Crochet Football Earflap Hat Pattern

Here is a quick pattern for all you football fans! And if you're not a football fan, you could always make this earflap hat in the colors of your choice and it will still make a great winter hat for your little one. Enjoy!

Before I begin, I want to clarify what I mean when I say "Begin in the same stitch as chain 2." I always start my rounds in the same stitch as my chain 2. And DO NOT end my rounds in the same stitch as the chain 2. I will let the pictures explain this better:

When joining, skip over the chain 2, and join to the first DC. This will help hide your seams! 

Crochet Football Earflap Hat
Size: 3-6 months

Materials:
- Loops & Threads Impeccable Yarn Chocolate
- Vanna's Choice Yarn White
- Size H (5.0 mm) Crochet Hook
- Tapestry Needle

HDC= Half Double Crochet
DC= Double Crochet
SC= Single Crochet

Hat:
With brown yarn:
Magic ring, chain 2,
12  DC in magic ring, join, pull tight, chain 2
(Note: Begin your rounds in the same stitch as chain 2 for entire pattern)
Round 2: 2 DC in each around, join, chain 2 (24 DC)
Round 3: 2 DC, DC in next, repeat around, join, chain 2 (36 DC)
Round 4: 2 DC, DC in next 2, repeat around, join chain 2 (48 DC)
Switch to white yarn for Round 5
Round 5: DC in each around, join, chain 2 (48 DC)
Switch back to brown yarn for Rounds 6-9
Rounds 6-9: DC in each around, join, chain 2 (48 DC)
Switch to white yarn for Round 10
Round 10: DC in each around, join, chain 2 (48 DC)
Switch back to brown yarn for Round 11
Round 11: DC in each around, join, chain 2 (48 DC)
Start on Earflap

Earflap 1:
Row 1: Starting in the same stitch as chain 2, HDC in next 10, chain 2, turn
Row 2: HDC Decrease, HDC in next 6, HDC Decrease, chain 2, turn
Row 3: HDC across, chain 2, turn (8 HDC)
Row 4: HDC Decrease, HDC in next 4, HDC Decrease, chain 2, turn
Row 5: HDC across, chain 2 turn (6 HDC)
Row 6: HDC Decrease across (3 HDC Decreases), chain 3, turn and slip stitch to first stitch in previous row, fasten off.

This should leave a chain loop at the end like this:

Earflap 2:
Join leaving approx. 19 stitches across the front, chain 2,

Row 1: In the same stitch as chain 2, HDC in next 10, chain 2, turn

Row 2: HDC Decrease, HDC in next 6, HDC Decrease, chain 2, turn

Row 3: HDC across, chain 2, turn (8 HDC)

Row 4: HDC Decrease, HDC in next 4, HDC Decrease, chain 2, turn

Row 5: HDC across, chain 2 turn (6 HDC)

Row 6: HDC Decrease across (3 HDC Decreases), chain 3, turn and slip stitch to first stitch in previous row, do not fasten off...

Continue to SC around the hat. When you come to the chain 3 loops at the at the end of each earflap, make 3 SC inside the chain 3 loop. It should look like this:

This will give you a nice place to tie on your braided tails.

I like to make my braided tails about 9-10" long. So I cut 8 pieces of approx. 40" long yarn. String it halfway through the loop on the end of the earflap. You will now have 16 strands to braid with. Tie a knot at the top, braid about 6" down, make another knot and leave 2-3" inches of fringe on the bottom. Of course you can customize this to your liking.

White Football Stitches:
With a tapestry needle, sew the white yarn in the placement of the stitches in this picture. I start with the vertical middle stitch and then sew the 3 horizontal stitches on top.

I hope you like this pattern! Let me know if you have any questions.

 Feel free to post a picture of your finished hats on my Repeat Crafter Me Facebook page!