Free Earflap Hat Pattern with color change instruction

Hi again!

I am posting my first Free Pattern. Hats are common, but this one is Very Versitile and a great option if you're learning color changes,  rounds or modifications.

  Please leave some comments and let me know how you liked the pattern.

Enjoy!

My version is done in Chicago Bears Colors, Colors can be changed any way you'd like of course!

I hook
H Hook
Worsted Weight yarn ( I used I Love This Yarn)

MODIFICATIONS, If you'd like to change the size

 If this hat is for a large head, big hair, dreads, etc., I suggest you continue in the pattern by increasing 8 sts each round as pattern has established up to round 7 until you reach the desired size.
If this hat is for a child, begin hdc on rnd 6 and discontinue increases after rnd 5, work evenly from Rnd 6 and on. Ear flaps for a child's hat should begin as 11 sts, not 13sts.
You can also use a smaller / larger hook to achieve your custom size.
* A smaller hook will make for a warmer hat

With I hook, Begin with a magic ring or chain 3
Rnd 1 8 dc in ring or 3rd chain from hook
At the end of each round,  join with a slst in top chain of beginning ch 2, then ch 2. Always begin round in the next dc(not the same as ch 2) be sure you are joining correctly, or you will be adding a st each round
Rnd 2 2dc in each dc around(16dc)
Rnd 3 1 dc in next dc,  2 dc in next dc, around (24dc)
Rnd 4 1 dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc, around (32dc)
Rnd 5 1 dc in next 3 dc, 2dc in next dc, around (40dc) First color change here(blue to white)
Color change shown here in SC
insert hook into st, yo, pull up a loop, drop (white) color, wrap hook with 'New" color, pull through to finish the stitch

Color change with Hdc-Yo, insert hook into next st,yo, pull up a loop, drop color, wrap hook with new color, pull through sts on hook to finish the hdc.

Color change in HDC

Rnd 6 1 hdc in next 4 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, around (48 hdc) color change here (white to orange)
Rnd 7 1 hdc in next 5 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, around (56 hdc)
Rnd 8  Hdc in each hdc around, Color change here (orange to white)
Rnd 9 Hdc in each hdc around, Color change back to Main Color here (white to blue)
Rnd 10 - 14 Hdc in each hdc around. Join, place a marker, do NOT fasten off
                                                                   
Earflaps, H hook
rounds turn into rows for earflaps
First Earflap

Row 1 Sc in next 4 hdc, ch 1, Hdc in next 12 hdc, turn (13hdc)
Row 2 ch 1, hdc dec, hdc in next 9 hdc, hdc dec, ch 1, turn(11hdc)
Row 3 hdc dec, hdc in next 7hdc, hdc dec (9hdc)ch 1, turn
Row 4 hdc dec, hdc in next 5 hdc, hdc dec, (7hdc), turn
Row 5 ch 1, hdc in same & in each hdc across(7hdc)
Row 6 repeat last row one time, fasten off

Second earflap

With right side facing (hat upside down, top of hat below, earflap above)On last Round completed, count 24 (unused) sts to left of finished earflap
Attached Main color to 25th st with a slp st, ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc in next 12 hdc(13hdc) turn, leave last 3 hdc of that Round unused.
Repeat Rows 2-6 of First Earflap

Finishing

 Join 2nd color (white) either at your marker or in the back corner of either earflap.
Sc in each st around, join & fasten off or color change to 3rd color (orange)
I prefer to make 2 sc in each corner (outward & inward corners) for this round of finishing
Color change

With 2nd finishing color (orange)I use Hdc and I prefer to make one hdc in each sc, Except for going around an outward corner. 2 sc in those, and there are only four of them-one at each corner of bottom edge of earflaps.
Lastly, Using the main color (blue), one round of Sc in each st around.
Fasten off and weave in any loose ends.

Please let me know if you find any errors and definately share pics of your finished items!
Contact me by posting a comment below or email me at coolcrochet.sherrie@yahoo.com
If you email me & don't get a response, try posting a comment
 (spam might get your message before I do)

Some rights are Reserved. This pattern is not for reproducing and selling in any form. This is my own pattern. Any similarities to other hat patterns are purely coincidence. Reproduce the item for yourself, gifting or charity. Any mention of CoolCrochet.net is appreciated when sharing the finished item. 

Customer appreciation photos.

I know it is only a few photos, but don't we blog to show what we're most proud of?

These are a few of my customers that have been kind enough to share with me.

Julianna as the Little Minion

Most handsome Leprechaun Hat EVER!

