How to Crochet a Toboggan
The word "toboggan" can refer to a sled or a hat. The toboggan sled, often used today for recreation, was a traditional means of transportation for the native people of northern Canada. The toboggan hat is a tight-fitting knitted or crocheted cap that covers the ears. The hat, or toque as it's commonly called, had a resurgence in popularity during the early 1980s when Bob and Doug McKenzie made multiple references to it on their "Great White North" comedy album.
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Instructions
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Crocheting a Toboggan Hat
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1
Work in the round, much like how a granny square is started. For instance, a toque pattern from "Canadian Living" magazine begins with five chain stitches. The five chain stitches are joined with a slip stitch to form a circle. Chain three, then make 11 double crochets inside the circle. Join the last double crochet to the top of the third chain stitch with a slip stitch. This finishes the first row. Place stitch marker at the end of the first row.
Working in the round is different from crocheting something flat like an afghan. This method does not work in back loops, front loops or both loops; it works directly inside the circle.
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2
Start second row with three chain stitches, turn. Work one double crochet in the same stitch, working in both loops.
Continue working in both loops and make two double crochets in the top of each double crochet from the first row. To finish the row, slip stitch the last double crochet to the top chain of the chain three, and move marker. All rows are finished by joining the last stitch to the top of the first chain stitch with a slip stitch.
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3
Increase the size of the hat by increasing the number of double crochets in each row. For example, for row three, turn, chain three and work a pattern of two double crochets, one double crochet all the way to the end of the row. This means making two double crochets in the next stitch of the previous row, then one double in the next stitch, two doubles in the next, etc. Finish row.
For row four, turn, chain three and then work a pattern of one double, two double, two double to end of the row.
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4
Decrease the size of the hat by decreasing the number of double crochets in each row. Start with turn, chain three, then work a pattern of one double, one double, one double, two doubles to the end of the row. Finish row.
Turn, chain three and work one double crochet in each double crochet, finish row. Repeat three more times, for a total of four rows of single-only double crochets.
Decrease again by starting with turn, chain two, and then working a single crochet in each stitch to the end of row. Finish row. Repeat for a total of four rows of single crochets. Finish hat by weaving in the ends.
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Tips & Warnings
Hats can be embellished with pompoms or other ornamentation.
Switching the color of yarn for each row creates a horizontally striped hat.
References
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