Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Crochet Frog Hat Pattern


When my oldest daughter decided that she wanted to be Princess Tiana for Halloween, I figured it would be perfect for her baby sister to be a frog. I decided that it would be fun to crochet her a frog hat for her costume. I searched for a pattern to use, but didn't like most of what I found, so I just made my own.

I love how it turned out and the fact that she can wear it all the time, and not just for Halloween. I finished it just in time too. It has started to get cold here, especially in the mornings and now she has something to keep her head warm.

This pattern has not been tested and I wrote it as I went. If you find any mistakes or have any corrections, please let me know. Thanks!



Crochet Frog Hat
fits infants about 3-6 months

Materials needed:
Size G crochet hook
Yarn- medium weight in 4 colors:  a large amount of green, and small amounts of a contrasting color, black, and white. (I used Hobby Lobby's "I Love this Yarn" in Limelight for the green, Red Heart super saver in shocking pink for the contrast color, and Hobby Lobby's "I Love this Cotton" in black and white for the eyes and mouth. It is probably better to use all of one kind of yarn for the project, but I just used what I already had.)
Tapestry Needle to weave in ends, attach eyes and cheeks, and embroider mouth.

I give the approximate number of stitches in each row, but if you are off by one or two stitches it should still still work.

Hat with earflaps:
Ch 3, sl st to form a circle

Row 1: Ch 2, 13 dc in circle, sl st to top of ch 2 to join (14 dc).

Row 2: Ch 2, 1 dc in same stitch as ch 2 and then 2 dc in ea remaining stitch, sl st in top of ch 2 (28 dc).

Row 3: Ch 2, 1 dc in same stitch as ch2, *(1 dc in next  2 stitches, and the 2 dc in next stitch) repeat around, sl st into top of ch 2 (about 39 dc).

Row 4: Ch 2, 1 dc in same stitch as ch 2, *(1 dc in next 3 stitches, and 2 dc in the next stitch) repeat around, sl st into top of ch 2 (about 50 dc).

Row 5: Ch 2, 1 dc in same stitch as ch 2, *(1 dc in next 4 stitches, and 2 dc in the next stitch) repeat around, sl st into top of ch 2 (about 61 dc).

Rows 6-13: Ch 2, 1 dc in ea stitch around, sl st to top of ch 2 to join.

Row 14: Ch 2, 1 dc in ea of next 8 stitches,  then make ear flap #1:

  1. sc in each of next 11 st, ch 1 turn
  2. sc2tog, 1 sc in each of next 7 stitches, sc2tog, ch 1 turn
  3. sc across (9 sc)
  4. sc2tog, 1 sc in each of next 5 stitches, sc2tog, ch 1 turn
  5. sc across (7 sc)
  6. sc2tog, 1 sc in each of next 3 stitches, sc2tog, ch 1 turn
  7. sc across (5 sc)
  8. sc2tog, 1 sc, sc2tog, ch 1 turn
  9. sc2tog, 1 sc, ch 1 turn
  10. sc2tog, ch1 and then sc down side of flap toward opposite side of where you started the earflap, when you get to bottom, continue row 14:

1 dc in ea of next 18 stitches, then repeat steps 1 through 10 to make second earflap. When complete, finish row around with 1 dc in each stitch and sl st to top of ch 2, fasten off and weave in ends.

Contrast:
In contrasting color, (I used Shocking Pink) sc around bottom edge of hat and earflaps. I would start in back and then join with a sl st at end. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Eyes (Make 2):
In green:
Row 1: Ch 3, 11 dc into 3 ch from hook, sl st to top of ch 2 to join (12 dc).

Row 2: Ch 1, 1 sc in same stitch as ch 1 and 2 sc into each stitch around, sl st to top of ch 1 to join. (24 sc)

Row 3: Ch 2, 1 hdc into ea stitch around, sl st to top of ch 2 to join, fasten off leaving long tail (at least 12 inches).

