Making a square, knit hat is so easy.

Although I crochet a lot I really do love the look of a knit hat.  My 13 year old wanted a kitty hat so I tried several patterns that had sewn on ears.  They all flopped over which was disappointing.  I noticed some hats I had seen were square and when worn the top corners would stick out like ears…kitty cat ears?  They did!

Here is all there is to it.

Size 8 needles  (5 mm)

Worsted weight yarn (about 125 yards)

Yarn or Embroidery Floss for adding the face

Ribbon or fabric for the bow and an optional button for the middle of the bow.

My gauge is: 18 st in stockingnette = 4″ (10cm)

To knit in the round – Cast on 80 stitches, ribbing for first 1″ and then stockingnette stitch until work measures 7 1/2″.  Either use the Kitchener stitch (grafting) or a 3 needle bind off to close up the top.

To knit flat – Cast on 80 stitches.  Work in ribbing of your choice for first 1″.  Stockingnette stitch until work measures 7 1/2″ .  Divide stitches evenly onto each of your needles and use either a 3 needle bind off or graft the top shut.  Turn hat inside out, with a large needle run yarn up the back to close up the seam.

Embroider as desired and add a bow if you would like.  I used a left over piece of satin and sewed two 4″ x 3″ pieces together (right sides facing) leaving a small opening, stuffed and gathered in the middle and sewed a button on the front to cover my ugly stitches before attaching to the hat.

Resources:

These are the videos I used to learn both grafting and the three needle bind off.

Here is a helpful video for the 3 Needle bind off:  http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/casting-off

And also a video from KnittingHelp.com demonstrating how to Finish with the Kitchener stitch/grafting:  http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/knitting-tips

If you read my blog you will, I am sure, have noticed that I talk about not how it is so cold here in Northern Indiana but more-so how there is always wind off The Lake that sends a chill right thru you and violates even the thickest, tightest knit fabrics.  Living smack dab in the middle of hundreds of acres of farmed fields that of course, are empty in the winter, doesn’t help.

When I first started crocheting and knitting hats I played around with different ideas for earflaps.  Crochet ear flaps I learned were best in single crochet.  On my knit earflap hats it was not uncommon for me to knit a second set of triangular ear-flaps and sew them into the hat.  Unfortunately with the knits this method made them stick out a bit more than I preferred and even the tightest single crochet was no competition for the wind.

Double knitting was an option but not one I was too enthused about so I let Google take me around the internet and ended up finding a great tutorial from the Uncommon Grace blog showing step by step how to sew a fabric lining into a hand knit hat.  I have noticed since revisiting the site to post the link that the pics are not working but her instructions are very clear.

You will need
· Worsted weight yarn
· scrap yarn in contrasting colors if you are adding trim, eyes, nose, or ears
· Size K (6.5mm) and size I (5.5 mm) crochet hooks
· Smaller crochet hook or yarn needle to weave in ends.
· Yarn needle to attach optional facial features

Gauge= End of Round 2 = 2 ¾”

Thanks for using this pattern. I am still fairly new to crochet and even newer to writing up patterns so if you find an error kindly let me know. Chances are you have more crochet experience than I do.
This pattern is for a 12 month – 3 year old toddler hat in double crochet.

The photos shown, and pattern was created using

White Hat — I Love This Yarn acryclic  ( Red Heart Super Saver Café for ears and nose, Red Heart Super Saver Grey Heather for eyes and Red Heart Super Saver Light Blue for eye patch and contrasting trim)

Off White Hat — Red Heart Super Saver in “Soft White”, Cafe for ears and nose and Light Blue for eye patch.

These are heavier worsted weight yarns therefore if you are using a different weight yarn you may need to adjust your hook size and/or number of stitches.

