YOU for the patterns!! You are a genius!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. I'm so glad that you liked it.
DeleteThank you so much for these! All my grandbabies and great-grandbabies are too far away to use as models. I have some leftover weight beads from making reborn dolls so going to put some in the base for stability.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea. I thought about trying something like that but ended up just putting cardboard in to keep it flat but did nothing to weight it down, I'm sure that would really help a lot of you were to use them for displaying hats.
DeleteThank-you so much for these, really appreciate it. Going to try and make a little larger for a child. Will let you know. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteLet me know how it works out. It should be pretty easy to size up. I have plans to make larger sizes but haven't gotten around to it yet.
Deletewhat is the pattern for the grey and blue hat ????
ReplyDeleteIt was made using this pattern: http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2012/09/crochet-owl-hat-pattern-in-newborn.html
DeleteIt was the 3-6 month size and it is just the hat without the owl eyes, beak, ears and braids.
Love the pattern thanks!
ReplyDeleteI just made a newborn sized one. Thanks a million for the pattern. It's just what I needed to help model my newborn hats. Love, love, love it. :D
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea! Thank you so much!
ReplyDeletevery nice..thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteGreat tutorial.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this wonderful idea. I am going to try it.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice day.
So clever! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you, part of my prayer has been answered. I have been searching high and low for mannequinn heads for babies and children and could only ever find ones for ladies and men. You have created the answer to part of my problem and for that I am so grateful.
ReplyDeletehow big is the circle supposed to be after round 10 for 3-6 months
ReplyDeleteand round 9 for newborn ?
Because this was the first pattern I ever wrote down I didn't think about measuring things like that. As a result I am really not sure. After Christmas is over I am planning on remaking and rewriting these patterns to include important things like gauge that didn't think to add earlier. I also plan to make it in more sizes. I tried to measure the finished heads and my best guess is that the newborn should be about 4 inches in diameter and the 3-6 month one about 4 1/2 inches in diameter. I'm not completely sure how accurate that is because I am measuring the completed head that has been stuffed and shaped but right now it is the best guess I can give. Like I said, after Christmas I will be doing some tweaking on this pattern, including more measurements and more sizes.
DeleteBrilliant! Now we need feet molds for socks please
ReplyDeleteHello! I'm stuck on round 26 on the newborn. What do you mean by SC 7 and the sc2tog part? (New to crochet) lol mainly the sc2tog part is confusing me. Any help appreciated!
ReplyDeleteYou will single crochet normally into the first 7 stitches normally and then you will make a decrease by doing one single crochet over the next 2 stitches. You will do that by starting like you would for a normal sc. Insert your hook in the first stitch and draw up a loop, then rather than finishing you will insert your hook in the next stitch and draw up a loop. You should have 3 loops on your hook, yarn over and pull through all three. By working one stitch over two you have made a decrease. You repeat that around, sc in 7 stitches and then making a decrease over the 8th and 9th stitch.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqrRfKKD_EM
Deletehttp://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-decrease-single-crochet.html
Here are a couple of links that show how it is done, one is a video and the other is written instructions with illustrations. Hope that helps.
Thank you so sooooo much!! You explained it perfectly! Thank you for the pattern!
DeleteThank you, Erica, for sharing your pattern....such a great idea!
ReplyDeleteHave just found this and cannot wait to make them for photographing my hats! New to photographing and selling my crochet items and looking for ways to improve so thank you so much! Will be keeping an eye out for the larger sizes as I'd love a child & adult one too!
ReplyDeleteWww.facebook.com/bisforbeckett
Thank you so much for these! I can usually use my kids as models but I don't have babies to help model! I'm gonna try these. Question though. Did you Crochet the cardboard into the base? How did you attach it?
ReplyDeleteI just set it inside the bottom circle so that it stayed flat and stuffed on top of it. I was afraid the stuffing by itself would cause it to puff out on the bottom. You could also add something inside to give it a little weight on the bottom to help it stand up. I know some people have mentioned doing that. I plan to try that as I make some bigger sizes.
DeleteWow!! This is GREAT!!! Thank you so much!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much.. this is something i wanted .... cant wait for your adult version :)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! Instead of the cardboard you could use an old CD or even 2 of them doubled to make the base even sturdier. Just an idea.
ReplyDeleteThis is brilliant - and needed! You are so smart, and thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis is such clever! I am definitely going to make some. It's hard to find a good prop for displaying baby hats. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteshut up, shut up, shut up, this is ahhhmazing...thank you so much for such a helpful pattern!
