Pulcino Set in Adriafil Azzurra and Avantgarde - Downloadable PDF

Pulcino Set – Knitted Cap, Purse, and Blanket in Adriafil Azzurra and Avantgarde

The Pulcino Set is a charming, coordinated collection of three handcrafted items designed for babies and young children: a cap (hat), a purse (bag), and a blanket. This free downloadable PDF pattern is published by Adriafil and uses two of their signature yarns — Azzurra and Avantgarde — to create a sweet, cohesive set with playful colour and texture. Despite being listed under knitting, the construction techniques described in the pattern are primarily crochet-based, making this an accessible and rewarding project for crafters comfortable with a hook.

About the Yarns and Materials

The Pulcino Set is worked using yarns from the Adriafil range, specifically:

• Adriafil Azzurra in yellow, colour no. 05 — a 4-ply weight yarn used doubled throughout the main sections to add body and warmth.
• Adriafil Avantgarde in printed colour no. 62 — used as an accent yarn to introduce decorative detail and visual interest.

The recommended tools and notions include:

• Crochet hook no. 3.00 (used for finer detail work)
• Crochet hook no. 3.50 (used for the main body of the cap, worked to gauge)
• Two cardboard rings, each 7 cm in diameter, used in the construction of the pompom or decorative topper for the cap
• Tapestry needle for finishing and weaving in ends

Tension and Gauge

The stated gauge for this pattern is worked over a 10 x 10 cm swatch using Adriafil Azzurra doubled on a 3.50 crochet hook, worked in a circular half treble crochet pattern. The gauge yields 14 half treble stitches and 11 rows per 10 cm square. Achieving correct gauge is particularly important for the cap, which has a specified finished diameter of 17.5 cm and an opening of 8 cm.

The Cap (Hat)

Construction and Shaping

The cap is worked in the round from the crown downward, beginning with a foundation chain of 5 stitches joined into a loop with a slip stitch. From this central loop, stitches are increased progressively across the first several rounds to build the dome of the hat. Each round is closed with a single crochet into the initial stitch.

The shaping follows a structured increase schedule:

• Round 1: 12 stitches worked into the initial loop
• Rounds 2 and 3: 2 stitches worked into each stitch below (doubling the count)
• Round 4: 56 stitches
• Round 5: 64 stitches
• Increases are spaced evenly from Round 4 through Round 13
• Round 11: 72 stitches
• Round 12: 62 stitches
• Round 13: 52 stitches
• Rounds 14 and 15 continue the shaping as detailed in the full PDF

The cap is worked with Adriafil Azzurra doubled as the main yarn, giving the fabric a denser, warmer structure suitable for a baby or toddler hat. The Avantgarde printed yarn is introduced as a contrast colour for decorative rows or edging, adding a lively, playful touch to the finished piece.

Stitches Used in the Cap

• Chain stitch — used for the foundation and turning