For additional sizes, single crochet, half double crochet or are looking for different types of animal faces for hats please check this page on my website for updates: http://www.allyssite.com/crochet-animal-hats-index.html

HAT Pattern
Hat is crochet in a spiral (continuous rounds) meaning you will not join at the end of each round.  It is recommended you place a marker to keep track of your last stitch in each round.
Crown
Round 1- Chain 2 and double crochet 10 times into 2nd chain from hook or
if you are using magic circle make 10 dc in loop.
Round 2– Make 2 dc’s in each stitch. Place marker on last stitch
made. You should have 20 stitches
Round 3– *1 dc in next stitch, 2 dc in next stitch* repeat
around (30 stitches total)
Round 4 –*1 dc in each of the next 2 stitches, 2 dc in next stitch* repeat around (40 stitches total)
Round 5–*1 dc in each of the next 4 stitches, 2 dc in next stitch* repeat around (48 stitches total).  At the end of this round your circle should measure approximately  6″ across which will give you a hat 18.75 -19.25“
Rounds 6 – 11 (or until hat is approx 6 ½” long when measuring from top center to bottom.) Dc in each stitch around hat making sure to move marker with each completed row.
Leave marker in place –this will be the back center of your hat.
Do NOT cut yarn at end of rounds.
EARFLAPS
Rows:
Ss next 5 stitches. SS in next st, ch1. Sc in same stitch and in next 10 stitches. Ch 1 and turn. (11 sc)
Sc in each sc. Do not ch1. (11)
Sc in each sc. Do not ch1. (10)
Sc in each sc. Do not ch1. (9)
Sc in each sc. Do not ch1. (8)
Sc in each sc. Do not ch1. (7)
Sc in each sc. Do not ch1. (6)
Sc in each sc. Do not ch1. (5)
Sc in each sc. Do not ch1. (4)
Sc in each sc. Do not ch1. (3)
Sc in each sc. Do not ch1. (2)
Sc in each sc. Do not ch1. (1)
Count 17 stitches across front of hat. In the 17th st attach yarn for 2nd ear flap by ss, ch1 and sc in that stitch. Sc in the next 10 dc. Ch1 and turn. (11 sc)
Repeat rows 2-12 of earlfap pattern above. Cut off yarn and weave in ends of both earflaps.

Trim- with contrast color of your choice, attach yarn with slip stitch behind right
ear. Ch 1, and sc around entire hat and earflaps. Cut yarn and
weave in loose ends.

To add a dog face to the crochet hat just crochet and sew on these embellishments. Because these animal hat patterns are for babies please make sure the eyes, ears, noses and other parts are securely sewn to your finished garment. Personally I would not recommend buttons for children under three.

Disclaimer – I am not a child safety expert nor am I providing guidance. My statements regarding safety are only my opinions as a mother and grandmother. By crocheting and adding these embellishments you claim full moral and legal responsibility for the outcome and safety of the hat you create.

Directions given are for sewing the embellishments on with yarn and a yarn needle. If a neat appearance on the inside of the hat is a big concern for you, you may find regular sewing thread to be more invisible. Additionally, I have found I prefer to place facial embellishments onto the front of the hat with a couple drops of fabric glue and let it completely dry before sewing the eyes and nose to the hat opposed to pinning them in place.

Puppy Dog Ears – floppy
Using 5.5 mm hook (US size I)
Ch 14 leaving a long tail (about 12“).
Rows:
DC in 4th st from hook and in all st. Ch 3 and turn(11)
DC in 2nd st from hook and in all st. Ch 3 and turn(11)
Increase by making 2 dc in 1st stitch, dc across and make 2 dc in last stitch ch3 and turn (13)
DC in all st. ch3 and turn. (13)
Repeat row 4 (13)
Repeat row 4 (13)
Repeat row 4 (13)
DC2tog, dc next 10, dc2tog last 2 stitches . Ch 3 and turn. (11)
Dc2tog first two dc‘s, dc in next 7 st, dc2tog the last 2 stitches . Ch 3 and turn(9)
Dc2tog first two dc‘s, dc in next 5 st, dc2tog the last 2 stitches . Ch 3 and turn(7)
Dc2tog, 3 times, dc last st. (4)
Slip stitch into side of ear nearest your hook, ss all
the way around ear. Fasten and weave in end.
Repeat for 2nd ear.
Use tails from beginning chain to sew ears to top sides of hat.

