Baby Earflap Hat
A top-down dc hat with two small earflaps worked straight off the edge.
- Yarn
- Worsted (4) soft machine-washable yarn.
- Hook
- H-8 (5 mm)
- Sizes
- Newborn to toddler (hat chart). Example: 6–12 months, 16.5 in (42 cm) finished, 6.5 in (16.5 cm) tall.
- Example gauge
- 12 sts and 7 rnds = 4 in (10 cm) in dc
- Yarn needed
- About 120 yd (110 m) worsted for 6–12 months.
US terms. The UK name follows in brackets the first time each stitch appears. Turning chains don’t count as stitches unless a step says so. See US vs UK crochet terms and crochet abbreviations.
Do the math
The examples use the gauge above. Put your own swatch into the gauge calculator first, then use your numbers in each formula.
| Step | Formula | Example | Tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crown stitches | finished hat × sts per in, to a multiple of 12 | 16.5 × 3 = 49.5 → 48 | Cast-On Calculator |
| Earflap placement | back 25% · flap 19% · front 37% · flap 19% | 12 · 9 · 18 · 9 | By hand |
| Total rounds | hat height × rnds per in | 6.5 × 1.75 ≈ 11 rnds | Size Charts |
Materials
- Worsted (4) yarn (see yarn needed)
- H-8 (5 mm)
- Stitch marker
- Tapestry needle
Gauge swatch
Work the first 4 rounds; they should measure about 5 in across.
Instructions
Crown
Join every round with a sl st (UK ss) to the first st; the ch at the start of each round does not count as a stitch.
Rnd 1: Magic ring. Ch 2, 12 dc (UK tr) in ring. (12) Rnd 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in each st. (24)
Rnd 3: Ch 2, *dc in next st, 2 dc in next; rep from *. (36) Rnd 4: Ch 2, *dc in next 2, 2 dc in next; rep from *. (48)
Body
Ch 2, dc in each st around. Repeat until you have 1 round fewer than your total rounds, counting the crown (example: 10 dc rounds). Last round: ch 1, sc (UK dc) in each st (example: round 11).
Earflaps
The join is centre back. Count 6 sts from the join; attach yarn in the next st.
Row 1: Ch 1, hdc (UK htr) in next 9 sts. Row 2: Ch 1, turn, hdc2tog (UK htr2tog), hdc in next 5, hdc2tog. (7) Row 3: Ch 1, turn, hdc across. Row 4: Ch 1, turn, hdc2tog, hdc 3, hdc2tog. (5) Row 5: Ch 1, turn, hdc2tog, hdc, hdc2tog. (3) Fasten off.
Skip 18 sts (the front) and work the second flap over the next 9 sts.
Edging
Work 1 round of sc around the whole lower edge, including the flaps, 2 sc at each flap tip.
Finishing
- Weave in ends securely.
- Optional: short braided ties, 5 in long.
Designer’s notes
- Safety: keep ties short, and never leave a sleeping baby in a hat with ties.
- Toddler: 18 × 3 = 54 → 60 sts (5 increase rounds); flaps 11, back 15, front 23. Earflaps: count 7 sts from the join and attach yarn in the next st. Row 1: Hdc in next 11. Row 2: Hdc2tog, hdc 7, hdc2tog (9). Row 3: Hdc across. Row 4: Hdc2tog, hdc 5, hdc2tog (7). Row 5: Hdc2tog, hdc 3, hdc2tog (5). Row 6: Hdc2tog, hdc, hdc2tog (3). Skip 23 sts (the front) for the second flap; 8 back sts remain on the other side of the join.
Counter set-up
Counter 1: rounds.
Open the row & stitch counter for several counters, or use the quick one below.
Tools for this pattern
- Gauge CalculatorEnter your swatch counts to get stitches and rows per 4 in (10 cm).
- Cast-On CalculatorEnter your width and gauge; it rounds to the stitch multiple for you.
- Size ChartsLook up the finished measurements for the size you are making.
- Yarn Quantity CalculatorPick the project, size and yarn weight to get total yardage and skeins to buy.
- Row & Stitch CounterSet up the counters listed below; the screen stays awake while you work.