"Get Hooked with Tammy": Hairs the challenge!

First of all, I have to thank Chrissy for this extremely awesome challenge! And, after I saw the original photo of this little girls dress-up hat...I couldn't wait to figure out how to make it! And so........my story of HAIR unravels!

What little girl doesn't like to play dress up?! It's a pretty big deal when you're a little girl...especially the accessories, because every BIG GIRL knows that it's the ACCESSORIES that makes the outfit, right?! Come on girl...don't you kid yourself! We all started from the BEGINNING...when playing dress-up was FREE & FUN! So tell me...whose closet did you raid? Your moms or your big sisters...maybe it was your gramma or your auntie...either way, it was a blast! And that's why we girls know how to still have fun, when we go shopping right? I mean, really....how many outfits do you try on when you're out and about hitting the mall? What goes back in the rack...and what do you actually buy?! huh, got ya! Not much, I'm sure! Either way, it's still fun...unless you're really serious, and you can't find what you're lookin' for, then it's no fun.

But either way, any good lookin' outfit, always comes down to the right HAIR....cut, color and style! That Barbie doll never has a 'bad hair day', does she?! Like, really......what's that all about? That's just not natural! Really though, when you think about it....a wig is the RIGHT CHOICE...like Dolly Parton always says! You can be anyone you desire, and no one can take it away from you, 'cause you own it! LOL!

If you ever thought you'd like to be a redhead, try wearing a WIG first....it just might change your life. It did mine......literally! I tried wearing a wig the night before I got married, and I never looked back...trust me, that's a true story! LOL! I was a brunette for the first 24 years of my life, only to become a redhead for the next 20! And, yes...you guessed it...I still am! They say, redheads have more fun....and I'm living proof....hence, the 'let's play dress-up' today!
Aren't ya glad you came to see what was going on today? Who could have more fun, right?!
Let's make our little girl dreams come true, and make a crocheted version of a blonde haired, pig tailed girl!

"Let's play dress-up & be a Blondee"

Start with some yellow (red heart or your preferred 4 ply yarn) and an I hook;
Row 1: ch 3, and make 9dc in the first chain =10dc (first ch3 counts as 1dc)
Row 2: sl st to the top of ch3, and ch3 (counts as the 1st dc of that row and every row thereafter.)
inc by 2dc in each st, and then every st around =20 dcs
Row 3: sl st to top of ch 3, and ch 3, 2 dc in next st, *dc in next st, 2 dc in next st*, and repeat around from * to *; = 30 dcs
Row 4: sl st to top of ch 3, and ch 3, dc in next st, and 2 dc in next st, *dc in next 2 sts, and 2 dc in next st*, and repeat around from * to *; = 40 dcs
Row 5: sl st to top of ch 3, and ch 3, dc in next 2 st, 2 dc in next st, *dc in next 3 sts, and 2 dc in next st*, and repeat around from * to *; = 50 dcs
Row 6: sl st to top of ch 3, and ch3, then dc in each st around, til end of that row. = 50 dcs
*(now, if you're lookin' for this to be a baby/toddler size hat/xsm; I'd stop here, but if you're lookin' to make this pattern a bit larger for a small to medium size child, then increase to 60 sts in the next row 7, otherwise skip this row and go to row 8)
*Row 7:(optional/for larger child size) sl st in top of ch 3, ch 3, then dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st, *dc in next 4 sts, 2 dc in next st*, and increase around from * to *; = 60 dcs.
Row 8-11: sl st to top of ch 3, ch3 and dc around. repeat for each row. =60 dcs (ea. row)
The beginning of your hat/beanie is now made...
Now, for the fun stuff...the bangs! Whoop, whoop!
Row 9: sl st to the top of ch 3, and ch 1 in same st as joining; at the same time, pull up long loop (about an inch or so...this is your hair/don't make it too long..they're going to be your bangs!)
do this twice in the same st, and then, in each st around (front loop only)... = 120 sc/loops at the end of this row.

Once, you get all the way around, this is what it should look like when you get all the way around that row.

Now, Row 12...from last sc/loop combo...place your hook in the BACK of the remaining st from the previous row and slst into that next st, ch3 and then dc and next back loop, and around, to last st, sl st in top of 1st ch 3 and tie off. = 60 dcs.

Weave in your ends to finish this part of the hat. I did make bangs to go around the head...to be more like hair all the way around...so, you could actually make it into a boy if you liked...otherwise only make the bangs in the front area only and then sc around the rest of the hat/beanie in row 11.

Now it's time to make the tassles for the pigtails that we will be attaching to either side of the beanie/hat...you'll want to make 2 of these, approximately 6 or so inches...or longer, depending on how you want your dress up hair to look when it's all done!

Start with a book...something hardcovered, like this...

then take your yarn from your hair/hat/beanie you just created, and start wrapping the yarn around the book (short or long way, depending on the length your striving for.) I wrapped mine 80 times around...

Now, take your needle and a length of yarn and put it through the middle on the top, like so...and tie as tight as you can (double knot it!)...then turn it upside down, while squeazing it tight (so you have a nice even cut with your scissors)...

then, flip it back up on the table, and take another length of yarn and place it about 1/4 way down from the top and tie around, doubling the knot again, to assure its tightness.