OK, so there is nothing really new about making a ear warmer at all. There are truly lots of patterns you can find and free at that. I have tried quite a few and just could not get the result I was looking for. Everything seems to be in the bulky yarns with a large hook… that or I must have the biggest melon around as they were always turning out way the hell too small. So that is why I wrote this pattern and figured I would share it for others who find themselves stuck like me. Well that and so I can find the pattern easier than searching through all my crochet paraphernalia…

Ear warmer
Sizing: This pattern I have found will make an ear warmer that will fit anywhere from a tween size melon to adult with different degrees of looseness. It fit me comfortably and my 10 year old daughter as well.

Yarn: I used Red Heart Soft yarn
Hook: size “H”

Ch 90 and then sl st to the 1st chain being careful not to let it twist on you. Because it will, because yarn likes to troll sometimes.

1. Ch 1 and sc in same stitch as joining to decrease that stupid looking gap that sometimes happens. Now sc in next 14 st then dc in the next 75 st. Do NOT join, even if you want, just keep on crocheting and work in rounds. Makes things easier.. at least in my mind so no popping my bubble.

2.  SC in the next 15 st then dc in the 75 st

3.  Repeat round 2 for a total of 10 dc rounds. If you want a wider ear warmer, just keep going around.

4.  SC around and bind off your end. Now turn the complete work, join your yarn, Ch 1, sc in same as joining and sc around into the original Ch. Do you have to? Hell no, it is your project, do what you want. I liked it, so I took the time to make it look more finished to me.

5.  Done! I added the the buckeye applique, but again your project, do what you want.

Buckeye Applique
size: it fits on the ear warmer
Yarn: Red Heart extras that I had in my stash. You will need light brown, medium brown and green… well unless you decide to make it some other funky colors. That could be interesting…
Hook:  size “G”

Buckeye: Make 2.  This is worked in a round so NO joining after each rounds.

1. With the light brown 6 sc in magic circle then switch to the medium brown

2.  2 sc in each st around

3.  *2 sc in next st, 1sc in next st* and repeat around then bind off making sure to leave a tail for sewing.

Leaves:  Make 3. (Now there is nothing special about this pattern. I have been making then for a while and I can’t remember even where I got it from anymore. I wish I could to give them credit.)

1. Ch 10, turn

2. Starting in the 2nd Ch from your hook work as follows:  sl, sc, hdc, dc, tc, dc, hdc, sc, sl then working in the opposite side of the original Ch sl, sc, hdc, dc, tc, dc, hdc, sc, sl then bind off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Now attach the applique however you want or use my pictures to do as I did.  Again, your creation, your decision.

You are done, celebrate by making more or going on to your next pattern… the circle of crochet!

Mad Hooking!

I worked a while trying to get the pattern down because I couldn’t find one that I really liked. These are thick and fit perfectly into my hand so you don’t have to refold them while doing dishes. The pattern isn’t perfect though and a lot of add a hdc here or sc there on two rounds… G hook with sugar ‘n cream yarn.

Puff st is (YO, pull up loop) three times then YO and pull through all loops.

basically ch 6 and sl st to make a circle

Round 1: ch 1, (puff st, ch 1) six times then sl st to original ch 1

Round 2: ch 1, puff st in same as connecting, ch 1, (1 puff st , ch 1, puff st, ch 1 in-between the previous round puff st) five times then a puff st in last ch from the previous round, ch 1 then sl st in original ch 1

Round 3: ch 1, puff st in same as connecting, ch 1; puff st, ch 1 in next ch 1 space, (puff st, ch 1, puff st, ch1 in next ch 1 space then in next ch 1 space do another puff st, ch 1) five times then a puff st in last ch from the previous round, ch 1 then sl st in original ch 1

Round 4: ch 2, (hdc in next 4, 2hdc in next) around. May end up with extra hdc at the end then sl st to top of original ch 2

Round 5: ch 1 (sc in next 5, 2 sc in next) around. May end up with extra sc then sl st to top of original ch 1

Round 6: do NOT make any ch to start. (Skip one ch then 5 dc in next st, skip one ch, sl st next) around and sl st to sl st from previous round. Every now and the I have to either fit another 5 dc before ending it seems, basically just go by how it looks.

I did this one a bit different because I couldn’t find a pattern I liked. Most of them out there had you make two stars then sew them together. Meh… so I tried to make a no sew one and surprised myself that it worked. See if you can follow this a bit. I used a size F hook for tighter stitches.

Essentially you make two flat ami circles how ever many rows of increases you want (this one is up to 2sc in 1 then sc in next 6sc).

Count how many sc you have and make sure it’s dividable by 5. Now put the wrong sides of your circle together and connect with a sl st. Sc down the one circle your number, turn and sc back up the other circle. You now are crocheting in a round. Every time you go to do a ‘turn’ sc tog. End at the tip of the point, bind off.

The next point you do the same way, but I found it helpful to sl st in the last sc of the previous point then start sc in the next.

Stuff after you have four points and then stuff when you have the last point almost done. Whip-stitch two eyes and that’s all…

Mad Hooking!

So, I have had MANY requests for the pattern of my Reddit Alien hat that I’m going to go ahead and post my pattern without the usual testing that I would consider normal before releasing a pattern. Please, if you have any questions or find any errors let me know and I apologize upfront for it, alright? That being said, it really is an easy hat to make believe it or not.It made a hat big enough for my head and my hubby’s head, but was a bit big for the children so take that into mind if you need to omit a round of increases or such.

Get out those stitch markers, I did it in a round.

