Free Pattern: crocheted ski hat for baby (12-18 months)

This project was born out of necessity following an adamantly bare-headed little girl and numerous lost hats over the side of the buggy. I happily found that with the cold snap and the wearing of mittens makes the removal of headgear rather tricky. So hopefully this hat will stay put!

This pattern will make a hat 55cms in circumference, which should fit 12-18 months. But as a guide, Flo is 9 months with a head circumference of 44 cms and it does fit her but she'll have the whole autumn and winter to grow into it. Mittens pattern to follow.

The hat I made is stripy, but the pattern is written without colour direction so you can choose to leave it as a block colour or alternate the colours as you wish.

Hook size: 4.5mm/ size 7.

Yarn: I used some spare Robin chunky but any Aran weight (or chunkier worsted weight) will do.

Abbreviations: Chain- ch; slip stitch- ss; double crochet- dc (US single crochet); treble crochet- tc (US double crochet); double crochet 2 together- dc2tog (US sc2tog); treble crochet 2 together- tc2tog (US dc2tog).

Hat

Ch8. Join to 1st ch st with a ss.

Ch3. Work 15 tcs into the centre of the newly formed circle to create one big circle. Join to 3rd ch st made at the start with a ss. (16 st)

Row 1: Start increase. Ch 2. *Work 1 dc in each st space created by the tcs from the previous round for 3sts. Then make 2 dcs in the next st space.* Repeat * to * to end. Join to 2nd ch st with a ss. (20 st)

Row 2: Ch 2. *Work 1 dc in each st space for 4sts. Then make 2 dcs in the next st space.* Repeat * to * to end. Join to 2nd ch st with a ss. (24 st)

Row 3: Ch 2. *Work 1 dc in each st space for 5sts. Then make 2 dcs in the next st space.* Repeat * to * to end. Join to 2nd ch st with a ss. (28 st)

Row 4: Ch 2. *Work 1 dc in each st space for 6sts. Then make 2 dcs in the next st space.* Repeat * to * to end. Join to 2nd ch st with a ss. (32 st)

Row 5: Ch 2. *Work 1 dc in each st space for 7sts. Then make 2 dcs in the next st space.* Repeat * to * to end. Join to 2nd ch st with a ss. (36 st)

Row 6: Ch 2. *Work 1 dc in each st space for 8sts. Then make 2 dcs in the next st space.* Repeat * to * to end. Join to 2nd ch st with a ss. (40 st)

Row 7: Ch 2. *Work 1 dc in each st space for 9sts. Then make 2 dcs in the next st space.* Repeat * to * to end. Join to 2nd ch st with a ss. (44 st)

Row 8: Ch 2. *Work 1 dc in each st space for 10sts. Then make 2 dcs in the next st space.* Repeat * to * to end. Join to 2nd ch st with a ss. (48 st)

Row 9: Ch 2. *Work 1 dc in each st space for 11sts. Then make 2 dcs in the next st space.* Repeat * to * to end. Join to 2nd ch st with a ss. (52 st)

Row 10: Ch 2. *Work 1 dc in each st space for 12sts. Then make 2 dcs in the next st space.* Repeat * to * to end. Join to 2nd ch st with a ss. (56 st)

Row 11: Ch 2. *Work 1 dc in each st space for 13sts. Then make 2 dcs in the next st space.* Repeat * to * to end. Join to 2nd ch st with a ss. (60 st)

Row 12: Ch 2. *Work 1 dc in each st space for 14sts. Then make 2 dcs in the next st space.* Repeat * to * to end. Join to 2nd ch st with a ss. (64 st)

Row 13: Ch 2. *Work 1 dc in each st space for 15sts. Then make 2 dcs in the next st space.* Repeat * to * to end. Join to 2nd ch st with a ss. (68 st)

Row 14: Ch 2. *Work 1 dc in each st space for 16sts. Then make 2 dcs in the next st space.* Repeat * to * to end. Join to 2nd ch st with a ss. (72 st)

Row 15: Ch 3. Work 1 tc in each st space to end of round. Join to 3rd ch made at the start with a ss.

Rows 16-18: Ch 2. Work 1 dc in each st space to end. Join to 2nd ch with a ss.

Row 19: start decrease. Ch2. *Work 1 dc in next 17 st, then dc2tog the next 2 st*. Repeat from * to * to end. Join to 2nd ch with a ss. (68 st)

Row 20: begin to shape bottom of hat) Ch 2. Work 1 dc in next 4 st. Dc2tog. 1 dc in next 4 st. Ch 2. Then make 1 tc in next 14 st. Ss the next 20 st (this creates the front of the hat). Ch3. Work 1 tc in next 14 st. Work 1 dc in next 4 st. Dc2tog. 1 dc in next 4 st. Join to 2nd ch with ss. (66 st)

Create ear flaps: join new wool to the stitch space created by the ch 3 and second set of treble crochets made in the last round (right ear flap when hat is turned right side out).

Row 20: ss to next st. Ch 3. Make 1 tc in each of the next 11 st. Then work 1 dc in the next 10 st. *dc2tog next 2 st* repeat * to* 3 times. Then work 1 dc in each of the next 8 sts. Then make 1 tc in each of the next 11 st. Finish with 1 dc in next st and ss in the last st. Secure and then cut yarn.

Join new yarn to the newly made ch3 and 1st tc made at the start of the previous round.

Row 21: ss to next st. Ch 3. Make 1 tc in each of the next 3 st. Tc2tog the next 2 st. Then make 1 tc in each of the next 3 st. Then work 1 dc in the next 9 st. *dc2tog next 2 st* repeat * to* 3 times. Then work 1 dc in each of the next 8 sts. Then make 1 tc in each of the next 3 st, tc2tog next 2 st then 1 tc in the next 3 st.. Finish with 1 dc in next st and ss in the last st. Secure and then cut yarn.

Join new yarn to the newly made ch3 and 1st tc made at the start of the previous round.

Row 22: ss to next st. Ch 3. Make 1 tc in each of the next 3 st. Then work 1 dc in the next 2 st. ss next 23 st. Then work 1 dc in the next st. Ch2.  Then make 1 tc in each of the next 4 st. Finish with ss in the next 2/3st along the edge of the ear flap to strengthen the curve. Secure and then cut yarn.

Attach plaits: sew in along the bottoms of the ear flaps. If you are very clever you can leave lengths of yarn at either end where you have attached yarn over the last 3 rows which can then be woven through the flaps and emerge at the bottom. Or just sew in new yarn. My plaits were 12 cms long but you can lengthen them or omit them as you want to. Knot ends securely.

Attach pom-pom: Make a pom-pom using a contrasting or same yarn used for hat. My card was 6cm in diameter. Attach at the top of the hat and secure tightly as little fingers will try to pull this wonderful feature off!

Secure all yarn ends and weave in.

Thinking about it....

...almost....

...she's done it! Need to get those mittens finished quick sticks!