How to Crochet Baby Hangers

Padded and crochet-covered hangers are often embellished with bows or ribbon rosettes.

Fancy crochet-covered baby-clothes hangers are not only functional and attractive, but also a useful way to use up your stash of leftover yarn. The crochet-covered hangers help prevent creases in the shoulders of garments and keep baby clothes from slipping off the hanger. This project is well suited to the beginning crocheter. Only four basic stitches are required: the chain stitch, single crochet, double crochet and the slip stitch. The cover is crocheted in a rectangular form. It fits snugly onto the hanger. Slight stretching before fastening it to the hanger keeps the cover in place.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Bar-type baby-clothes hanger
• Worsted-weight yarn
• 4 millimeter crochet hook
• Scissors
• Small binder clips

Instructions

1. Measure and note the length of the hanger. Crochet a foundation chain 1 inch shorter than the length of the hanger. Chain one and turn.

2. Insert the hook in the second chain from the hook. Single crochet in each chain until you reach the end of the foundation chain. Chain one and turn. Single crochet in each stitch from the first row. Chain one and turn. Repeat the second row to crochet each consecutive row. Chain one and turn before beginning each new row.

3. Continue adding single-crochet rows until the width of the cover is approximately 1 1/2 times as wide as the wooden or plastic bar portion of the hanger. Tie off the end of the yarn. Do not trim.

4. Fold the cover in half lengthwise, then crosswise, to find its center. Pass the wire hook portion of the hanger through the center of the crocheted cover, between two stitches. Wrap the cover around the hanger. The cover should have to be stretched slightly to meet at the bottom and the ends of the bar. Add or remove crocheted rows so the cover fits properly. Trim and weave-in loose threads.

5. Stretch the cover so its lower edges meet at the bottom of the hanger. Hold the end and bottom edges of the cover together with small binder clips, spaced 2 or 3 inches apart.
   Slip stitch the ends and bottom edge of the hanger cover together. Remove binder clips as you approach them.

6. Crochet a scalloped border around the ends and bottom of the hanger. To create each scallop, do five double-crochet stitches in the third stitch from the starting point. Do a single-crochet stitch in the sixth stitch from the starting point. Consecutive scallops are made by skipping two stitches, doing five double-crochet stitches in the next stitch, skipping two more stitches and finishing with a single-crochet stitch. Continue the scalloped border until you reach the other end of the hanger. Tie-off and weave-in loose threads.