Video Tutorial & Free Pattern: Swirly Cupcake Hair Clips

Cupcakes2smallrndIt was my birthday on Wednesday, and it seemed like a really great time to share my cupcake/mini-cake hair clip pattern with you guys! I designed these little cakes to be somewhat short and low profile, so that they look good as a hair accessory. The best part of all is that you can use real cupcake toppers to decorate your mini cakes, which gives you tons of options for gifts and holiday outfits!

Cupcakes3smallrnd
CUpcakes4smallrmdThe video tutorial is also up  on my YouTube channel! The typed-out pattern is below. For a printer-friendly PDF with more how-to photos, please check out the pattern in my Etsy shop!

What You’ll Need: (I recommend that all the yarn you use for this project be the same weight and brand to ensure a good fit for all the pieces, unless you are good at maintaining the same gauge with different yarns.)

– Worsted weight yarn in 1 or 2 Frosting Colors (FC1 and FC2) – In my photos, I’m using Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice in Chocolate and also White – (approx. 15 yards of each, or 30 yards total if using 1 color)
– Worsted weight yarn in 1 Cake Color (CC) – In my photos, I’m using Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice Baby in Pink Poodle – approx. 20 yards
– Worsted weight yarn in Red – In my photos, I’m using Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice in Scarlet
– H8/5.0mm crochet hook
– small amount of Polyfil
– scissors
– tapestry needle
– hot glue
– optional: 5mm mini pompoms for sprinkles, or beads/sequins/cabochons, plastic cupcake toppers, and glue or needle/thread that is appropriate for attaching your cupcake decorations
– optional: hair clip or headband for wearing your cupcake on your head!

 

Abbreviations:

BLO: back loops only
ch(s): chain(s)
dec: decrease
rnd(s): round(s)
sc: single crochet
sk: skip
sl st: slip stitch
st(s) : stitch(es)
( ): work everything inside the parenthesis into the next stitch
[ ]: work everything inside the brackets the number of times indicated

 

Notes:

– The Right Side of your work should always be the outside of your project.
– When you decrease/dec in this pattern, always use the invisible decrease. Pick up a loop from the next st, pick up a loop from the following st, YO, pull through 2 loops, YO, pull through 2 loops.

Cupcake1

 

Cake:

With CC and H Hook, make magic ring, or ch 3 and sl st to 1st ch to form ring.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, 6 sc into loop. (6) Don’t join rnds. Work in a spiral.

Rnd 2:  (2 sc) 6 times. (12)

Rnd 3:  [(2 sc), 1 sc] 6 times. (18)

Rnd 4:  [(2 sc), 2 sc] 6 times. (24)

Rnd 5:   [(2 sc), 3 sc] 6 times. (30)

Rnd 6:    [(2 sc), 4 sc] 6 times. (36) Sl st to next st join.

Rnd 7: Ch 1,  in BLO, 36 sc evenly around. Sl st to 1st sc to join. (36)

Rnd 8:  Ch 1, in both loops, 36 sc evenly around. Sl st to 1st sc to join. (36)

Rnd 9: Ch 1,  in BLO,  [dec, 4 sc] 6 times. (30) Don’t join rnds for rest of Cake.

Rnd 10:  Working in both loops, [dec, 3 sc] 6 times . (24)

Rnd 11:  [dec, 2 sc] 6 times. (18)

Rnd 12: [dec, 1 sc] 6 times. (12). Stuff with Polyfil very  lightly. You want just enough to keep the shape, but you don’t want to make it too puffy. It should just look like a little hockey puck.

Rnd 13:  dec 6 times. Sl st to next st to join. (6) Break off leaving about 10 inches of yarn. Weave needle thru front loop of remaining 6 sc and pull to close. Tie off. If your cake seems too puffy (mine often does), put a stitch or two through the very center of the cake and tie off again. Weave in ends.

 

Frosting:

You can either work Frosting in 1 color or 2 colors. If using 2 colors, simply work 2 rows in 1 color, and 2 rows in the next color.

With FC1 and H hook, ch 21.

Row 1: Sk 1st ch, work 20 sc evenly across. (20)

WORK REST OF PATTERN IN BLO.

Row 2: Ch 1, turn. (2 sc), 17 sc evenly across, dec. (20) If working 2 colors, drop FC1 and join FC2. You don’t have to carry FC1 along. Just leave it for now and pick it up after working next 2 rows in FC2, and keep alternating colors every 2 rows.

