Directions for Crocheted Sock Monkey Hats

Work on a sock monkey hat for your baby.

The sock monkey doll of your childhood lives on in a sock monkey hat for your baby. Using the same yarn colors of the original sock monkey doll, make the face and a small beanie for the baby. To crochet this project, you should be familiar with crocheting in rounds and rows dropping and joining different yarns, crocheting irregular shapes, working on both sides of a foundation chain and embroidering into a crocheted item. This little hat is ideal for cold weather.

Things You'll Need

• Chunky yarn:
• Berry Red, 2 skeins
• Natural, 1 skein
• Black, 1 skein
• Tan, 2 skeins
• H/8 and N/15 crochet hooks
• Stitch markers
• Scissors
• Tapestry needle

Instructions

Sock Monkey's Face

1. Crochet seven chain stitches using the smaller crochet hook and the Berry Red yarn. Work two single crochet into the second chain from the hook for round one. Crochet one single crochet into each of the next four chain stitches. Work three single crochet into the last chain stitch. Turn the foundation chain around. Crochet one single crochet into each of the next five chain stitches and slip stitch into the first single crochet on the opposite side of the foundation to join, for 14 single crochet. Fasten off the yarn and cut with the scissors, leaving a 4-inch tail. Join with Natural yarn in the first single crochet. Insert a stitch marker to mark the end of the round and move the marker to the end of each new round.

2. Crochet one chain stitch and two single crochet stitches into each of the next two single crochet, then one single crochet into each of the next four single crochet for round two. Work two single crochet into each of the next three single crochet and one single crochet into each of the next four single crochet. Crochet two single crochet into the last single crochet and work a slip stitch into the first single crochet to join the round, for 20 single crochet stitches. Fasten off the Natural yarn and cut. Join with the Tan yarn into the second single crochet.

3. Work one chain stitch and two single crochet into each of the next two single crochet for round three, then one single crochet into each of the next seven single crochet. Crochet two single crochet into each of the next three single crochet and one single crochet into each of the next seven single crochet. Work two single crochet into the last single crochet stitch and join with a slip stitch to the first single crochet to join the round, for 26 single crochet stitches.

4. Work one slip stitch into the next single crochet and crochet one chain stitch for round four. Work two single crochet into the first single crochet, then one single crochet into each of the next 10 single crochet stitches. Crochet two single crochet into each of the next three single crochet and one single crochet into each of the next 10 single crochet stitches. Work two single crochet stitches into the last single crochet and join with a slip stitch to the first single crochet to join the round, for 32 singe crochet stitches. From this point of the monkey's face, crochet the work in rows. Place one stitch marker into a stitch, marking the side of work that will face out from the hat.

5. Crochet one chain stitch and work two single crochet into each of the first two single crochet, then one single crochet into each of the next 10 single crochet for row five. Crochet two single crochet into each of the next two single crochet and turn the work, leaving the remaining stitches unworked, for 18 single crochet. Do not fasten off or cut the Natural yarn.

Ears

1. Working on the wrong side of the monkey's face, work one chain stitch, skip the first stitch and crochet one single crochet into each of the next five single crochet for row six. Turn the work and leave the remaining stitches unworked, for five single crochet.

2. Crochet one chain stitch and skip the first stitch for row seven. Work one single crochet into each of the next four single crochet stitches and turn the work, for four single crochet stitches.

3. Work one chain stitch and skip the first stitch for row eight. Work the special stitch -- single crochet two together -- into the next two single crochet stitches. Crochet two single crochet into the next single crochet. Beginning work across the side of the ear, single crochet in the next row-end stitch. Slip stitch in the next single crochet in row five and fasten off the yarn. Do not cut the yarn.

4. Working on the right side of the monkey's face for row six, join with Tan into the first single crochet in row five. Work one chain stitch and skip the first stitch. Single crochet into each of the next five single crochet. Turn the work and leave the remaining stitches unworked, for five single crochet.

5. Crochet one chain stitch for row seven. Skip the first stitch and work one single crochet into each of the next four single crochet. Turn the work, for four single crochet.

6. Crochet one chain stitch for row eight. Skip the first stitch and work the special stitch -- single crochet two together -- into the next two stitches. Work two single crochet into the next single crochet. Beginning work across the side of the second ear, single crochet in the next row-end stitch. Slip stitch into the next stitch in row five. Fasten off and cut the yarn, leaving a long sewing length.

7. Thread a 36-inch length of Black yarn onto the tapestry needle and sew three straight stitches across the center of the mouth. Sew an inverted V into the centers of both ears. Thread two strands of Black yarn into the tapestry needle and work one French knot for each eye.

Baby Sock Monkey Hat

1. Change to the larger crochet hook and begin crocheting with the Berry Red yarn. Crochet four chain stitches and join the last chain to the first with a slip stitch.

2. Work three chain stitches for the first double crochet for round one. Crochet 11 double crochet into the ring and join the last double crochet to the third chain of the turning chain to join, for 12 stitches.

3. Crochet three chain stitches and two double crochet into each of the next two double crochet for round two. Repeat this stitching sequence to the end of round two: Work one double crochet into the next double crochet, then two double crochet into each of the next two double crochet. End with a slip stitch into the third chain stitch of the turning chain, joining round two, for 20 stitches.

4. Work three chain stitches for round three. Repeating this stitching sequence to just before the last double crochet of round two: Crochet two double crochet into each of the next two double crochet, then one double crochet into the next double crochet. Work two double crochet into the last double crochet and end with a slip stitch into the third chain stitch of the turning chain, joining round three, for 33 stitches.

5. Crochet three chain stitches for round four. Work one double crochet into each double crochet around. End with a slip stitch into the third chain stitch of the turning chain to join round four, for 33 stitches. Repeat round four for rounds five through seven. Fasten off the Berry Red yarn and cut, leaving a 4-inch tail. Join with the Natural yarn.

6. Work two chain stitches, for the first half-double crochet for round eight. Crochet one half-double crochet into each double crochet around and end with a slip stitch into the second chain of the turning chain to join round eight, for 33 stitches. Fasten off the Natural yarn and cut, leaving a 4-inch tail. Join with the Tan yarn.

7. Work two chain stitches for the first half-double crochet for round nine. Crochet one half double crochet into each half-double crochet around, ending with a slip stitch into the second chain of the turning chain to join round nine, for 33 stitches. Fasten off the Natural yarn with a 4-inch tail. Weave in all ends neatly, using the tapestry needle.

8. Thread a 36-inch length of Tan yarn onto the tapestry needle and sew the sock monkey fact to the hat. Weave the ends in.

Tips & Warnings

• Gauge for the hat's first round is 1 1/2 inches in diameter and eight stitches equals 4-inches.

• Work the single crochet two together special stitch as follows: Insert the hook into the next stitch and yarn over, drawing the yarn through the stitch twice. Yarn over and draw through three loops on the hook. The stitch is complete. This special stitch is used on the monkey's ears.

• Make a baby girl's hat by working round nine with a scalloped edge: Work one chain stitch. Crochet one single crochet into the first half-double crochet of round eight. Skip the next half-double crochet and work six double crochet into the next half-double crochet, for one shell stitch. Skip the next half-double crochet. Repeat the shell stitch-skip a half-double crochet sequence around the edge of the hat, ending with a slip stitch to join the final stitch to the first single crochet, for eight shell stitches. Fasten off and cut the yarn, leaving a 4-inch tail. Weave the ends in neatly.

References

• "Stitch 'n Bitch Crochet The Happy Hooker;" Debbie Stoller; 2006