Sunday, August 16, 2020

Harry Potter Sorting Hat Crochet

Sorting Hat, designed & crocheted by Dorothy Maneja

"Where shall I put you? Now that's interesting.  You've a ready mind.  There's talent.  Oh my goodness, yes, wit and learning.  Hmm, not a bad mind either.  It's all here in your head.  Better be Ravenclaw!"-- The Sorting Hat.

The Sorting Hat on Pottermore was correct all these years.  I do belong in Ravenclaw House.  And I've definitely proved it. As an autodidact (self-taught) crocheter, I crafted my own Sorting Hat without following any pre-existing patterns. 

None of the pre-existing patterns or tutorials on the Internet, YouTube, or Pinterest had the features that I wanted:

  • Closer resemblance to the hat in the movies.
  • Facial features that are NOT sewn-on afterwards, but are instead “built-in” as part of the crocheting.
  • Wrinkles that can straighten out & fold back in the same place. 
  • A mouth that opens & closes like a puppet’s mouth. 
  • A brim that holds its shape WITHOUT millinery wire or starch, because the hat is supposed to be flexible enough to fold up, land in a crumple on the floor, and hide the Sword of Gryffindor (just like in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets).
  • Uses worsted weight yarn, NOT bulky yarn.

After lots of research (which would rival Hermione's time in the library), lots and lots of trial-and error (I’ve gone thru 9-10 versions and frogged back each version until I finally achieved the final product), and almost 1.5 months (I have a Muggle crochet hook, not a magical one that crochets by itself), I finally finished.  I still want to make the two lappets than hang down from the back of the hat (they aren't plain brown, they have a golden paisley pattern on them), and there are a few tweaks that I’d make if I ever decide to re-make this hat.  But I'm still proud of what I've created nonetheless.

I present to you, the Sorting Hat!




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