Puppy Dog Eyes
(Make 2)
Using a 5.5 mm hook, Ch 2
Rows
6 sc in last chain from hook
2 sc in each sc. Slip stitch to join.
Fasten and cut yarn leaving a long enough tail for sewing
to hat.
Place on front of hat. Pin in place and use same color
yarn and a large needle to sew the eyes to the front of the
hat. (If you are using an eye patch see below before sewing
on)

Puppy Dog Eye Patch
(optional- shown as blue in photo)
With eye patch color, and 5.5 mm hook, ch 2 and follow instructions for
eyes except add an additional row as follows
Row 3- ch 3 (counts as first dc), 2 dc in each sc around. Ss into top of ch3.
(24)
Fasten and cut yarn leaving a long enough tail for sewing
to hat.
Place on of the eyes onto the eye patch with right sides
facing you. Making sure the eye is centered, sew it atop the
eye patch and trim all loose yarn.
Place on front of hat. Pin in place and use same color
yarn and a large needle to sew piece to the front of the
hat.

Puppy Dog Nose-
With nose color and a 5.5 mm hook, Ch 2
Rounds:
6 sc in last chain from hook
2 sc in each sc. (12)
sc in each sc around (12)
Repeat round 3.
sc in first sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat (18)
1 sc in each sc (18)
sc2tog all the way around. Join with ss. (9 sc)
Pin in place on front of hat and use same color yarn and
a large needle to sew piece to the front of the hat.
Hat Ties
With colors of your choice cut 12 strands of 18” long yarn
Use a yarn needle to insert cut yarn into the ss’s at the bottom of first ear flap.
Double the yarn over, split into 3 sections and braid. Tie with scrap yarn in color of your choice to fasten braid off.
Repeat for second braid.

Legend –US Crochet Terms
Sc – single crochet
Dc – double crochet
Dc2tog – double crochet 2 stitches together
Hdc -Half double crochet
ss- slip stitch
ch-chain (ie ch1=chain 1; ch2=chain2)

Terms of Service for this pattern: You are free to use finished garments from this pattern as you choose. If you give any credit to the website (www.allyssite.com) it would be greatly appreciated but not required. If you feature this pattern on the internet or any physical publication, do not include the wording or text of the pattern, instead provide a link to our website.

which is a heavier worsted weight yarn. If you are using a different yarn you may need to adjust the number of stitches and/or the hook size.

Click on the link to see the pattern I used or simply crochet a beanie and add round ears and a bow

Over the weekend I hooked up this basic beanie and added embellishments.  The pattern used is free and Ravelry and she has great videos to help with sewing on the ears so they don’t flop over.

The reminded me of basketball shoes so I put the pretend laces up the front and omitted the rollover cuff.

The pattern takes less than 30 yards of worsted weight and a 5 mm crochet hook.   Each bootie took me 15 minutes.

You can get this pattern by visiting Bev’s Country Cottage at:  http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/bevs-quick-bootie.html

Toddler Puppy Dog Hat in crochet – free pattern

Lg child thru adult Kitty Cat Hat in knit – free pattern

Puppy Dog Hat Crochet Pattern - Toddler size

Kitty face knit hat pattern - lg child thru adult

]]> http://www.allyssite.com/2012/02/two-new-animal-hats/feed/ 0 http://www.allyssite.com/2012/02/animal-hat-enthusiasts-join-here/ http://www.allyssite.com/2012/02/animal-hat-enthusiasts-join-here/#comments Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:35:51 +0000 CC http://www.allyssite.com/?p=878

If you enjoy knitting or crocheting animal hats or if you are getting ready to make your first one, join this Ravelry group!

Do you enjoy making, or do you want to learn to make animal hats?  There is a new group on Ravelry called “Animal Hats”. Stop in for a visit!

I’m a member of bev’s country cottage friends at Ravelry.  Recently a fellow member, Familydiva put out a call to anyone interested in making newborn baby booties for charity.  Her group is hoping to have 300+ by the end of March. Bev provided links to many of her free patterns and I started crocheting and knitting.

This was the first time I had ever made newborn booties.  They are so tiny and cute that it just helps make them a fun little project.  And talk about stash busting!

Below are pics of the booties I have made so far using just free patterns from Bev’s website:

Want to volunteer some of your creative time too?  The request is here:  http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/bevs-country-cottage-friends/1994721

The website is here: http://cyberseams.com/article/105710/all_things_knitting/how_to_make_your_own_sock_blockers.html

For gift giving I used their template and cut the shapes out of cardboard [that otherwise would have gone in the trash] and put the handmade socks on slippers on the foot shapes.