Santa Earflap Hat for Babies

Please read this before continuing or starting a new project.  Thanks.

I was searching for a cute hat for my 3-month-old daughter to wear around Christmas time, but I didn't want to use a generic Santa hat. Finally, I saw an adorable Santa-esque hat in DROPS Christmas Workshop 2011, but unfortunately it was knitted, and I don't knit! So instead, I improvised a similar crochet version of this adorable earflap hat, complete with pom poms. When made to gauge, this hat will fit an approximately 16" head.

Please do not distribute or sell this pattern. Items made from this pattern are for personal use only; do not sell items made from this pattern.

Materials:

※ Worsted weight yarn in white and red (I used Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn)
※ Size G hook
※ Optional: pom pom maker

Abbreviations (American standard):
ch = chain
sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet
dec = decrease
st = stitch
sl st = slip stitch
rnd = round
F/O = fasten off

Gauge: 7 dc and 4 rows = 2 inches

Notes:
This hat is designed to fit an approximately 16" head. Add additional rounds to increase size, or decrease rounds for a smaller size hat.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Hat Body:

• With red, ch 4 and sl st to form a ring.
• Rnd 1: ch 2 (counts as a dc here and throughout), 5 dc into the center of the ring. Sl st to the top of ch 2. (6 st)
• Rnd 2: ch 2, dc in same st. 2 dc in each st around. Sl st to the top of ch 2. (12 st)
• Rnd 3: ch 2, 2 dc in next st. *1 dc in next st, 2 dc in next st. Repeat from * around. Sl st to the top of ch 2. (18 st)
• Rnd 4: ch 2, 1 dc in next st, 2 dc in next st. *1 dc in next 2 st, 2 dc in next st. Repeat from * around. Sl st to the top of ch 2. (24 st)
• Rnd 5: ch 2, 1 dc in next 2 st, 2 dc in next st. *1 dc in next 3 st, 2 dc in next st. Repeat from * around. Sl st to the top of ch 2. (30 st)
• Rnd 6: ch 2, 1 dc in next 3 st, 2 dc in next st. *1 dc in next 4 st, 2 dc in next st. Repeat from * around. Sl st to the top of ch 2. (36 st)
• Rnd 7: ch 2, 1 dc in next 4 st, 2 dc in next st. *1 dc in next 5 st, 2 dc in next st. Repeat from * around. Sl st to the top of ch 2. (42 st)
• Rnd 8: ch 2, 1 dc in next 5 st, 2 dc in next st. *1 dc in next 6 st, 2 dc in next st. Repeat from * around. Sl st to the top of ch 2. (48 st)
• Rnd 9: ch 2, 1 dc in next 6 st, 2 dc in next st. *1 dc in next 7 st, 2 dc in next st. Repeat from * around. Sl st to the top of ch 2. (54 st)
• Rnds 10-11: ch 2, 1 dc in ea st around. Sl st to the top of ch 2. F/O red yarn.
• Rnds 12-14: Change to white yarn. Ch 2, 1 dc in ea st around. Sl st to the top of ch 2 and F/O.

Ear Flaps:

Mark where you want the front of each earflap to be and follow the directions for each side. (Placement will vary due to your baby's individual head, but for my baby's hat, the front of the left earflap was at 11 stitches left of the back seam, and 18 stitches right of the back seam.)

• Row 1: With white, attach yarn to first st with sl st. 1 sc in same st, 1 sc in next 7 st. Ch 2, turn. (8 st)
• Row 2: 1 dc in ea st across. Ch 2, turn. (8 st)
• Row 3: Dec over first 2 st, dc in next 4 st, dec over last 2 st. Ch 2, turn. (6 st)
• Row 4: Dec over first 2 st, dc in next 2 st, dec over last 2 st. Ch 2, turn. (4 st)
• Row 5: Dec over first 2 st, dec over last 2 st. F/O.

Edging: Starting at the back seam, attach white yarn with sl st. Ch 2, dc 4 times in same st. Skip next st, sc in next st. *Skip next st, 5 dc in next st, skip next st, sc in next st. Repeat from * around, including along the sides of the earflaps. (You will have to eyeball placement of the stitches along the earflap edges.)

Pom Poms: Make 2 pom poms out of white yarn and attach to the bottoms of each earflap. You can use a pom pom maker or make one by hand; I prefer to use a pom pom maker (I used Clover brand) as it will give you a very even, full, and fluffy pom pom. If you would prefer to make one by hand, there are many good tutorials on YouTube.

All patterns and photos are copyright ©2011-2014 by  Sarah A. Cano.  All rights reserved.  No part of this website may be reproduced without my express written consent.

Newborn Elf Hat with Tassel

Please read this before continuing or starting a new project.  Thanks.

Here is an adorable elf hat to get your newborn baby into the holiday spirit.  This makes a perfect photo prop!

Photos below were taken by my sister Melanie over at Melanie Melugin Photography.  Melanie is a natural light photographer in the Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas area.  If you live near her, go check her out for all your family, special events, etc. photography needs!

Materials:

※ Worsted weight yarn in color(s) of your choice (in the sample photo above, I used Vanna's Choice - Toffee and Pound of Love - Pastel Pink and Pastel Blue)

※ Size I hook

※ Yarn needle

※ Optional: piece of cardboard to create tassel

Gauge:

1" = 4 stitches in double crochet. Hat should measure about 6" wide at the bottom.

Abbreviations (American standard):

ch = chain

sc = single crochet

dc = double crochet

fpdc = front post double crochet

bpdc = back post double crochet

st = stitch

sl st = slip stitch

rnd = round

Pattern Notes

* This hat is made working from the bottom of the hat up.

* The first ch 3 in each round counts as one double crochet, so include it in your stitch counts at the end of the round.

* If you want to change colors (such as making it striped as in my sample), simply change colors at the end of each round.

INSTRUCTIONS

Hat Body

Ch 40. Sl st in 1st ch to make a circle; be careful not to twist the chain.

Rnd 1: Dc in ea st around. (40 st)

Rnd 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in next st, then dc dec across the next 2 st. Dc around to the last 2 st; dc dec across these 2 st. Sl st to 3rd ch of the first ch 3. (38 st)

Rnds 3-18: Repeat round 2. You will be decreasing each round by 2 st - round 3 should end with 36 st, round 4 should have 34 st, etc. By the end of round 18, you should have 6 st.

Rnds 19-20: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in ea st around. Sl st to 3rd ch of the first ch 3. (6 st)

Rnd 21: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), dc dec across next 2 st, dc in next st, dc dec across last 2 st. Sl st to 3rd ch of the first ch 3. (4 st)

Fasten off. Using a yarn needle, weave the tail through the last round and pull tight to close it up. Weave in ends.

Note: If you changed colors at the end of each round without cutting the yarn (just picking up each color at the beginning of the next round), you may want to turn the hat inside out to make the color changes less noticeable.

Hat Brim

Attach yarn to any st at the bottom of the hat (the first ch 40) in the back.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in ea st around.

Rnds 2-4: Ch 3 (counts as a dc), *fpdc in next st, bpdc in next st. Repeat from * around. (40 st)

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Tail and Tassel

Attach three strands of yarn to the top of the hat and secure with a knot on the inside of the hat. Braid the three strands together to the desired length, then knot at the bottom to secure. Make a tassel and attach it to the end of the braid. If you don't know how to make a tassel, here is a great tutorial with a super easy way to make one, or you can look for other various methods on YouTube.

All patterns and photos are copyright 2011-2014 by Sarah A. Cano.  All rights reserved.  No part of this website may be reproduced without my express written consent.