Beer-can hats, popular with crafters in the '70s, are making a comeback among the creative "upcycling" crafts crowd. They're easy to make, take little time to complete and keep aluminum soda, iced tea and beer cans out of the landfill. Even a beginner at crochet will have no trouble following the directions to create a quirky handmade gift for a friend who has a favorite beverage brand. If you already know how to crochet, you can easily whip up a funky, fun soda can hat in an hour or two.
Things You'll Need:
- 3 Aluminum Cans
- Piece Of Scrap Wood
- 1 Skein Worsted-Weight Yarn
- Hole Punch Or Large Nail And Hammer
- Tin Snips Or Shears
- Hacksaw
- Tapestry Or Yarn Needle
- Plastic Or Cloth Tape
- Size H Crochet Hook
Using tin snips or a hacksaw, cut the top and bottom off of each can.
Cut down both sides of each can to make two pieces. Flatten each piece with a hammer and piece of scrap wood.
Bind the edges of each aluminum can piece with plastic or cloth tape so you don't cut yourself while you're working.
With a hole punch or the hammer and nail, punch four holes down each side and three holes across the top and the bottom of each piece of aluminum.
Sew a blanket stitch border around each panel using a yard of yarn and the tapestry needle.
Pull up a loop through the top of one blanket stitch with your crochet hook. Chain one, then single crochet in each stitch to the corner. Work one single crochet, chain three, one single crochet to turn the corner. Continue working around the panel till you reach the first stitch. Slip stitch in the first stitch and break the yarn. Repeat with the remaining panels.
Sew the six panels to each other side by side with the printed sides facing out. Sew the first panel to the last panel to form a ring.
With yarn and crochet hook, chain eight. Slip stitch in the first chain to form a ring.
Make 12 single crochet into the ring. Slip stitch into the first single crochet to join the round.
Make two single crochet in each single crochet around. Continue working in rounds, joining each round with a slip stitch and increasing just enough to keep the work flat until the circle fits the opening at the top of the hat. End off, leaving a long tail to sew the hat top to the ring of can panels.
Attach yarn in any single crochet along the bottom edge of the hat. Working in front loops only, make one single crochet in next stitch, two single crochet in next stitch. Repeat the stitches between the *s around the bottom of the hat.
Continue working in rounds around the brim of the hat, increasing evenly just enough to keep the work flat. When the brim is the desired width, break the yarn and pull it through the last loop to end. Weave in any loose ends to finish.
Writer Bio
Deb Powers is an avid urban gardener who works with a community collective to promote sustainable urban agriculture and build partnerships between local business owners and community organizations. Powers serves as a social media and marketing consultant for local non-profits and businesses, and is collaborating with a coffee roaster to publish a cookbook highlighting coffee as a culinary ingredient.
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