.Crafty Capable.: Fuzzy Muzzle Tiger Hat Pattern

I wrote this because I needed a hat for a newborn and a 6-12 month infant. The 3-6 month size was created out of that, since I passed the sizing needs for that. Note that I have not actually made the 12 Month-3 Year or the 3-10 Year size, so the rounds for these are estimated. If I ever need to make those sizes, I will update the pattern to reflect any changes that need to be made and I will update hat measurements.

Please do not reproduce or sell this pattern. I like it to be free, but I also want credit for creating it! Feel free to sell anything you make from this pattern, but make sure to include on your listings and with your finished product that the pattern was courtesy of Stephanie at Crafty Capable. Thanks!

Supplies Used:
Bernat Satin Yarn in Tangerine
Bernat Satin Yarn in Ebony
Lion Brand Fun Fur Eyelash Yarn in White
Small amount of Bernat Satin Yarn in Snow
H hook
G hook

Stitches Used:
SC: Single Crochet
HDC: Half Double Crochet
Sl st: Slip stitch
SC2tog: Single Crochet 2 together See Video Here

*Note: You will be hooking 2 rows of orange and one row of black down the length of the hat. To avoid fastening off each color as you finish the row, carry the unused color through by pulling the used color underneath it before completing your sl st at the end of each row. This will only be an issue at the completion of the first of each set of 2 orange rows, so that your black yarn carries through. It will not be visible when you turn the hat right side out.

Round 1: Begin with your orange (aka tangerine) yarn and create a Magic Loop. Ch 2, and make 8HDC. Join with a sl st. to 2nd chain of CH2. (8HDC)
Round 2: Ch 2, DC in same st as sl st and next st, *2 HDC in next*. Repeat from * around. Join with a sl st using black yarn. (16HDC)
Round 3: With black (aka ebony) yarn, Ch 2, DC in same st as sl st and next st. *2HDC in next, HDC in next st*. Repeat from * around. Join with a sl st using orange yarn. Ch 2, turn. (24HDC)
Round 4: With orange yarn, HDC in same st as sl st and next 2 sts. *2HDC in next, HDC in next 2 sts.* Repeat from * around. Join with a sl st. (32HDC)
Round 5: Ch 2, DC in same st as sl st and next 3 sts. *2HDC in next, HDC in next 3 sts.* Repeat from * around. Join with a sl st using black yarn.. (40HDC)

*For Newborn size, continue to newborn sizing instructions. Hat will measure approximately 3.5" in DIAMETER and approximately 11.5" in CIRCUMFERENCE at this point.

Round 6:Ch 2, With black yarn, HDC in same st as sl st and next 4 sts. *2HDC in next, HDC in next 4.* Repeat from * around. Join with a sl st using orange yarn. (48HDC)

*For 3-6 month size, continue to 3-6 month sizing instructions. Hat will measure approximately 4.5" in DIAMETER and 13" in CIRCUMFERENCE at this point.

Round 7: Ch 2, ith orange yarn, HDC in same st as sl st and next 5 sts. *2HDC in next, HDC in next 5 sts.* Repeat from * around. Join with a sl st. (56HDC)

*For 6-12 month size, continue to 6-12 month sizing instructions. Hat will measure approximately 5.5" in DIAMETER and 16" in CIRCUMFERENCE at this point.

Round 8: Ch 2. HDC in same st as sl st and next 6 sts. *2HDC in next, HDC in next 6 sts.* Repeat from * around. Join with a sl st using black yarn. (64HDC)

*For 12 month-3 year size AND 3-10 year size, continue to 12 month-10 year sizing instructions.

Newborn Size

Rounds 6-14: Beginning with black yarn in row 6 (the color of the yarn you use will be determined by where you are in the tiger striping), Ch 2, DC in next st (not the same st as the sl st) and in each st around. This includes the st at the base of your CH1.(40HDC)

*Please note, you will be continuing to alternate 2 rows of orange and 1 row of black to achieve the tiger striping. After finishing, the newborn size will measure approximately 5.5" in HEIGHT and approximately 12.5" in CIRCUMFERENCE.

Fasten off and weave in ends. Tighten Magic Loop. Continue to Ear Flap Instructions.

3-6 Month Size

Rounds 7-18: Beginning with orange yarn in row 7 (the color of the yarn you use will be determined by where you are in the tiger striping),Ch 2, HDC in next st (not the same st as the sl st) and in each st around. This includes the st at the base of your CH1 (48HDC)

*Please note, you will be continuing to alternate 2 rows of orange and 1 row of black to achieve the tiger striping. After finishing, the 3-6 month size will measure approximately 6.5" in HEIGHT and approximately 14.5" in CIRCUMFERENCE.

