The bear hat I made twice.

Sometimes searching the internet for free crochet patterns turns out to be a total FLOP.

My first attempt at a cute bear hat was a total dud, because I followed the online pattern  (with holding the site name for anonymity purposes) without question. My first clue should have been that the pattern had a total of 26 rows. Most other infant patterns I do only have 10 to 13 rows maximum. Instead, I saw the picture online, thought cute, and took off following the instructions.

Here is an excerpt from bear hat pattern, or what I am now calling the brown coaster pattern. Note: the pattern's abbreviations and instruction wording have been changed to protect the anonymity of its owner.

 Brown coaster pattern:

 Abbreviations:

ch = chain
sc = single crochet
ss = slip stitch

Pattern: 

Use a magic ring.
Row one -  6 sc in magic ring, ss in first sc of row, ch 1
Row two -  2 sc in each sc around (12 sc), ss in first sc of row, ch 1
Row three -  2 sc in first sc, sc in next sc, repeat around (18 sc), ss in first sc of row, ch 1
Row four -  2 sc in first sc, sc in next 2 sc, repeat around (24 sc), ss in first sc of row, ch 1
Row five -  2sc in first sc, sc in next 3 sc, repeat around (30 sc), ss in first sc of row, ch 1
Row six -  2sc in first sc, sc in next 4 sc, repeat around (36 sc), ss in first sc of row, ch 1
Row seven -  2sc in first sc, sc in next 5 sc, repeat around (42 sc), ss in first sc of row, ch 1

Rows 8 (48 sc) and 9 (54 sc) were just one stitch increase the second part before repeat.

After I got to row 7, I had a coaster the size of my hand with no decrease in sight. I looked at the coaster in my hand for 2 minutes, wondering what I did wrong. I'm a little dense sometimes. 

I grabbed my yarn and yanked the coaster back down to a pretty little brown circle - row 2 in the coaster instructions.

Below  is what I think I did to create my finished hat.

 

Cute Baby Bear Hat

 Disclaimer: This is my first pattern attempt. I forgot to write down what I did. If it doesn’t work go someplace more reliable like Repeat Crafter Me for a hat with ear-flaps pattern, OR do some triage of your own. 

 

Materials:

Crochet Hook: H/ 8 also known as 5 mm

Yarn: a thin Boucle Yarn – sorry I don’t have specifics it was a remnant ball. To help find the thickness it was thinner than “Sugar 'n Cream” cotton yarn (washcloth stuff), but bigger than “classic 10” cotton yarn (for more like doilies/ lace).  

Tapestry Needle

Abbreviations:

Magic Ring Tutorial

ch = chain
sc = single crochet
ss = slip stitch

scd = single crochet decrease

Hat Pattern:

Use a Magic Ring.
Row one: 6 sc in magic ring, ss in first sc of row, ch 1
Row two: 2 sc in each sc around (12 sc), ss in first sc of row, ch 1

Row three: 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 2 sc, repeat around, ss in first sc of row, ch 1

Row four: 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 6 sc, repeat around, ss in first sc of row, ch 1

Row five: 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 8 sc, repeat around, ss in first sc of row, ch 1

Row six: 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 10 sc, repeat around, ss in first sc of row, ch 1

Row seven– nine: sc in each sc, ss in first sc of row, ch 1

For me somewhere along the way I lost my start and end of a row. I just kept going in a circle, never ss or chaining 1 at the end, and I just estimated the row I was on.  

Row 10:  sc in each sc in first 20 sc, scd, sc in each sc, ss in first sc of row, ch 1

Row 11: sc in each sc, ss in first sc of row, ch 1

Row 12: sc in each sc in first 30 sc, scd, sc in each sc, ss in first sc of row, ch 1

Row 13: sc in each sc, ss in first sc of row.

Adjust by adding more Row 13’s to make correct length if needed.

Do not fasten off, start on ear-flap if desired.

Ear-flap 

Row one: Chain 1, sc in next 10, chain 1, turn

Row two: scd, sc in next 6, scd, chain 1, turn

Row three: scd, sc in next 4, scd, chain 1, turn

Row four: scd, sc in next 2, scd, chain 1, turn

Row five: scd, chain 1

Row six: sc, chain 10 (to create string)

Tie off

Find the second ear-flap's placement by folding hat in half. Set the ear-flap back two stitches, so there is more space in front.

Create a loop to secure the yarn to the front location for the second ear-flap. Repeat Ear-flap row one through tie off, above.

Bear Ears (make 2):

Magic ring

Row one: 6 sc in magic ring, ss in first sc of row, ch 1
Row two: 2 sc in each sc around (12 sc), ss in first sc of row, ch 1

Row three: 2 sc in each sc around (18 sc), ss in first sc of row, ch 1

Fold ear in half.

Finish: sc though the two sides of the ear to make a half circle. Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew onto the hat.

Fold hat in half and place ears. I just eyeballed it about an inch from the center point on either side of the crown.  I used the side with the excess yarn as the top to make a secure starting point for placement. Using the excess yarn and needle, whip stitch the ear in place.

Ta da, there is a bear in the woods!