Crochet Hello Kitty Earflap Hat

After having a friend of mine ask for this hat for her daughter, it has become a huge hit!  It's actually a lot of fun to make, and generally easy as well.  You can have a ton of fun with different color combinations, and add whatever accessories you choose.  I have made this hat several times, and of several sizes.  The one I am posting now will generally fit a small child.  I will post a "Hat Sizing Chart" today as well.

CROCHET HELLO KITTY EARFLAP HAT

Materials:
*Worsted Weight Yarn
   - 1 Skein of the main color of your choice (in this case White)
   - 1 Skein of the secondary color of your choice (in this case Pink)
   - Small amounts of Yellow, Black and Red
*Scissors
*Crochet Hooks
   - Size G Hook
   - Size H Hook if you crochet loosely
*Yarn Needle (for attaching the bow, eyes, ears, and whiskers)

Size:
This hat will fit a toddler to young adult.  I will post a hat sizing chart to help with future references.

Pattern:

Base of the Hat:

Rnd 1: Ch 3, 7 hdc in 3rd ch from hook. Join with sl st. (8 hdc the first 2 chains count as the first hdc of the rnd)

Rnd 2: Ch 2, hdc in same st. 2 hdc in each st around, join. (16 hdc)

Rnd 3: Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next st. (2 hdc in next st, hdc in next st) around, join. (24 hdc)

Rnd 4: Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 2 sts. (2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts) around, join. (32 hdc)

Rnd 5: Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 3 sts. (2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 3 sts) around, join. (40 hdc)

Rnd 6: Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 4 sts. (2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 4 sts) around, join. (48 hdc)

Rnd 7: Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 5 sts. (2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 5 sts) around, join. (56 hdc)

Rnd 8: Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 6 sts. (2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 6 sts) around, join. (64 hdc)

Rnd 9- 17: Ch 2, hdc in next st. Hdc in each st around, join. (64 hdc)

Earflaps (2):

Row 1: Sc in same st as join. Sc in next 12 sts. Ch 1, turn. (13 sc)

Row 2: Sc2tog over the first 2 sts, sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (12 sc)

Row 3: Repeat row 2, until 1 st remains. Finish off.

Eyes (2):

With Black, Ch 5
2 sc in 2nd ch from hook.
Sc in the next 2 chs. 3 sc in last ch. Do not turn.
You will work in the opposite side of the ch.
Sc in next 2 chs. Sc in last ch which is the first ch. (10 sc)

Keep in mind they do not have to be perfect.  As long as they look like small ovals you are good to go.

Nose:

With Yellow Ch 4

2 Sc in 2nd ch from hook,
sc in next st, 3 sc in last ch. Do not turn.
Work in the opposite side of the ch.
Sc in next ch, sc in next st.
Sc in same chain as the first sc worked.
You’ll end with a small oval shape. (8 sc)

Again, it doesn't have to be perfect.  Just a small oval shape.

Ears (2):

(G hook) and holding 2 strands of yarn together
With White Ch 3
Row 1: 7 Hdc in 3rd ch from hook. Ch 1, turn (7 hdc)

Row 2: 2 sc in first st. sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, 2 dc in next st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next st, 2 sc in last st. (12 sts) Finish off.

Bow:

With Red Ch 11

Row 1: Hdc in 3rd ch from hook. Hdc in each st across. Ch 2, turn. (10 hdc)

Rows 2- 10: Hdc in each st. Finish off

Take a long strand of Red and wrap around the middle of the bow to draw it in. Wrap several times. Tie the ends in the back of the bow. Using the yarn needle weave the ends into the bow to hide then use these same ends to sew onto the hat. Sew the middle of the bow and bottom of the bow onto the hat. I found that if you do not sew the bottom of the bow to the hat, it will curl up.

Whiskers:

Use a yarn needle to embroider the whiskers. They will be straight if you work into the stitches and not in-between them.

Braids (2):

In each different version of these hats, I have used a single color, and multiple colors for the braids.  It's up to you how you do them.

For general purposes, use 15 strands of 24" long pieces of yarn.  The only reason I make them so long, is so that I can customize them to length later on.  Sometimes I'll even go as long as 30" just to be safe.

Take your 15 strands of whatever length and color you choose, and fold them in half.  You will notice at the bottom of each earflap (or the top of the triangle), there is a small hole, slightly bigger than what has been made in the rest of that.  Take the strands, which are folded in half and use the folded end to put through the hole.  Don't pull it too far through, then take the loose ends of the strands and pull through the middle of the folded end of the same strands.  As you can see, this will make a knot that attaches these strings to the hat and keeps them secure.  Braid the strings how you see fit, and Voila!