How to Crochet a Baby Hat With Ear Flaps

Crochet a hat for baby in a variety of bright colors to warm up the winter months.

If you need a quick handmade baby gift idea, crochet a baby hat with ear flaps. This type of hat will work up quickly and provide a baby with months of warmth and comfort. Crochet a baby earflap hat in one color for a simple look, or use multiple colors to make stripes and accents. Once you learn how to crochet a baby hat you can modify the pattern using different stitch patterns and colors for additional hats.

Things You'll Need

• Worsted-weight yarn
• Crochet hook size US I
• Scissors
• Large-eye blunt needle

Instructions

Crochet the Hat

1. Make three chain stitches and join with a slip stitch to form a circle. This will form the crown of the hat, and you will place the next round of stitches into this circle.

2. Chain one stitch and make six half double crochet stitches into the circle you made in step one to shape the top of the hat. Join the last half double crochet to the first with a slip stitch. Chain one and make two half double crochet stitches in each stitch around for the next round. Join with a slip stitch. Increase the next round; to do this, chain one and make two half double crochets in the first stitch followed by one in the next stitch, and repeat this pattern around. Join with a slip stitch.

3. Increase the width of the hat until it measures approximately 12 inches in circumference. To do this, chain one and make two half double crochets in the first stitch followed by one in each of the next two stitches; repeat this pattern around and join with a slip stitch. For the next round, chain one and make two double crochets in the first stitch followed by one in each of the next three stitches; repeat around and join with a slip stitch. Add one more individual half double crochet stitch in your pattern sequence for each subsequent round until the desired circumference has been reached.

4. Crochet evenly around for the remainder of the hat. To do this, chain one and make one half double crochet in every stitch around, then join with a slip stitch. Repeat this round until the hat measures approximately 6 to 6 1/2 inches tall. Finish the last round, cut the working yarn, and make a slip stitch to secure your work.

Add the Ear Flaps

1. Count the number of stitches in the brim of your hat. Divide this number by three; call this number "A;" round up or down if you need to in order to reach a whole number. Divide "A" in half and call this number "B;" again, round to the nearest whole number.

2. Find the center front stitch of your baby hat. This should be the stitch opposite the seam you created with your slip stitch joins. Count "B" stitches to the left of the center front stitch and place a safety pin in that spot; this is pin 1. Count "B" stitches toward the back from this spot and place a second pin, now known as pin "2." Count "B" stitches to the right of the center front stitch and place a safety pin in that spot as well; this is pin "3". Place pin "4" in the stitch that is "B" stitches toward the back from pin "3."

3. Attach your yarn with a slip stitch in the stitch where pin "1" is placed. Chain one and put a half double crochet in that stitch and in each stitch across until you reach pin "2." Chain one and turn, then put one half double crochet stitch in each stitch across; repeat this row two more times. Chain one and turn, then make half double crochet two together over the first two stitches, followed by one half double crochet in each stitch across the row and half double crochet two together over the last two stitches. Repeat this row one more time and then fasten off.

4. Attach your yarn with a slip stitch in the stitch where pin "4" is located; repeat step three from this point forward to crochet the second ear flap.

5. Attach your yarn with a slip stitch in the center back stitch of the hat brim. Chain one and make one single crochet stitch in every stitch around the hat brim as well as around the border of the ear flaps. Join with a slip stitch at the back of the hat when you finish your way around. Cut your working yarn, fasten off, and then weave in all of your loose yarn ends using a large-eye, blunt needle.

Tips & Warnings

• Make Step 5 in the ear flap instructions using a coordinating color of yarn.

• Add a pom pom to the top of the ear flap hat to make a colorful accessory.

• This pattern does not include ties for the hat because they may pose a choking hazard for especially young children.

References

• Bev's Country Cottage: Hat Size Chart
• Crochet Pattern Central: Baby Hats