‘H’ hook

small amount of polyfil

White yarn and a small amount of red yarn (for the eyes)

Hat:

rnd 1: 8 sc in magic circle

rnd 2: 2 hdc in each sc

rnd 3: *2 hdc in 1 hdc, hdc in next* around

rnd 4: *2 hdc in 1 hdc, 1 hdc in next 2 hdc* around

rnd 5: *2 hdc in 1 hdc, 1 hdc in next 3 hdc* around

rnd 6: *2 hdc in 1 hdc, 1 hdc in next 4 hdc* around

rnd 7: *2 hdc in 1 hdc, 1 hdc in next 5 hdc* around

rnd 8: *2 hdc in 1 hdc, 1 hdc in next 6 hdc* around

rnd 9-20: *1hdc in each hdc* around

bind off

Earflaps: (you can use this simple one or one of your favorite ear flap patterns or no ear flaps at all)

For the right earflap join with sl st about 10 hdc from binding off point

row 1: hdc in next 12 st

row 2-6: ch 2, hdc across

bind off

For the left earflap count back from original hat end point about 22 hdc then follow the instructions for the right earflap.

Now to finish up the bottom of the hat!

join with sl at the original binding off point of the hat

sc in each hdc around, up and down both sides of the earflaps with the exception of the bottom of the earflaps do:

3 hdc in first hdc

1 hdc in next hdc

1 dc in next 3 hdc

1 tc in next 2 hdc

1 dc in next 3 hdc

1 hdc in next hdc

3 hdc in last hdc

Bind off and weave in ends.

Ties:

Cut 4 strands of the white and red yarns about 24 in strands. If you want longer ties, cut your strands longer. Now fed the one end through the two tc on the ear flaps and put the middle of the strands there. Divide out the yarn into groups of three and braid down the length as far as you want or all the way down. When done do a simple loop knot followed by another loop knot about an inch apart and trim off the ends.

Antennae: I used a size F hook just for this part to keep the stitches close (stuff as you go, trust me)

6 sc in magic circle (or ch 2, then 6 sc in 2nd loop)

rnd 1: 2 sc in each sc around

rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc around

rnd 3: *1 sc in next 2sc, then sc2tog* around

rnd 4: *1 sc in next sc, sc2tog* around

rnd 5: sc2tog around

rnd 6-15: sc around

rnd 16 – 20: 1sc in next 3, hdc in next 3 (this makes the bump on the top of the antennae)

rnd 21 -35: 1 sc in each sc around

the next two rows are optional, but I find it really helps the antennae stand up and easier to attach)

rnd 36: 2 sc in each sc around

rnd 37: *1 sc in next two sc, 2 sc in 1 sc* around

bind off, weave in, finish stuffing and then sew to the very top of your hat.

Ears: (make four, join 2 together with sc along the top curve)

row 1: ch 3, 4 hdc in 3rd ch

row 2: ch 2, 1 hdc in 1st hdc, *2 hdc in 1 hdc* remaining sts

row 3: ch 2, 1 hdc in next 2 hdc, *3 hdc in 1 hdc* remaining sts

row 4: ch 2, 1 hdc in 1st hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, *2 hdc in 1 hdc, 1 hdc in next 2 hdc* remaining sts

I stuffed my ears before attaching them to the hat for a ‘fuller’ looking ear.

Attach tip of ear to the hat at around the fourth row of your hat and hold the ear together as you sew down the length of the ear.

Eyes: (make two)

rnd 1: 6sc in magic circle

rnd 2: 2sc in each sc around

rnd 3: *2sc in 1 sc, 1 sc in next* around

bind off and sew onto the hat. I had the bottom of the eye at around the third row from the bottom of the original hat with about 6 hdc in-between them.

Alright, take a deep breath and the wOOt as loud as you dare for you should have a lovely hat!

Mad Hooking!

So, I have been very busy, but I wanted to start posting some of my patterns for others to use. The first will be my Brain Slug Hat. I was making some Brain Slugs ( based upon Alicia Ramirez  http://www.hookandneedles.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/brainslug.pdf  ) and someone at hubby’s job requested a hat to be made for his sister. Reading the pattern you can easily see how to make this into a lovely hat!
Essentially you want to make your favorite beanie. Now, at the bottom of that beanie follow rows 23 and 24 on the larger Slug.
For the eye I used some felt, stuck a black plastic eye doll’s eye through it and used a little bit of poly-fil behind the white felt while I sewed it on. You can do the eye however best you see fit, but this worked out really well for me and makes the eye ‘stick out’ a little bit.
Now for the antennas… this is where I made up my own little pattern. I wanted them to stand up on their own without wire because I the idea of a floppy antennaed Brain Slug makes me shudder.
I used a size F hook (or your favorite hook that is a size or two smaller than what you would use for that yarn) with some of my Brain Slug green (which isn’t the easiest color to find). Remember to stuff as you go and use a stitch marker.

6 sc in magic circle (or ch 2, then 6 sc in 2nd loop)
rnd 1: 2 sc in each sc around
rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc around
rnd 3: *1 sc in next 2sc, then sc2tog* around
rnd 4: *1 sc in next sc, sc2tog* around
rnd 5: sc2tog around
rnd 6 – 8: 1sc in next 3, hdc in next 3 (this makes the bump on the top of the antennae)
rnd 9 -20: 1 sc in each sc around
the next two rows are optional, but I find it really helps the antennae stand up and easier to attach)
rnd 21: 2 sc in each sc around
rnd 22: *1 sc in next two sc, 2 sc in 1 sc* around
bind off, weave in, finish stuffing and then sew them on to the top of your Brain Slug hat and show off and enjoy!