Fasten off and weave in ends.Tighten Magic Loop. Continue to Ear Flap Instructions.

6-12 Month Size

Rounds 8-16: Beginning with orange yarn in row 8 (the color of the yarn you use will be determined by where you are in the tiger striping), Ch 2, DC in next st (not the same st as the sl st) and in each st around. This includes the st at the base of your CH1 (56HDC)

*Please note, you will be continuing to alternate 2 rows of orange and 1 row of black to achieve the tiger striping. After finishing, the 6-12 month size will measure approximately 7" in HEIGHT and approximately 18" in CIRCUMFERENCE.

Fasten off and weave in ends.Tighten Magic Loop. Continue to Ear Flap Instructions.

12 Month-10 Year Size
*Note: These two sizes are the same except for the length. Please be aware that you will finish the 12 Month-3 Year size after round and the 3-10 Year size will be completed after all rounds are completed.

Rounds 9-20: Beginning with black yarn in row 9 (the color of the yarn you use will be determined by where you are in the tiger striping), HDC in next st (not the same st as the sl st) and in each st around. This includes the st at the base of your CH1 (64HDC)

*Note: fasten off for 12 Month-3 Year size. For 3-10 Year size, continue to final rounds below.

Rounds 9-22: Continuing in the 2 orange/1 black pattern, HDC in next st (not the same st as the sl st) and in each st around. This includes the st at the base of your CH1 (64HDC)
Fasten off and weave in ends.Tighten Magic Loop. Continue to Ear Flap Instructions.

Ear Flap Instructions
*This part of the pattern is written with the newborn instructions first, then the subsequent sizes in parentheses separated by commas. It will look like this: Newborn (3-6mo, 6-12mo, 12mo-3 years, 3 years-10 years). When the rounds start to differ, the round numbers will look the same way.

Round 1: With the hat right side out and the back seam facing you, count 4 (4, 5, 5, 5) to the left of the seam. in the 5th (5th, 6th, 6th, 6th) stitch join your yarn, continuing the pattern of rows that you used in the main body of the hat. (i.e.: If you had just completed your black row, you would join orange yarn). SC in same st as join and next 9 (11, 14, 14, 14) sts. Ch 1, turn. 10SC(12, 15, 15, 15)

*Note: on the last stitch of rows where you will be switching color, do the following: insert hook into stitch, YO and pull through, YO USING NEW COLOR and pull through both loops on hook. Ch 1, turn. You will have to fasten off your orange yarn at the end of each set of orange rows, but you can carry the black through.

Rounds 2-4 (2-5, 2-6, 2-7, 2-7): Alternating colors in the same pattern as the hat (2 orange, 1 black) SC in same st as CH1 and each st across. 10SC (12, 15, 15, 15)
Round 5 (6, 7, 8, 8): SC2tog, SC in next 6 (8, 11, 11, 11) sts, SC2tog. CH1, Turn. 8SC (10, 13, 13, 13)
Continue reducing each row by 2 until you have completed a row with 4SC (or 5, for the sizes with odd numbers of stitches in the rows.) Fasten off and weave in ends.

Second Ear Flap
For second ear flap, with right side out and back seam facing you, count 14sts (16, 20, 20, 20) from back seam and attach yarn (in appropriate color to continue the pattern. Follow ear flap instructions for the second ear flap.

If your final round on the second ear flap is with black yarn, DO NOT FASTEN OFF. Weave in all other ends and continue to finishing instructions at the end of the pattern. If the final round on second ear flap is not with black yarn, fasten off, weave in all ends, and attach black yarn, Continue to finishing instructions.

Edging Instructions

With G hook and black yarn from second ear flap, SC in each stitch around the perimeter of hat, making sure to hook around the black yarn that you carried through along the edges of the ear flaps. Fasten off.
Leaving a 12 inch (14, 15, 15, 16) tail, attach black and orange yarn at the tip of one ear flap. SC in each stitch around. Fasten off, leaving another 12 inch tail.
Cut 11 24 inch (28, 30, 30, 32) sections of black and orange yarn (total of 22 lengths of yarn). separate them into 2 bundles, one containing 6 of each color and the other containing 5 of each color.

Ears (Make 2)
These are worked in the round, use stitch markers if you need to. As with the ears, the different sizes are noted in parentheses.