Row 3: Ch 1, turn. Dec, 17 sc evenly across. (2 sc). (20)

Alternate Rows 2 and 3 until you’ve completed 22 Rows.

If you are working in one color only, break off leaving a yard of yarn for sewing.

If you are working with 2 colors, work one more Row, Row 23, which is a repeat of Row 3, and then break off leaving a yard of yarn for sewing.

To form a tube, sew the last row of Cake to the first row of Cake, using a double-whipstitch to mimic the look of a row of single cochet. Tie off, but don’t cut any yarn, and keep the yarn on the tapestry needle.

To close one end of the tube, weave your needle in and out of the edge around the open hole. Go in and out about every other row. You can also tuck all your loose ends inside the tube so that you don’t have to weave them in later. This is where you can also hide the visible yarn loops from changing yarn colors. Pull tight to draw the opening closed. It should look like a nice spiral. Tie off to secure. Don’t cut yet.

Poke your needle through the center of  the spiral and all the way though to the other/open side of the tube. Close up this end of the tube as you did before, weaving in and out, drawing closed, tying off.  Tuck all your loose ends inside the tube so that you don’t have to weave them in later. You should now have a nice spirally frosting blob that fits perfectly on top of your Cake.

 

Cherry

Pull out about 8 inches of Red, and with H hook, make magic circle, or ch 3 and sl st to 1st ch to form ring.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, 6 sc into ring. (6) Don’t join rnds.

Rnds 2 – 3: 6 sc evenly around. (6) Sl st to next st to join. Break off leaving about 10 inches of yarn.

Wrap 8-inch yarn tail around your finger and then stuff it inside Cherry.

With tapestry needle, use 10-inch yarn tail to weave through remaining 6 sts and pull tight to close. Tie off. Then poke tapestry needle through bottom center and up through top center, pulling all the yarn through. Determine how long you want your cherry stem to be and tie a knot there. Trim yarn close to end of knot.

 

Assembly

I highly recommend hot glue to assemble your cupcake. So all you need to do is glue Frosting on top of Cake, and then Cherry on top of Frosting!

Then you can go crazy with decorating your little cupcake however you wish! I like using FabriTac for pompoms and GemTac for little seed beads and bugle beads. If you are attaching a hair clip to the bottom, I also recommend hot glue.

 

*This pattern is intended for personal use only. Please do not copy, re-distribute, or sell these instructions or the items you make using these instructions without my permission. Thank you!*

67 Comments on “Video Tutorial & Free Pattern: Swirly Cupcake Hair Clips”

  • I-Chan

    says:

    Ouuuu Yeeeeeaaa 😀 I have been drooling over these cuties for so long <3 Thank You so so so much for finally offering us the awesome pattern ^^ I am definitely going to make a few of these in different colors for me and my god daughter to wear 😀

  • Emi Gurumi

    says:

    Happy Belated Birthday Twinkie!!!
    You’re so sweet. I feel like this is a bit backwards, you giving us a present for your birthday. xD
    I hope it was a good one!

  • Tracy Marie

    says:

    I absolutely LOVE these – thank you so much for taking time out of your busy life to share this pattern with all of us and for adding the video tutorial, too! 🙂

  • Abi Cortez

    says:

    Aww! It’s so adorabubbles! Thank you so much! And check this, when you said that your birthday was this past Wednesday, I realized that it was also my mum’s and my birthday as well!

  • Kristin

    says:

    Your projects are the BEST!!! Thank you so very much for sharing your talents with us 😀

  • Angela Nelson

    says:

    HAPPY belated BIRTHDAY!!!!! Thank you for your generosity. I loooove these swirly creations of yumminess. I can’t wait to try making these. Thank you again, Twinkie.

  • cricri

    says:

    tres joli et tres original MERCI pour le partage

  • katgumi

    says:

    Belated Birthday Wishes Twinkie 🙂
    …tyvm for the yummy!

  • Janet Weidner

    says:

    HaPpY Belated BiRtHdAy TWINKIE!!!!! Hope all your dreams & wishes come true. You are a real inspiration & such a generous crafter! Thank you so much for this latest pattern!

  • Maike

    says:

    Happy Birthday!!!! Wish you a happy time with lots of sunshine, icecream and sweets and of course a lot of inspiration!!! Thanks for this super-cute pattern. I love it!

  • Ellie

    says:

    Happy birthday!! I love the pattern!!

  • Mari

    says:

    Hello Twinkie chan!