In white:
Row 1: Ch 3, 11 dc into 3 ch from hook, sl st to top of ch 2 to join (12 dc)

Row 2: Ch 1, 1 sc in same st as ch 1 and 2 sc into each stitch around, sl st to top of ch 1 to join, fasten off leaving long tail (24 sc)

In black:
Row 1: Ch 3, 9 dc into 3 ch from hook, sl st to top of ch 2 to join, fasten off leaving long tail (10 dc).

Assembly:
Attach black circle to white circle using the black tail. (I like it to be off center, but you can make it look whatever direction you want)

Attach white circle to green circle using long white tail, if you stitch it carefully, you can make it so the white stitches do not show on the back of the green circle.

Attach green circles to hat, I like them to be evenly spaced apart from the center, but more towards the front at about row 4 of the hat.

Rosy cheeks and mouth:
In pink (make 2):
Row 1: Ch 3, 11 dc into 3 ch from hook, sl st to top of ch 2 to join, fasten off leaving long tail (12 dc)
weave in center tail, then attach to hat using long end tail.

In black, using back stitch and a tapestry needle, embroider mouth between the two cheeks.

Finishing:
Take 3 lengths of green, 2 of hot pink and 1 each of black and white yarn that are approximately 25-30 inches long (I just eyeballed the length) and loop center through bottom of earflap. Braid for 10-12 inches and then overhand knot. Trim yarn ends. Repeat for second earflap.

For PERSONAL USE ONLY, please do not sell the final product or claim the pattern as your own. I would love for you to share your work, but please link back to this pattern. Please do not republish this pattern in any form. Thanks!

UPDATE: Due to the popularity of this hat, I have had several instances where people have stolen pictures from this post to use to sell this hat which is not only dishonest, but illegal. I have had to watermark all of these images to prevent this from happening more. If you come across any of my photos that someone is using illegally to sell this hat, please let me know by emailing at RisCHandmade@gmail.com



11 comments:

  1. This hat turns out way too long for me. Are you sure you used double crochet stitches and not half double stitches?

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    1. Sorry for the way late reply, but I just saw your comment. I did use double crochet stitches, maybe your yarn weight is thicker or your stitches are looser? I know that my stitches are usually pretty tight.

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  2. After looking at the picture blown up a little, and taking the hook size and weight of yarn used, I'm thinking those are hdc stitches and not dc stitches. Easy typo to make :) Anyway, GREAT pattern and thanks for posting. Will make a great baby shower gift :)

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    1. After looking at the one I made and then using the leftover yarn to do some test stitches just to be sure, I did actually do double crochet stitches not half doubles. I know that my stitches are usually pretty tight so maybe mine look shorter and it turns out shorter for me because of that. Half doubles will work just fine too though so just do however many rows in the "row 6-13" section as you need to make it the length that you want. Thanks!

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  3. Hi, I would like to make this hat for my 2 year old daughter, She is al into frog and friends (dutch so kikker en vriendjes (we are dutch). She is tuning 2 in a week and a half and its getting colder here. Could you send me a pattern for a bigger head? or any idea;s how big I should go. Please let me know, you can also message me on catethio@gmail.com

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    1. To make it bigger, I would just keep increasing on one or two more (or more?) rows after row 5 and then add some more rows to the length (the row 6-13) part. The placement of the earflaps will have to be adjusted a bit too to make sure they are centered. Hope that helps :)

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    2. I just saw this. I am a School Bus driver and I drive the Frog bus. I am going to try and make an adult sized for myself. I think my kids will love it.

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    3. I'm a school bus driver and I am the Frog Bus. I think my kids will love this.

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  4. Nice frog. I deviated the stitch to add texture but it turned out wonderful. Love the froggy hat.

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  5. Hi, thanks for the pattern. I made my own variation on it in half double crochet. Is it ok to you I post my description in Dutch on my blog? http://biebiezonder.blogspot.be/2014/05/kikkermuts-voor-grote-mensen.html
    I've put the link to your description there too. Please let me know if there's a problem!

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    Replies
    1. As long as it links back to my blog post, thats totally fine. Yours turned out great!

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