Christmas Miracle Child's Hat

I finished all my Christmas craft fair special orders and thought I would get to start working on family gifts, but my dear, sweet aunt asked me to write the pattern for one of the special orders I'd made so she could make one for her youngest grandchild.

It was VERY tempting to do a Ravelry search for free monkey hat patterns. I'm sure there are plenty out there!

Writing the pattern for what I'd worked up would feel like contributing toward my little cousin's gift, though, plus, it would be something special for my aunt, too, if I share my own pattern. (No, I did not write a pattern for the monkey, and I won't have time to do that until well after Christmas, and I probably won't remember it then.)

I then learned I would be meeting the adopted kids of my adopted daughter for the first time just after Christmas. Suddenly, I needed four more hats!

This is going to be one of my best Christmases ever!


You may do whatever you'd like with hats you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!

Linking up with Busy Hands Quilts, Crazy Mom Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.


Finished Size: 8 inches tall, 18 inches around
Materials: One skein 3 oz skein of worsted weight yarn; approximately 50 yards of worsted weight yarn in a contrasting color, if desired; size G crochet hook; stitch marker, if desired
Gauge: 7 dc=2 inches; 4 rows (dc)=4.25 inches

Christmas Miracle Hat Instructions

With main color, make magic ring.

Round 1: 3 sc in ring, 3 hdc in ring, 6 dc in ring. Do not join on this or any Round. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: 2 dc in each st around for a total of 24 dc. Use stitch marker if desired to designate start of each new Round (and to prevent having to count stitches).

Round 3: [2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc] 12 times for a total of 36 dc.

Round 4: [1 dc in each of next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc] 12 times for a total of 48 dc.

Rounds 5-12: 1 dc in each dc around. At end of 12 Round, work 1 hdc in each of next 3 dc, then 1 sc in each of next 3 dc, then sl st in next dc. Ch 2, turn.

Ear Flaps

Row 13: 1 dc in each of next 10 dc; ch 2, turn.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Row 14: 1 dc dec across next 2 dc, 1 dc in each of next 6 dc, 1 dc dec across next 2 dc; ch 2, turn.

Round 15: 1 dc dec across next 2 dc, 1 dc in each of next 4 dc, 1 dc dec across next 2 dc; ch 2, turn.

Round 16: 1 dc dec across next 2 dc, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, 1 dc dec across next 2 dc; ch 2, turn.

Round 17: [1 dc dec across each of next 2 dc] 2 times; bind off, leaving 14-inch tail to be included in braid at finishing.

Count 15 stitches over on main body of hat from end of ear flap, and work second ear flap according to instructions above. See Moogly's standing double crochet join tutorial here.

Edging: With both main color and contrast (or two strands of main color, if desired), starting at back of hat from right side between ear flaps, 1 sc in in each st across to 1st ear flap, sc down ear flap along edge to point, 3 sc in each of 2 dc dec at point of ear flap, sc up ear flap to front edge of hat, 1 sc in each st along hat to 2nd ear flap, sc down ear flap along edge to point, 3 sc in each of 2 dc dec at point of ear flap, sc up ear flap to back edge of hat, 1 sc in each st to starting sc; sl st in starting sc. Bind off. Weave in ends.

Ears (optional)

Ear front: make 2.

With contrast color, make magic ring.

Round 1: 6 sc in ring; do not join on this or any Round. Pull magic circle tight. Work tail into st each Round to carry it to outer edge without having to weave through work from the back when done.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around for a total of 12 sc.

Round 3: [1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc] 6 times for a total of 18 sc; bind off. Ends will go inside ear when layers are complete.

Ear back: make 2.

With main color, make magic ring, leaving long tail for sewing to hat.

Round 1: 6 sc in ring; do not join on this or any Round. Pull magic circle tight. Work tail into st each Round to carry it to outer edge without having to weave through work from the back when done.

Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around for a total of 12 sc.

Round 3: [1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc] 6 times for a total of 18 sc; sl st in next sc. Turn. Sandwich ear front with ear back, right sides facing out.

Round 4: Working in opposite direction and from front of ear front, work one Round of sc all the way around, catching stitches in both the ear front and back and increasing 3 sc evenly spaced around. Stuff contrast ends inside ear before closing gap. Sl st in starting sc.

Round 5: Sl st in each sc around, forming a rim around ear; bind off. Use main color ends to sew ear to hat in approximately 9th and 10th Rounds (according to personal taste; notice how ear placement changes the personality of the hat) centered above ear flap, contrast color facing front of hat.

Finish: To make tufts instead of ears, cut 24 pieces of yarn 12 inches in length each and divide into 2 equal groups. Insert crochet hook under two dc in 6th or 7th Round directly centered above ear flap. Fold 12 yarn strands in half and with crochet hook pull through dc stitches, leaving ends sticking out opposite of hook on other side of dc stitches. Pull ends through folded loop as shown below and pull tight. Repeat 2nd tuft above 2nd ear flap. Trim ends even, leaving enough length for yarn to stand up. (Or make longer tufts for floppy ears.)






To make braids, cut 36 pieces of yarn 26 inches long. Divide into 2 equal groups. Fold each group in half and pull through bottom of ear flap same as tuft shown above, catching finishing tail in, too. Divide into 3 equal groups and braid to end. Tie braid end in knot and pull tight. Measure 2nd braid to match 1st braid when tying second knot. Trim braid ends to match. Weave in hat starting end and ear ends. Present to child. Take lots of pictures!

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