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful. Maniquin heads are so expensive. I will be making both these sizes and any others you make. Thank you, thank you, thank you. :-D
ReplyDeleteI saw your raverly pattern that we are suppose to use hook size G. This website you wrote size H. I am confused are we supposed to use H or G? I just made one using hook H.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry that I messed that up. Looking at my notes I am not 100% sure but I thought I used a G hook. How did yours turn out with the H hook? Was the size ok? This was the very first pattern that I wrote down and as a result I didn't think to measure parts as I was making it or worry about figuring out the gauge. Because this is something that is important to this particular item I am in the process of trying to rework the patterns with that information. I will let you know for sure when I am done working through it again.
DeleteYes i use hook h and turn out good. I added rice in leggings to stabilized the base. Then i hot glue to wood base. I would like to upload my finished project. Bit i dont see if there a way to do that. I worked on it yesterday and only took me few hours to work on it.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it worked out with the H hook. Gluing it to a base is a great idea. I would love to see it, I don't know how you could upload a picture here but you can put it on ravelry and I would be able to see it there.
DeleteJust uploaded on raverly. Thanks again!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome pattern. I have an adult head and half adult body,but missing kids and newborns... wonderful idea! One question,did you attached your cardboard to the ' outside ' of your base... or did you put it inside before you attached your crocheted base? I was unsure of your instructions on this part. I am excited now,that I can display my hats in different sizes. My grand kids will be so pleased as well as customers. Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteI put it inside so that it was just inside the base.
DeleteHi there, I just finished my first one! I love it, thanks for the pattern. Is there patterns for largers sized ones? Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the patterns! These are great! :) Will you be posting patterns for larger sizes anytime soon?
ReplyDeleteYes a larger size at least 23 ins would be nice since I have 5 grandsons with large heads ..or just a number of increases....it's a fantastic idea ....thkyou
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing this, I'm going to attempt using your instructions to make a preemie size head. I make hats and other things for preemies and angels for donation to neonatal units and wish to design my own things but have nothing to try them on (this is far cheaper than buying a reborn preemie doll, and as I live on my disability check, inexpensive is important). So you have really made my day! Thanks again! I might even try making the arms, legs and body for making the rest of the clothing as well, you are really inspiring me!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful idea you have come up with Erica. I would never have thought of doing this. I have been able to obtain adult manikins but not smaller ones for children/babies. I will certainly be making a few of these. Thank you so much for sharing your patterns.
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing, will try them soon...hope you can make some fortoddlers and adult male and female sizes...be waiting...
ReplyDeleteFirst of all thank you so much for sharing this pattern its brilliant. Secondly Is there any chance u will be making one of these for a 6 month to 12 month size ? One again thank you
ReplyDeleteHello there, I shared this on my page , it's so nice!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Love the pattern. Easy to follow. Mine came out on the larger size (14") but still in newborn range. I'd rather make the hats a little large than small anyways. Thanks for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteThank u for sharing ur pattern... I'm working on a adult size mannequin size head using the ending and base from ur pattern. Awesome pattern... I can't find mannequin heads anywhere
ReplyDeleteThanks for te pattern - as so many othershave said, this is brilliant. I'm just wondering if this is done as a continual spiral or if I should be ch1 for each round?
ReplyDeleteI keep checking back for larger sizes. I've made a newborn, great pattern.
ReplyDeletewill you be selling them as a lot? I would gladly pay for them :)
PS: I loooove Repeat Crafter Me, especially those owl hats ♡
I also want to thank you for creating and sharing these patterns for free. I made the 3-6 month old head. Then I used that pattern with a 6mm hook and doubled the strands of worsted weight yarn, which produced a nice adult size. Thought the idea might help your other readers.
ReplyDeleteHow much yarn did it take to make these? I don't need an exact ounce, just in skeins lol. You said you used red heart super saver and I believe those are 7 ounces. Did it take more than 1 skein?
ReplyDeleteFabulous idea! thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! This is exactly what I need!
DeleteNice idea, what if you used an old cd or dvd instead of the cardboard??
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome!! Just found the pattern, hoping to make a few over the winter months.
ReplyDeleteIf I made teen/adult size, how many increases would I do or should I just use a larger hook?
You would continue increasing until it was as big around as you needed. I'm not exactly sure how many increases you would need because I still haven't tried one but you could just measure around your circle and when it is as big around as you need you can stop increasing and start working straight.
DeleteGoing to try this!... been crocheting a few months, I did a little when I was a kid. And love my loom knitting but have been improving my crochet skills... more complex (but still beginner\easy ish level) patterns. And just love the idea of this. Thank you!! <3
ReplyDeleteThank you so much have been looking for both sizes.
ReplyDelete