    I love your tutorial!
    Thank you so much for sharing : )
    I can’t wait to try my own too.

  • Grace

    says:

    Happy Birthday!!! 🙂 🙂 The pattern is so darn cute!!!!!!!!!

  • Teresa

    says:

    I love your creations. I’ve made 2 of these so far. The one I’m making now is “Frozen” style. I just wish I could post what it looks like. Thank you Twinkie, you’re awesome!

  • rosa

    says:

    hermoso trabajo lo voy hacer para mi nieta que tiene un añito que Dios lo acompañe

  • Rachel

    says:

    Too awesome! I’d love to include these in a blog round up shortly, may I have your permission to include a photo and link back? Thanks so much!

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Hi! Yes, of course! :). Thank you for asking!

  • Julie Redmond

    says:

    I am so happy to have found you. I love your tutorials they are so easy to follow. My grandmother thought me to knit and crochet when I was young but I didn’t catch on to crochet and have been a knitter all my life until now. I am now a grandmother myself and took up crochet a year ago, I love it. Thank you for sharing your amazing tallent.

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Julie! I can’t believe I haven’t replied to this yet. I’m so sorry! But your comment truly made my day, and I’m so happy you have had fun with my crochet patterns. 🙂

  • How Sweet! I was just over to Stephanie’s… allaboutami.com ,she shared your yummy treat.Thank you for sharing the pattern ,my granddaughter will love these for playtime

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Oh, I should go thank her! I’m glad you liked the pattern!

  • Mariana

    says:

    I have always been so confused just reading the instructions for this… but with your video it is so clear & finally I will be able to make one. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Yay, I’m glad it helped!

  • Lynn Stott

    says:

    Thank you very much for the cup cake pattern. I was wondering if it is permissible to use a photograph of them in a charity calendar that the crochet group I belong to are putting together.
    Thank you for looking
    Lynn

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Hi! If you are able to note a photo credit, that would be great!

  • Anonymous

    says:

    Dear Twinkie Chan,
    May I have permission to sell the cupcakes I make from this pattern? I will be sure to give credit.

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Hi! Thank you for asking! I am going to be making announcement about this soon, I think, so, please go ahead, and a credit would be awesome. Thank you!

  • Christine

    says:

    Bonjour,
    Vraiment magnifique !!!! une vidéo au top j’adore !!!!
    Merci beaucoup !
    Christine

  • EB Jang

    says:

    Hi Chan!!
    I am really enjoying your patterns so I have been continuing to visit your blog.
    I really appreciate that you share yours with me.
    I just wonder that it is possible to translate your patterns with Korean because I want to introduce your patterns. I will make sure that it is your original link on blog.

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Hi! Sure! As long as you link back to the original pattern/post, that would be great 🙂

  • Thanks for sharing this great tutorial !! Just looking for an explanation for such toppings and this is simple and accurate. I try !!

  • Sam

    says:

    Hello, if I wanted to make the frosting taller, would I just increase the number of chains at the beginning?

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Yup!

  • Vilena

    says:

    Thank you so much!!!

  • Vilena

    says:

    Thank you so much!!! Now I know how did it!

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      You’re welcome!

  • Cassandra

    says:

    I absolutely love this!! ♡ can you do a swirly cupcake hat tutorial?? ♡♡♡♡♡

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      I don’t know if I’ll make a video for that, but I definitely plan to put that pattern in my Etsy shop 🙂

  • Farah Al Ali

    says:

    hi Twinkie
    first May I have permission to sell these cupcakes make from this pattern? I will be sure to minion you
    second i m really fan of your work you are soooo talented and i bought your book and i start to make the mixer cover but my mixer is bit bigger with 2 handles but its look fine ill be sure to send you a pic when its done
    thank you for your great effort and work.

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      Thank you for your support! Yes, you may definitely sell finished cupcakes, and if you could mention me as the designer in your online listings or on hangtags, that would be so appreciated!

  • Jassy

    says:

    Hi Twinkie! I am so glad I found your blog! I have been looking for cute cupcake patterns for ages!!!
    I have a question about the frosting. If I want to make a bigger version of the frosting, do I just have more stitches per row and more rows- and size up that way? Or should I just use thicker yarn?

    • TwinkieChan

      says:

      You could use either approach :). I am not sure exactly what the math is on increasing row and stitch count tho.

  • madhu sood

    says:

    Very nice

  • Angeli Belardinelli

    says:

    Thank you so much for sharing this pattern. The frosting is awesome!

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