Using Orange Yarn and H hook:

Round 1: Make a magic loop. Ch1, 6SC (6, 8, 8, 8) in loop. 6SC (6, 8, 8, 8)
Round 2: 2 SC in each st around. 12SC (12, 16, 16, 16)
Round 3: *1SC in next, 2SC in next*. Repeat from * around. 18SC (18, 24, 24, 24)
Round 4: Ch 1, turn. SC in 1st chain from hook and in next 6 sts (6, 8, 8, 8). 3SC in next st. SC in next 6 sts (6,8, 8, 8). 3SC in next, SC in next 3 sts (including base of CH1 st) (3, 5, 5, 5). Sl st to first stitch in the row, then fasten off, leaving a very long tail. You will need enough to go around 2/3 of the ear later on. Tighten Magic Loop.

Repeat Rounds 1-3 with White Eyelash Yarn and G hook. Fasten off. Tighten Magic Loop.

*Notes on working with eyelash yarns: crochet LOOSELY. It can be difficult to see your stitches otherwise. When you slip stitch this section to the orange section, some of the "eyelashes" will get caught in the stitches. If you want a cleaner look use your yarn needle to pull them out and then trim them to desired length.

Weave in center end of orange and both ends of white eyelash. Use the ends of the eyelash to fill in any gaps you may see in the loose crochet when weaving in. Trim to desired Fluffiness.

Now, using the long tail of orange, SC around 2/3 of the edge of eyelash and orange sections, making sure white is centered in the orange and that you are stitching through both sections. Remember to put 3 stitches at the "points." If you did not leave a long enough tail, fasten off the orange when you are almost out, weave in ends, and attach orange yarn again. Continue until white is attached to orange, and leave a long enough tail to sew ear to hat. Repeat with other ear.

Muzzle (Make 2)

Using Eyelash yarn and H hook

Round 1: Make a Magic Loop. Ch 1, 8SC in ring (8SC)
Round 2: 2SC in each st around(16SC)
Round 3: *1SC in next, 2SC in next*. Repeat from * around. (24SC)
Round 4: *1SC in next 2 sts, 2SC in next*. Repeat from * around. (32SC)

For Newborn-3 Month and 3-6 Month sizes, fasten off, leaving enough of a tail to sew the muzzle onto hat. Tighten Magic loop.

Round 5: *1SC in next 3 sts, 2SC in next*. Repeat from * around. (40SC)

Make sure to trim your muzzle to desired fluffiness.

Nose

Use Black Yarn and G hook

Round 1: Ch 3. SC in 1st st from hook and next 2 sts (Make sure you are crocheting in wrong side of stitch). (6SC)

Note: This is 6SC because you are counting the CH3 ad 3 sts and the 3 sts you worked in the wrong side as 3 STS

Round 2: Working around the point where you started your Ch3, SC in next 2 sts, 2SC in next 2 sts, SC in next 2 sts. Sl st to first st in round.(8SC)

For Newborn-3 Months, Fasten off. Leave a long enough tail to sew onto hat

Round 3: SC in same stitch as sl st and next 3 sts. 2SC in next 3 sts. SC in last 2 sts and the sl st. Sl st to first st in row. Fasten off, leaving a long enough tail to sew nose to hat. (13SC)

Eyes

Using Black yarn & G hook (for Newborn-3 Months and 3-6 Months) or H hook (for 6-12 Months, 12 Months-3 Years, and 3-10 Years)

Round 1: Make a Magic Loop. 6SC in the loop (6, 8, 8, 8). Sl st to join. Fasten off. 6SC (6, 8, 8, 8)

Now switch to White Yarn.

Round 2: Insert hook in same st as Sl st. 2SC in same st and next 2 sts. (2, 3, 3, 3). Sl st in next st. 6SC (6, 8, 8, 8) +1 Sl st
Round 3: TURN WITHOUT CH1. sl st in first SC. *SC in next, 2SC in next* 2 times (2 times, 3 times, 3 times, 3 times). Sl st in next, Sl st in next (will be a black st). Fasten off. 6SC (6, 9, 9, 9) +3 sl sts.

Finishing

Almost done now! Using a yarn needle, sew on your facial features. Make sure you sew the muzzle on BEFORE you sew the nose on.

Once all facial features are on, using black yarn sew on 3 whiskers on each side of muzzle, if desired.

You're done! I know it's a long process, especially with the eyelash yarn, but I think the end result is worth it! Enjoy!