One of the joys of winter for me is wearing cosy and colourful hand-knitted or crocheted woolly hats, scarfs and mittens. It’s my winter jewellery, so to say.

Here I crocheted a hat using a handspun merino/silk yarn. I added some tassels to give it some sparkle.

The pattern is one size and will fit an average female head. Circumference 56cm (22”),
will stretch 5cm (2”).

Gauge

10 esc + 6 rows = 10cm (4”)
Be sure to check your gauge.

Notes

Hat is started at the crown and worked down.
Hat is worked in a spiral.

Stitch Explanation

Single Crochet (sc) - Insert hook in stitch, yarn over and pull up loop,
yarn over and draw through both loops on hook.

Extended Single Crochet (esc) - Insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop. You will have two loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through only the first loop on the hook. Yarn over and pull through both loops remaining on the hook.

Abbreviations

Ch – chain
Ch sp – chain space

Esc - extended single crochet Sl st – slip stitch

Sc – single crochet

St(s) - stitch(es)

Supplies

About 80 m (87 y), aran weight handspun yarn. I used a 2 ply 70/30 merino wool/silk blend and 20m (22 y) yarn in a contrasting colour for edging and tassels, some scrap yarn for decoration
Size 6mm crochet hook (US size J10, UK size 4) or size to obtain gauge
Large-eyed blunt needle
Cardboard for tassel making

Step 1: Hat

Ch 3, join with a slip stitch in the first chain to form a ring.

Round 1: Ch 1, work 9 sc in the ring; join with sl st – 9 sc.

Round 2: Ch 2, (counts as one esc), esc in same stitch, work 2 esc in each sc around; – 18 esc.

Round 3: Ch 2, *2 esc in the next esc, 1esc in the next esc; repeat from * around working the last esc in the same st as th beg ch -2; join - 28 esc.

Round 4: Ch 2,*1esc in the next esc, 2esc in the next esc ; repeat from * around to last stitch, 1esc in the last stitch, 1esc in the same stitch as the beginning chain-2; join – 42 esc.

Put a stitch marker at the end of row to indicate beginning and end of row.

Round 5: Esc in each st around.

Round 6 to round 14: Repeat round 5. In round 14 join last st with sl st in first esc of previous round.

Fasten off.

Step 2: Earflaps

Right Earflap

Position hat so the bottom edge is at the top and the right side of work is facing. Count 6 st to the left of the last joining stitch (this is the back of hat), join yarn with a esc in the next stitch, then esc in the next 9 sts – 10 sts. Turn.

Round 2 (Wrong Side): Ch 2 (=1esc), skip 1 st, 1esc in next 10 sts. Turn.
Round 3 (Right Side): Repeat round 2. Turn.

Round 4: Ch 2 (=1 esc), skip 1 st, esc 2 tog in next stitch, esc in the next 3 sts, esc 2 tog, esc in the last st – 8 sts. Ch 1, turn.

Round 5: Working in sc, [sc 2 tog] 4 times – 4st total. ch 1, turn.

Round 6: [sc 2 together] twice, ch 1, turn.

Round 7: Sc 2 together. Fasten off the last stitch securely.

Position hat so the bottom edge is at the top and the right side of work.

Left Earflap

Position hat so the bottom edge is at the top and the right side of work is facing. Count 16 st to the right of the last joining stitch. Join yarn with a esc in the next stitch, then esc in the next 9 sts – 10 stitches total.

Repeat rounds 2 – 7 same as for right earflap.

Step 3: Edging

From right side, join contrasting yarn with a sl st in the joining stitch at the back of hat. Work 1 esc in each stitch around the entire edge. Join round with a sl st in the first esc. Fasten off.

Step 4: Make 3 Tassels

To make a tassel cut out a 9cm (3,5”) long piece of cardboard. Wrap blue and green yarn around the cardboard, more strands will make a fuller tassel. The top tassel has about 25 -30 strands and the earflap tassels around 15 strands.

Slip a piece of yarn under one end and tie in a knot. Cut the other end open. With a separate piece of yarn, wrap and tie the tassel near the top.

Sew the fuller tassel to crown of hat and other 2 to centre of each earflap.

Step 5: Braids

Cut 3 strands each 50 cm (20”) long, again mixing blue and green. Draw the strands through tip of earflaps, so they are doubled. Group the colours together then braid for 15cm (6”). Tie ends with an overhead knot close to braid. Trim ends.

Step 6: Hat Decoration

Chain 10, sl st into first chain. Fasten off. Make 8 deco chains in colours of your choice. Sew onto hat with separate yarn. Trim ends of chains, so they form little tails.

I hope you like this hat and happy crocheting!