Spirit Earflap Hat Free Pattern

Pattern Description:

The Spirit Earflap Hat is a free, beginner-friendly crochet pattern featuring a modern twist on the classic earflap hat, complete with a textured brim and tassels.

This pattern provides instructions for a full range of sizes, from 0-3 months up to adult, making it versatile for various recipients.

Materials Needed & Measurements:

• Yarn: Premier Just Yarn, Red Heart with Love, WeCrochet Knit Picks Brava Worsted.
• Yarn Weight: Medium (4), Worsted Weight.
• Hook: 5.5mm (I) crochet hook.
• Notions:
  • Tapestry needle
  • Scissors
  • Pom maker

Measurements:

• 0-3 months: 13” / 5”
• 3-6 months: 14” / 5.5”
• 6-12 months: 16” / 6”
• Toddler: 18” / 7”
• Child: 20” / 7.5”
• Teen / Adult Small: 21” / 8”
• Adult: 23” / 9”
• Gauge: 2” = 4 DC rows and 7 DC sts. It is noted that yarn choice, hook size, and tension will affect the sizing, and checking gauge is recommended. Age-based sizes are based on Craft Yarn Council standards, but it is always best to base sizing on actual head circumference.

Stitches & Abbreviations Used:

• st = stitch
• sl st = slip stitch
• ch = chain
• DC = double crochet
• FPDC = front post double crochet
• SC = single crochet
• SC2tog = single crochet 2 stitches together
  • Note that chain 1 or 2 at the beginning of each row does not count as a stitch unless otherwise specified.

Instructions for Making the Spirit Earflap Hat Pattern:

Hat Base Instructions (Using 5.5mm (I) crochet hook)

All hat bases begin with a magic ring and chain 2, then proceed with double crochets (DC) into the ring. For the first few rows, you will increase the stitch count in each round to create the hat’s circular base. Subsequent rows involve working 1 DC in each stitch around. The brim is created using color C with a repeating pattern of 1 FPDC in the next st and 1 DC in the next st.

• 0-3 Months (Approx. circumference: 13” / Approx. length: 5”):
  • Start with color A, alternating with color B. Increase stitches over 4 rows (10, 20, 30, 35 sts). Work 2 rows of 1 DC in each st (35 sts).
  • Switch to color C for 1 DC row (35 sts), then 2 rows of the FPDC/DC brim pattern (35 sts).
• 3-6 Months (Approx. circumference: 14” / Approx. length: 5.5”):
  • Start with color B, alternating with color A. Increase stitches over 4 rows (10, 20, 30, 40 sts). Work 3 rows of 1 DC in each st (40 sts).
  • Switch to color C for 1 DC row (40 sts), then 2 rows of the FPDC/DC brim pattern (40 sts).
• 6-12 Months (Approx. circumference: 16” / Approx. length: 6”):
  • Start with color A, alternating with color B. Increase stitches over 5 rows (10, 20, 30, 40, 45 sts). Work 3 rows of 1 DC in each st (45 sts).
  • Switch to color C for 1 DC row (45 sts), then 2 rows of the FPDC/DC brim pattern (45 sts).
• Toddler (Approx. circumference: 18” / Approx. length: 7”):
  • Start with color B, alternating with color A. Increase stitches over 5 rows (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 sts). Work 4 rows of 1 DC in each st (50 sts).
  • Switch to color C for 1 DC row (50 sts), then 3 rows of the FPDC/DC brim pattern (50 sts).
• Child (Approx. circumference: 20” / Approx. length: 7.5”):
  • Start with color A, alternating with color B. Increase stitches over 6 rows (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 55 sts). Work 4 rows of 1 DC in each st (55 sts).
  • Switch to color C for 1 DC row (55 sts), then 3 rows of the FPDC/DC brim pattern (55 sts).
• Teen / Adult Small (Approx. circumference: 21” / Approx. length: 8”):
  • Start with color B, alternating with color A. Increase stitches over 6 rows (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 sts). Work 5 rows of 1 DC in each st (60 sts).
  • Switch to color C for 1 DC row (60 sts), then 3 rows of the FPDC/DC brim pattern (60 sts).
• Adult (Approx. circumference: 23” / Approx. length: 9”):
  • Start with color A, alternating with color B. Increase stitches over 7 rows (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 65 sts). Work 5 rows of 1 DC in each st (65 sts).
  • Switch to color C for 1 DC row (65 sts), then 3 rows of the FPDC/DC brim pattern (65 sts).

After completing the hat base, do not fasten off; you will immediately begin Earflap 1.

Earflap Instructions

All earflaps start with a ch 1 and SC stitches, then decrease over subsequent rows using SC2tog.

• For 0-3 Months, 3-6 Months, 6-12 Months, and Toddler Sizes:
  • Earflap 1: Ch 1, work 1 SC in the first 10 sts. Place a stitch marker in the next unworked stitch. Decrease over 9 rows from 10 sts down to 1 st, using SC2tog at the beginning and end of decreasing rows and working SC across in between. Fasten off.
  • Unworked Stitches between Earflaps:
    • 0-3 Months: 10 unworked sts
    • 3-6 Months: 12 unworked sts
    • 6-12 Months: 15 unworked sts
    • Toddler: 17 unworked sts
  • Earflap 2: After leaving the specified number of unworked stitches, begin Earflap 2 in the next stitch. It follows the same 9-row decrease pattern as Earflap 1, starting with 10 SC stitches and ending with 1 SC2tog (1 st). Do not fasten off after Earflap 2, proceed to finishing.
• For Child, Teen, and Adult Sizes:
  • Earflap 1: Ch 1, work 1 SC in the first 12 sts. Place a stitch marker in the next unworked stitch. Decrease over 11 rows from 12 sts down to 1 st, using SC2tog at the beginning and end of decreasing rows and working SC across in between. Fasten off.
  • Unworked Stitches between Earflaps:
    • Child: 20 unworked sts
    • Teen: 22 unworked sts
    • Adult: 25 unworked sts
  • Earflap 2: After leaving the specified number of unworked stitches, begin Earflap 2 in the next stitch. It follows the same 11-row decrease pattern as Earflap 1, starting with 12 SC stitches and ending with 1 SC2tog (1 st). Do not fasten off after Earflap 2, proceed to finishing.

Assembly & Finishing (All Sizes)

• Trimming: From where you finished Earflap 2, ch 1 and work 1 SC down Earflap 2, around the back edge of your hat, up and over Earflap 1, and then around the front edge of your hat, and back up Earflap 2 to your starting stitch. Join with a sl st to your first SC. Fasten off and weave in any loose ends.
• Tassels: Create two tassels, one for each earflap. Cut 3 long, equal strands of colors A, B, and C, for a total of 9 strands per tassel. These strands should be slightly longer than your desired finished tassel length when folded in half. Insert your hook at the bottom of an earflap, pull the yarn strands through, and tie a knot to secure them. Separate the strands by color and braid them together, then tie a knot at the end of the braid and trim the ends to be even.
• Pom Pom: Using color C, create a pom pom with your pom maker. Attach the finished pom pom to the top of the hat.

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