Crochet Supporting ALS - Free Sunflower ALS Baby Beanie & Sunflower Pattern

For the past month, ALS has been abundant in our Facebook feeds, our Youtube feeds and even on the news! And maybe in these past 30 days you've stumbled upon 2 or 3 that are actually about ALS. I'd like to share one with you that I feel has had the most impact on how I personally view and feel about ALS. This video touched my heart in a way that the ice bucket challenge videos couldn't, which was the point of this video. Listen to what he has to say: 

His raw emotion can't be ignored. The severity of how this disease has affected him and his family touches the heart in a way that makes it where you'll never forget. And that, my friends, is the first step to truly understanding ALS.... not forgetting about it when the trend of the challenge dies out. 

Enjoy these two free patterns and wear your support of ALS everywhere you go. Place the sunflower on a hair clip, a pin for your shirt, a headband, a head wrap or a beanie as I've done. And any time someone asks what the sunflower is for, you'll be presented with an excellent opportunity to continue talking and raising awareness about ALS.

And the hat is in the ALS colors, blue & white. This hat is listed in the baby size but can be made in any size by doing extra increase rounds (more about that in the notes). Spread the word and let's do more then raise money for ALS, let's truly raise a type of awareness that isn't a trend, but something people truly will not forget. 

First, the sunflower and the article that inspired it which can be found HERE.

Hook: H
Material: Red Heart Super Saver (or equivalent)

Gauge: non-essential

Tips & Hints:

-          Round 1 of petals will have 1 sl st and 6 sc in every petal.

-          Round 2 of petals will have 1 sl st and 5 sc in every petal.

-          The purpose of round 3 of the center is to push both loops of round 2 forward to make them easier to work with.

-          Round 3 does not increase because the back post stitches prevent it from curling.

Abbreviations/Stitches:

-          Ch – chain

-          Dc – double crochet

-          Sl st – slip stitch

-          Sc – single crochet

-          Bpsc – back post single crochet

-          St – stitch

Center:

Round 1) With brown, using magic circle, ch 2, 12 dc in circle, pull tight and join to first dc with sl st – 12 dc

Round 2) Ch 1, 2 sc in every st around, join to first sc with sl st – 24 sc

Round 3) Ch 1, bpsc around every st around, join to first sc with sl st – 24 bpsc

Petals:

Round 1) Starting in both loops of round 3, join with yellow, *ch 8, sl st in 2^nd ch from hook, sc in every st down, sl st into next st*, repeat from *-* all the way around, sl st into first worked st and tie off.

Round 2) Starting in both loops of round 2 (that have been pushed forward by the round of bpsc), *ch 7, sl st in 2^nd ch from hook, sc in every st down, sl st into next st*, repeat from *-* all the way around, sl st into the first worked st and tie off.

Weave in ends and trim. 

And the hat: 

Hook: I
Material: Red Heart SS, Red Heart w/Love, I Love This Yarn
Gauge: 7 st & 4 rows = 2”

Hints & Tips:

-          The back post stitches pop the shell stitches forward.

-          You can create any size by adding increase rounds/adjusting hook sizes and then following the instructions as is, just compensate with extra rounds between 5 & 7 of the pattern given, extra repeats of rounds 8 & 9, and adjusting for the correct stitch count.

-          The next size up would increase to 60 dc and the size after that to 72.

Size: 0-3 months

Round 1) With MC - Using magic circle, ch 2, 12 dc in circle, pull tight and join to first dc with sl st – 12 dc

Round 2) Ch 2, 2 dc in every st around, join to first dc with sl st – 24 dc

Round 3) Ch 2, *dc in next st, 2 dc in next st* around, join to first dc with sl st – 36 dc

Round 4) Ch 2, *dc in next 2 st, 2 dc in next st* around, join to first dc with sl st – 48 dc

Round 5 – 7) Ch 2, dc in every st around, join to first dc with sl st – 48 dc

Round 8) With CC - Ch 1, sc in same st as joining, *sk next 2 st, shell in next st, sk next 2 st, sc in next st* around, join to first st with sl st – 48 st

Round 9) Ch 1, bpsc around every st around, join to first sc with sl st – 48 fpsc

Round 10 – 11) With MC – Repeat rounds 8 & 9

Round 12) With CC – Repeat round 8

Round 13) Ch 1, *bpdc around 1^st/next st (should be a sc), bphdc around next st, bpsc around next 3 st, bpdc around next st* around ending with a bphdc join to first fpdc with sl st and tie off – 48 st

Weave in ends and trim.