TGIF! The First Avenger

Welcome to the first Favorite Friday post! I will be posting a craft every Friday that I have handmade with the link and purchase information or pattern to said item. I know it sounds a little much to sell some of my crafts. But, really I make and make and make, I can only give away so much, AND yarn does cost money. Well that is until I convince Stephen that I need a small flock of sheep and spinning lessons XD!!
For my first Favorite Friday I thought that I would make something that would help showcase one of my favorite Christmas presents! My Captain America Shirt! I’m extremely blessed to have family (shout out to my Amazing in laws, Steve, Rita, and Danielle!) that accepts me for all my goofy little dorkiness, and still be treated as a responsible, growing adult.  Seriously, to my comic book fans, is the shirt not AWESOME in the realm of awesomeness!!!

Now, for my favorite part where I rant about how awesome Captain America is, and let you know how much I know about him. First lets get to what I didn’t have to research…

Captain America was first published in Febuary or March of 1941 by Timely Comics. He was originally going to be named Super American, because of the already famous Superman, artist Joe Simon decided that Captain America sounded better. 
  “After all there aren’t too many captains out there.” Is what I believe he was reported to say on the subject.
Captain America’s alter ego Steve Rogers was pretty much super enhanced to help with the war efforts and fought against the Axis Powers or more commonly known now as his nemesis Red Skull, during war time WWII. Even though he is basically super human altered, he carries an indestructible shield that he throws as a weapon. (Better than Xena’s weird Tron disc looking thing she throws[wow how many dorky things can I fit in this post?]) It’s well known, at least I think it is that Captain America was killed in 2007, and later discovered to still be living. But, his side kick Bucky has now taken up the role of Captain America.

There is a movie on way, Captain America: The First Avenger. The role of Steve Rogers is being played by Chris Evans of Fantastic Four fame.  I am so glad that the rumors of Mathew McConaughey playing Steve Rogers was only that a big fat ugly scary rumor! And WOW I just now found this  While putting the hyperlinks on here.

This is a photo from the movie, not sure if it’s being used as promo but, WOW! They are introducing Steve Roger’s love interest as Peggy Carter. Though I was under the assumption that was Sharon Carter’s (Agent 13) older sister. Sharon Carter being his original love interest.  It’s confusing, seeing as in the comics he’s dated both and I’m guessing they just meshed them together to forego confusion. That’s Hollywood for you. It was rumored that Joss Whedon was one of the screen writers and it appears that is so. And naturally, Samuel L. Jackson, will be reprising his role as Nick Fury! I’m thrilled that the movie starts off in 1941, and will do so through the entire film. So far the movie is set to open in July 2011. I’m psyched! Hope you are too!
So, let us get to the craft, I made this simple, adorably awesome (I’m really using that word a lot. But, let’s face it, Captain America is pretty close to Captain Awesome!) Captain America Shield headband. As soon as I get the proper color blue I will be making another identical headband and giving it away with some other Captain America themed goodies, keep following to find out when!

Captain America Shield headband
First you want to start with the star seeing as it can be a different size each time depending on how consistent your crocheting is.
Star
supplies:
size h hook
white yarn
tapestry or yarn needle
scissors
pattern key:
ch – chain
st - stitch
slst – slip stitch
sk - skip
sc – single crochet
hdc – half double crochet
dc- double crochet
() – crochet amount indicated in same stitch
[] – repeat pattern number of times indicated
pattern:
round 1 ch 3, in 3rd ch from hook do (10 hdc), slst in top of first hdc to join
first point. ch 5 slst in second ch from hook, sc in nect ch, hdc in next ch, dc in ch, sk hdc in rnd, slst to next hdc in rnd.
bind off and weave in all ends
points 2-5 do the exact same thing until you have five pointed star in your hand! It’s pretty simple and goes really fast once you get the hang of it.

Shield Base:
This is simple too. It’s just the basic flat circle, it will look a little wavy at times but all you need to do is shape it a little. Because, lets face it, there’s no such thing as a perfect circle.

Supplies:
red, white, and blue yarn preferably the same weight you used on your star.
size h hook
tapestry or yarn needle
scissors
pattern key:
ch – chain
st - stitch
slst – slip stitch
sk - skip
sc – single crochet
hdc – half double crochet
dc- double crochet
() – crochet amount indicated in same stitch
[] – repeat pattern number of times indicated
Shield Pattern:
With blue yarn ch2
Rnd 1 (6 sc) in second ch from hook, slst to first sc to join
Rnd 2 ch1 (2 sc) in every sc around  slst to first sc to join (12 sc)
Rnd 3 ch 1 [sc, (2sc)] repeat all around slst to first sc to join (18 sc)
Rnd 4 ch 1 [2 sc, (2sc)] repeat all around slst to first sc to join (24 sc)
Rnd 5 [3 sc, (2sc)] repeat all around slst to first sc to join (30 sc)
  OK, here is where you want to take your star and see if you need to continue with another round of blue or not by sizing it with your star.
Rnd 6 you can ch 1 or join the red yarn , [4sc, (2 sc)] repeat all around, slst to first sc to join (36 sc)
Rnd 7 join either your first row of red here or your white  [5sc, (2 sc)] repeat all around, slst to first sc to join (42 sc)
Rnd 8 join white or your last row of red, [6 sc, (2 sc)] repeat all around slst to first sc to join (48 sc)
Just in case you needed that extra row
Rnd 9 join red, [7 sc, (2 sc)] repeat all around, slst to first sc to join. Bind off and weave in all ends.
You can now sew your star onto the center of the shield base you have yourself a Captain America Shield*. *This shield is clearly not indestructible and should not be used as a weapon, as you are most defiantly not Captain America!
There are clearly a million and one options with which you can do with this. I will give you two simple handmade options and you just do what ever tickles your pickle!

You can make the three strand headband like I did. You can find the pattern over at Creativeyarn (she’s one of those that you have to keep going back to)
Or you can go with Chloe, my 7 year olds favorite which is the single crochet or double crochet headband.

Depending on your yarn, regular worsted weight yarn will run about 14 sc to 4 inches, I prefer to use lily yarn, it’s cheap and soft to work with it runs about 17 sc to 4 inches. My head is about 22 inches…
With the H hook (my favorite) ch 94 for sc and 95 for dc. Now just sc or dc evenly across, sew ends together and weave in all lose strands.That’s really all there is to it.
I hope this was either informative, inspirational, or board line clinical to someone out there!