Just Another Sock Monkey Hat Pattern

I've been wanting to post all week about how interesting my life is and all the interesting things that I do, not related to crochet. But I realized something...my life is pretty boring. I don't have a lot to blog about. I'm on Twitter and all I talk about is crochet. I seriously need a life I guess :D

With that in mind, I decided to post my Sock Monkey hat pattern. I've used other patterns to make these hats and they all turned out great. However, this time I decided to make this hat with a totally new pattern. I like my own little shortcuts and ways of doing things.

Materials
1 skein Bulky weight yarn (I used Lion Brand Jiffy yarn in Camel Spray)
Red, White, and a tiny amount of black yarn
Size H & I crochet hooks
Yarn needle
2 buttons

Size
The size in the photo will fit a 4-12 year old
This pattern is easily altered to fit any size
I used bulky weight. If you choose to use worsted weight then you'll end up with a toddler or baby sized hat

I forgot to get the gauge before I mailed it out, but I did crochet a little tightly. If you crochet more loosely, the hat will fit an adult.

Pattern

With I hook and white, Ch 3

Rnd 1: 7 hdc in 3rd ch from hook (which is the 1st ch made) Join with sl st to the top of first st. (8 hdc)

Rnd 2: Ch 2 (counts as first st here and throughout). Hdc in same st. 2 hdc in each st around. Join with sl st. (16 hdc)

Rnd 3: Ch 2. Hdc in same st, hdc in next st. (2 hdc in next st, hdc in next st) around. Join with sl st. (24 hdc).

Rnd 4: Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 2 sts. (2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts) around. Join with sl st. (32 hdc).

Rnd 5: Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 3 sts. (2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 3 sts) around. Join. (40 hdc).

Rnd 6: Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 4 sts. (2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 4 sts) around.
Join. (48 hdc).

Rnd 7: Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 5 sts. (2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 5 sts) around. Join. Finish off. (56 sts).

Rnd 8: Using the red, attach with sl st and ch 2. Hdc in next st and each st around. Finish off.

Rnd 9: Using the camel, attach with sl st and ch 2. Hdc in next st and each st around. Join with sl st.

Rnds 10-17: Ch 2, hdc in each st around, join with sl st. Do not finish off.

Earflap

Ch 1, sc in same st and in next 10 sts, turn (11 sc)

Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 9 sts, turn (10 sc)

Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 8 sts, turn (9 sc)

Repeat this method of decreases until you end with one stitch, finish off.

2nd earflap

Holding the hat with the right side facing skip 17 sts from the first row of the earflap just made.

Attach with sl st and ch 1. Sc in same st and in the next 10 sts, turn. (11 sc).

Work this earflap the same as the first, but do not finish off when you finish the last row.

You will work a sc round all the way around the hat. Evenly place 11 sc in the sides of each earflap and 3 sc in each corner. Finish off.

In any corner, attach with red yarn leaving a long enough tail to use as part of the braid. Work a row of sc all the way around the hat. Remember to place 3 scs in each corner. Finish off, leaving a long enough tail to use as part of the braid. (I love ways to eliminate weaving ends)

Mouth
Ch 14
Rnd 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 11 ch, 3 sc in last ch. Working in the other side of chain, sc in next 11 ch. 2sc in the last ch. Do not join.
Rnd 2: 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 11, 2 sc in each of the next 3 sts. sc in next 12 sts. 2 sc in next st, do not join.
Rnd 3: 2 sc in first st, sc in next 14 sts. 2 sc in next 3 sts, sc in next 14 sts. 2 sc in next sts, sc in last st.
Using my favorite special finishing, leaving a tail long enough for sewing. (Refer to the chunky hat tutorial for the finishing)

Ears
Change to H hook and hold 2 strands of the camel spray together. Crochet tightly

Ch 3
Row 1: 7 Hdc in the 3rd ch from hook, turn. (8 hdc)
Row 2: Ch 2, Hdc in first st, 2 hdc in each st. (16 hdc)
Finish off leaving a tail long enough for sewing

Braids
Cut Nine strands for each side. You should already have 1 strand (the beginning and ending tails) for one side

Make a pom pom and sew onto the top of the hat.

Using photos for reference, sew the eyes and mouth onto the hat. When sewing, only sew through the top layer of the stitches on the hat so the back will look nice and neat.

Using the red, sl st the smile onto the mouth piece. I played around with it a few times to make it look the way I wanted. I did this after everything was sewn into place. I tucked each of the tail ends into the underside of the hat into the camel. (If you don't like this method you can always sew a smile with a yarn needle. The photos of Ireland wearing the hat have a smile sewn this way. I later took it out and used slip stitches to make it look smooth and neat)

As always, you can leave me a comment or send me a message if you need help. I wrote this up pretty fast so there may be mistakes. I hope not, but feel free to let me know. I check messages a couple times each day.

Enjoy!