Update: I am now following my own pattern, a variation of the pattern linked here. View my pattern here: Wardeh’s Crochet Earflap-Neckflap Hat.
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As it turned out, I didn’t have to wing the crocheted ear flap hat after all. I found a pattern! Here it is. (You may have to have a free registration at LionBrand.com to view the pattern.)
The reason I chose this pattern over all the others that were in the running was that it included a neck flap to keep the neck warm, too.
I crocheted this hat for Jeff entirely on Sunday. It did take me half the day, but it was my first try and I had a half-dozen false starts.
The only change I made to pattern was to make a chain of 4 at the very beginning, instead of a chain of 5. This made a smaller hole at the center top of the hat. Actually, I wonder now if I chained 3 only?
The pattern surprisingly did not include any ties. I used the instructions in this pattern to make those. Thank you to my friend Shari for telling me about this pattern.
Jeff wore his new hat when he was called, on Sunday night, to work all night in a storm. He said that if not for this hat, he would have felt much, much colder.
Now the girls are asking for hats of their own. I plan on sitting down with them one afternoon this week and getting them started on crocheting their own.
Yarn: Wool of the Andes from Knit Picks, black.
Update: We determined the above hat was a bit small on Jeff. So I made him another and added one more row of increase (row #13 became an increase row instead of a row that stayed the same).
Because that meant the hat now had 6 more stitches in its circumference, I shifted all the markers 2 stitches toward the front. So, marker #1 was now at stitch 12, marker #2 was now at stitch 24, marker #3 was now at stitch 48, and marker #4 was now at stitch 60. The result of this shifting is that it makes the neckflap a little wider (by 4 stitches) and the front a little wider (by 2 stitches). The width of each earflap stayed the same, just shifted position.
Also, we determined the ties were not long enough, so I added about 12″ to the length of each yarn piece that makes up the tie (since each piece is folded in half, that makes the resulting tie about 6″ longer).
Wardeh! I love these! They are seriously very cute! Have you experimented with any other colors?
I wish I knew how to crochet.
Beth, I haven’t tried any other colors yet. I would like to start another hat this afternoon but so far I’m a little too busy sewing and doing other things. I have the same wool yarn in chocolate brown, forest green, and a midnight blue waiting in the wings for other colors.
I know you could learn to crochet. Is there anyone at church or that you know? It wouldn’t take long and you’d be off to the races. If you’re the kind of person who can learn from books, there are good books, too. I like best the kids’ book Crocheting (Kids Can Do It) because it is so simple and clear. If it is clear enough for kids, an adult can surely do it! I have used it as a reference for showing adults how to crochet many times.
Wish I was near to help you! It would be fun.
Love, Wardeh
Wardeh, this is fabulous! How sweet that you kept your husband warm from afar from the loving work you put into this hat.
You’re awesome!
Wardeh it is beautiful. What size hook did you use?
Sylvia
Sylvia, I used the I-9 hook, just what the pattern called for. We are loving the hats! I made another in black for Haniya and today I started on a chocolate brown one for Naomi. They are taking about 3 hours, I think. So far the girls haven’t started any hats. Too many other things going on. It is an easy pattern, although I must say my first one (pictured) is not perfect. The second and third are much better! Love, Wardeh
That is fabulous, Wardeh. You did a great job. I agree, the first one is too small.
So, he didn’t want a pom-pom on top? LOL
This is Amazinnggg! Very great idea and awesome hat! I have looked all over the internet for a pattern like this. I am a teen who is very cheap and would rather make the stuff I wear then buy them for 40 bucks. I can crochet but I’m not quite sure how to read pattern lango. They say we kids invented the abbr. language but I think it was really the knitters and crocheters who started the whole nonsense. lol. Well, thanks for the pattern I will try to learn this whole reading patterns problemo. ^_^
Eli – I hope you like the hat. You are like me – we’d rather make it ourselves! Do you know someone who can sit with you and walk you through the pattern?
Love the hats! Do you have a kid’s version? One that would fit an 8/10 year old?
Diane
Diane,
If you go to this post: http://suchtreasures.com/2009/01/16/wardehs-crochet-earflap-neckflap-hat/
The child medium/adult small (and my son pictured) – this is the size I use for my kids, who are all in that age range. If you have questions about the pattern, let me know. Have fun!
Hi! I like this hat a lot. I’m looking for this same type of hat except with longer ear flaps, ones that very gradually get smaller, all the way past the sternum. Anybody know where I can buy one like it?