Football Ear Flap Hat

***Pattern was adapted originally from http://allicrafts.blogspot.com
Football Ear Flap Hat (pattern for size 3-6 months)

Supplies

  • Worsted acrylic yarn (I am a big fan of "I Love This Yarn!" from Hobby Lobby)  Medium weight #4
  • About 1/4 skein of brown yarn and small amount of white yarn 
    • If you are going to use team colors for the braided ties, a small amount of 3 colors should be used
  • Crochet Hook "H"
  • yarn needle (for football "stitching" detail)

Abbreviations

  • CH:  Chain
  • DC:  double crochet
  • SC:  single crochet
  • single DEC:  single decrease

Pattern
*for this pattern, the first "chain 2" does not count as the first DC.

 Round 1:  Starting with the brown yarn, chain 3.  Create a Magic Ring by DC into the first chain from hook (click here for more info on Magic Ring).  DC 10 times in magic ring (first 3 chains do NOT count as first DC). Make sure to pull ring tightly to prevent gap in top of hat.  Join to top of chain with slip stitch.
Round 2:  Chain 2.  DC in each DC around round 1 (total of 20).  Slip stitch into top of chain.
Round 3:  Chain 2.  DC into first DC twice, then one DC in the next DC.  Repeat pattern (2 DC, 1 DC, 2 DC, 1 DC) around round 2 for a total of 30.  Slip stitch into top of chain.
Round 4:  Change to white yarn.  Chain 2.  DC twice into first DC, then single DC in next and another single DC in next.  Repeat pattern (2 DC, 1 DC, 1 DC) around Round 3 for total of 40.  Slip stitch into top of chain.
Round 5: Switch back to brown yarn. Chain 2.  DC twice in first DC, then single DC in each of the next 3 stitches.  Repeat pattern (2 DC, 1 DC, 1 DC, 1 DC) around Round 4 for total of 50.  Slip stitch into top of chain.  
**Your hat is now wide enough for average 3-6 month head.  The next rounds will increase the length of the hat, but not the width.  If you would like to "size up" the hat to 6-12 month size, keep adding stitches by following pattern above for Round 6 and add 1 row to the length--total of 12 rounds instead of 11).
Round 6:  Chain 2.  DC in each DC for total of 50.  Slip stitch into top of chain.  Repeat for Rounds 7-11.  Change to white yarn for Round 9 only!  Do NOT fasten off when you finish Round 11--you will add ear flaps from this stopping point.

 To add ear flaps, follow directions below:

 Round 1:  Chain 1.  12 SC.  Chain 1 and turn.
Round 2:  Single DEC (make two SC into one), 8 SC, then single DEC--total of 10.  Chain 1 and turn.
Round 3:  SC 10 stitches across.  Chain 1 and turn.
Round 4:  Single DEC (make two SC into one), 6 SC, then single DEC--total of 8.  Chain 1 and turn.
Round 5:  SC 8 stitches across.  Chain 1 and turn.
Round 6:  Single DEC (make two SC into one), 4 SC, then single DEC--total of 6.  Chain 1 and turn.
Round 7:  SC 6 across.  Chain 1 and turn.
Round 8:  Single DEC (make two SC into one), 2 SC, then single DEC--total of 4.  chain 1 and turn.
Round 9:  SC 4 across.  Chain 1 and turn.
Round 10:  Single DEC (make two SC into one) TWICE.  Chain 1 and turn.
Round 11:  Single DEC.  Pull yarn through loop and pull tight to fasten.

 To add second ear flap:

  • Starting at base of ear flap, count 11 stitches along the base of hat (the "seam" of your hat should end up between your ear flaps within these 11 stitches, but closer to the first ear flap, not the middle of the ear flaps.  This will put your seam in the back of the hat where it won't be seen).
  • Yarn over with brown yarn to start a stitch, chain 1 and follow directions above starting at "Round 1".
  • Follow directions above to add second ear flap.  
  • You will end up with two long strands of yarn dangling from each ear flap.  If they are the colors that you would like to include in your braided ties, leave them there.  If they aren't the colors you will be using, just weave them back up into the hat and tie them off.
*TRIM:  Using white or a coordinating color (if you were making a team hat for example, start at the bottom of one ear flap and SC all the way around your hat until you meet back at the beginning.  Slip stitch into your first stitch to connect.  This last step is very important to have a "finished" look.

Braided Ties:
  • If you are going to be doing team colors (like black, white, and yellow for the Steelers), cut around 4 strands of yarn of each color for each ear flap.  Strands should be around 16-18 inches long.  
  • Holding the strands as a bunch, pull them through the base of the ear flap using the crochet hook from inside the hat.  Even out ends (so they are equally long) and loop around to secure.  
  • You can braid them as solid colors or just braid the whole set as a multi color braid (see pics below).
Football Stitching
  • Fold hat in half long-wise, find the center line on the front of the hat.
  • Using scrap white yarn and the yarn needle, make one long stitch up the center line between the two white stripes.
  • Go back and forth to make smaller stitches with the middle stitch being slightly longer than the top and bottom stitch.  
  • Ties ends together inside of hat and trim.
  • Basic football hat with brown and white braided ties

    Redskins colors

    Up close view--notice the yellow trim to match the team colors!


    Looks awesome on baby!



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