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.