All toasty & warm

Flowered Hat made to match an Old Navy coat, Looks good!

GO GIANTS!!!!!!!!!

Sweaters I made Years ago for my own guys

GO LIONS!!!!!!!Tracy has a great collection of Lion hats, mine is just one of them :)

Thank you to all of you!
All of these crocheted creations were of my own patterns & made by my own hands. I love what I do!

Crochet, Healing and Learning

I feel out of the loop lately-literally!

I/we crocheted for summer in Feb/March, now I need to start crocheting for winter-in June. It is the nature of the beast, I know this. It won't change, and in fact, I don't normally pay too much attention to it unless the yarn store isn't stocking up as much as I'd like them to for the up and coming season!

When I actually decided to do fairs and open an online store and put money into the craft I adore, maybe even make a profit, I was employed outside of the home and crochet sales did not keep me very busy. It was more about a new process than making money. More about meeting people than being a top seller.   It was about coming up with that thing nobody else made but everyone would want.
A challenge I had to embark on!

Then it became more about money and that feeling of success after I was let go of my "job" due to "consolidating" my department. I was the first and I took it very hard.
 Along with the job and the paycheck, my self esteem also went on hiatus.
Crocheting helped me deal with the inevitable rejection I was dealing with. When I found myself dwelling on things, I'd find a project that took a lot of counting.
When the counting was complete, I had endless, monotonous rows or rounds that allowed my left brain to argue and debate with my right brain. I cried a lot.
Soul Searching?  Self forgiveness?  Call it what you will.
Before I knew it, the project would be finished.
I finished something,  I did it! I did it myself.
No one told me to go home before I was ready to leave.
Pretty soon, I had made enough things to be proud of. My yarn stash began to have more color.
I was getting compliments & Thank You's from happy customers. Friends gave me smiles in exchange for that gift in the bag made just for them. 
I started to look forward again. I did feel better.
In time I came to learn that if my items didn't sell, not to take it personally.
Always hoping to be busier. Always hoping to sell something, then something more. That's just me.

I believe that I succeeded my expectations.  Even though the economy took a dive.  I increased my online sales. I have kept Very busy locally and have maintained a retail (brick & mortar) location. Many custom orders, happy repeat customers, shows and fairs, and I feel that I continue to make new friends and come up with fresh ideas regarding crochet. That was the initial goal. 

Now I am faced with a very serious case of Tendinitis.  I am also fighting weight gain due to this being the least active job that I have ever had. Turns out, the time I now take for exercise provides healing time for my tendinitis and the rest of me still.
  I love what I do, and if that means do it slower so I can do it longer, so be it.

I have healed with crochet. Crochet has taught me how to take time for myself.   How to better myself as well as my math skills... he, he.  I am still learning when to put it down.

I will be spending the next month on Charity Items. My way of celebrating Yarn and Hook.
patsridetorecovery.com
ugleedolls4kids
 These are two of the charities I've decided to get some things made for.


If you don't know how to crochet, or you're in a place that you need a distraction, like my story above, or both, consider signing up for this contest.
http://www.allfreecrochet.com/sweeps/Crochet-Me-Workshop-DVDs-Product-Giveaway

Its been too long

It was a busy few months on Etsy. I had some great success over the winter, and a second wind in March. 

After that, our sales spiked in out Volo(Illinois) retail location & a few custom orders and gifts were done.

Frankly, I'm a little relieved about the break. I had a few custom requests that I couldn't complete and will now put my efforts to those.
I have met a lot of great people this year and have enjoyed being a SAHM. The economy has taken a toll on so many and I find I have just a tiny itch to go back to work.
 The grass is always greener, right?

Well, good day for now, stay posted for my upcomming projects

In the begining

In the begining it was just something I had trouble grasping. My mother couldn't teach me, none of my friends knew how and the Grandmothers that could were gone.

Then it became a challenge-well, I hardly turn down a challenge. I had to learn-the clock was ticking-I was done having babies, and I still couldn't sew for the life of me!
I needed the outlet-and I needed a skill. Not a skill that would put me into the coorporate world and fill my bank account..  A skill that would fill my heart and make my soul rich.
That was only a few years ago, and here I am today making others happy with my craft, just as it once was hundreds of years ago. Yeah, I know that royalty isn't knocking at my door asking me for lace, but I sure feel special  whenever someone wants a hat that I created with my own hands!

  This is my first post of my first blog. Please write in and tell us how you began & why you continue to crochet. What does the craft offer you?