Shell Stitch Earflap Hat - Free Crochet Pattern

This pretty shell stitch crochet earflap hat will keep your toddler's little ears warm during the colder days!
The pattern uses a special technique to join in the round without having visible seams.

         

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You can also leave the hat without earflaps.

This way you can easily adapt the size of your hat making the crown:

a) smaller (for a smaller size) with less increase rounds. You will have less repeats in the shell pattern.

b) bigger (for larger size) with more increase rounds. This will produce also more repeats in the rounds with shell stitch. Finish with a round of slip stitch or single crochet around.

MATERIALS:

- Caron Simply Soft yarn

-  4.5 mm crochet hook (use 5 mm if you want a larger hat size) 

SIZE: 

Hat circumference: 48 - 50 cm 

Hat height: 17cm till earflaps, 22 cm with earflaps

Stitches, terms and abbreviations used (US terms):

- ch:chain

- sc:single crochet

- dc:double crochet

- shell=7 dc in same stitch

- top of the shell= the 4th of 7 dc of the shell

- slst: slip stitch

Notes:

For the crown of the hat (the first 5 rounds), replace the first dc on round with ch2 a little loosely!!!(NOT ch3) and finish each round with 1 slst into top of the first dc from beg of round (NOT sl st in the top of the chain)!!! This way you will have an almost invisible joining.

The Ch2 counts as the first dc!

At the end of each round of the crown, count your stitches! Be sure to have the exact nr. of stitches given in the pattern!

You will work the last dc of each round of the crown in the stitch looking as a knot, the joining of the previous round. It's better to mark the joining, so you don't miss that stitch.

(See the step by step tutorial for the crown in the post Spring Lacy Hat for baby/toddler)If you find it difficult to work the crown this way, you can work with the usual method of joining, replacing the first dc with ch3 and finishing with a slst in the top of the ch3. The ch3 will be counted as the first dc. The pattern will remain the same, just the joining a little different.

For the shell pattern it will be used the usual method of joining, replacing the first dc with ch3 and finishing with a slst in the top of the ch3.

For the shell pattern the ch3 counts as the first dc.

HAT INSTRUCTIONS:

Begin with a magic circle.

Round 1: ch2, 11dc into ring, sl st in the first dc of the round. Pull end of yarn to close the ring. (12 stitches)

Round 2: ch2, 1dc in same stitch, 2dc in each st around. Join with slst in the top of the first dc. (24 stitches)

Round 3: ch2, 1dc in same stitch, (1dc in next dc, 2dc in next dc)*11 times, ending with 1dc in the next st= the joining of previou round, slst in the top of the first dc. (36 stitches)

Round 4: ch2, 1dc in same stitch, (1dc in each of the next 2dc, 2dc in next dc)*11 times, 1dc in each of the next 2sts, slst in the top of first dc. (48 stitches)

Round 5: ch2, 1dc in same stitch, (1dc in each of the next 3dc, 2dc in next dc)*11 times, 1dc in each of the next 3sts, sl st in the top of the first dc of the round. (60 stitches)

The crown of the hat it is now finished.

In my case the diameter of the crown it measures 12,5 cm.

Begin of the shell pattern: 

The shell pattern has 2 rows repeat. In each round you'll have 10 shells.

OBS: The 1st round begins with a half shell= ch3 and 3dc in the same stitch. The shell will be completed at the end of the round making 3dc in the same stitch as the first half of the shell!

Round 6: ch3, 3dc in same stitch, (skip 2dc, 1sc in next dc, skip 2dc, 1 shell in next dc)*9 times, ending with 3dc in the same stitch as the ch3 and 3dc at the beginning of the round.

Round 7: ch1, 1sc in same stitch, (skip 3dc, 1 shell in next sc, skip 3dc, 1sc in the top of the next shell)*9 times, skip 3dc, 1 shell in the last sc. Join with sl st in the first sc of the round.

Round 8: ch3, 3dc in same stitch, (skip 3dc, 1sc in next dc, skip 3dc, 1 shell in next dc)*9 times, ending with 3dc in same stitch as the ch3 and 3dc at the beginning of the round.

Round 9-16: repeat round 7 and 8. 

For the rows with odd numbers work as round 9, for the rows with even numbers work as round 8.

Cut yarn. Fasten off and weave in ends. 

The length of the hat it is now 16, 5 cm. 

Earflaps: 

The ear flaps are worked in rows, turning the work after each row. Between the two ear flaps you will have this sequence of shells: 

-front side: *1 half shell, 3 entire shells, 1 half shell* 

-back side: *1 half shell, 1 entire shell, 1 half shell*

First earflap :

Holding the hat upside down, with the back side facing you and the shell with the seam in the middle, skip the next 2 shells to the right and attach yarn in the top of the 3rd shell. 

Row 1: ch1, (skip 3dc, shell in the next sc, skip 3dc, 1 sc in the top of the next shell)*2 times. Turn. 

Row 2: ch3, 2dc in same stitch, skip 3dc, 1 sc in the top of the first shell, skip 3dc, 1 shell in the next sc, skip 3dc, 1sc in the top of the next shell, skip 3dc, ending with 3dc in the beginning ch1 of the previous row. Turn.

Row 3: ch1, skip 3dc, 1 shell in the first sc, skip 3dc, 1sc in the top of the next shell, skip 3dc, 1 shell in the next sc, skip 2dc, ending with a sl st in the top of the beginning ch3 of previous row. Turn.

Row 4: Skip first dc, make 1 sl st in each of the next 3dc, skip 3dc, 1 shell in the next sc, skip 3dc, ending with 1 sl st in the top of the next shell.

Cut yarn. Fasten off.

Second earflap:

With the back side of the hat facing you, join yarn in the top of the next shell to the left from the shell with the seam. Make the second ear flap the same way as the first one. Cut yarn. Fasten off and weave in ends. 

Make a row of sc around the hat and ear flaps, beginning in the middle back side. If you want the front part not so wavy, you can make one sc in each dc of the shells and skip the sc stitches between the shells. Fasten off and weave in ends.

String: 

Join yarn with a slst into top of the ear flap (into the top of the shell), ch30, slst into back loop of second ch from the hook and in each ch made, join with a slst into the ear flap in the same stitch as for the yarn join. Fasten off and weave in ends.

        The FLOWER

You can find the flower pattern with Photo tutorial in the post CROCHET DAHLIA ! 

Check out more hat patterns and also my other free crochet patterns and tutorials in my FREE CROCHET PATTERN PAGE.

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Happy Crocheting! 

Shell Stitch Earflap Hat - Written pattern Copyright Kinga Erdem 2013

This pattern is free for your personal use, you can sell the products of your work, a link back to 

my blog would be appreciated. Do not use my photos for selling purposes or modify them in any way. 

Please don't repost the pattern itself to any other sites, but please share the link to the pattern if you want to share the pattern with your friends. You may not give away copies of this pattern. 

Do not make video tutorials or translate my pattern in other languages without my written consent! 

Thank you. 

Kinga