This knitted friendly polar bear hat will keep you warm and cosy – and make you smile, too. Animal knit is so popular at Christmas time, but this hat is really special. It is very gentle and fluffy, and so cute, that everybody will want one. It is a perfect Christmas gift! This pattern is in one size to fit an average adult head.
Materials One 50g ball of Rowan Cocoon in each of Polar 801 (A) and Alpine 802 (B); Oddments of Black yarn for embroidery; Set of 5mm double pointed needles; 5mm circular needle 40cm long; Stitch marker; 4.5mm crochet hook; Stuffing or toy filling.
Tension 19 sts and 25 rows to 1 0cm square over st-st using 5mm needles.
Abbreviations cm centimetres; cont continue; dpns double pointed needles; k knit; kfb k into front and back of next st; p purl; rem remaining; rep repeat; sts stitches; st-st stocking stitch; tog together; WS wrong side.
Earflaps (make 2) With two 5mm dpns and A, cast on 5 sts. 1st row K1, kfb, k1, kfb, k1. 7 sts. 2nd and every foll WS row P to end. 3rd row K1, kfb, k3, kfb, k1. 9 sts. 5th row K1, kfb, k5, kfb, k1. 11 sts. 7th row K1, kfb, k7, kfb. k1. 13 sts. 9th row K1, kfb, k9, kfb, k1. 15 sts. 11th row K1, kfb, k11, kfb, k1. 17 sts. 13th row K1, kfb, k13, kfb, k1. 19 sts. 14th row P to end. Cont straight in st-st until earflap measures 9cm. Leave sts on a spare needle.
Hat With 5mm circular needle and A, cast on 8 sts. With RS facing, k across 19 sts of first earflap, cast on 23 sts, k across 19 its of second earflap, then cast on 8sts. 77 sts. Join in a circle and place stitch marker. Work in the round in st-st (k every round) until hat measures 14cm from cast on edge.
Shape crown Change to dpns when necessary. Round 1 [K5, k2tog] to end. 66 sts. Round 2 and every toll alt round K to end. Round 3 [K4, k2tog] to end. Round 5 [K3, k2tog] to end. Round 7 [K2, k2tog] to end. Round 9 [K1 , k2tog] to end. 22 sts. Round 10 [k2tog] to end. 11 sts. Round 11 [K2tog] 5 times, k1. Break off yarn, thread it through rem sts, pull up and fasten off securely.
Muzzle With four 5mm dpns and A, cast on 24 sts (8 sts on each of 3 needles). Join in a circle and place stitch marker. K 4 rounds. Round 5 [K2tog] to end of round. 12 sts. K 2 rounds. Round 8 [K3tog] to end of round. 4 sts. Break off yarn, thread it through rem sts, pull upend fasten off securely.
Ears (make 2) With four 5mm dpns and A, cast on 30 sts (10 sts on each of 3 needles). Join in a circle and place stitch marker. K 6 rounds. Round 7 [K2tog] to end. 15 sts. K 3 rounds. Round 11 [K2tog] to last st, k1. 8 sts. Round 12 K to end. Round 13 [K2tog] to end. 4 sts. Break off yarn, thread it through rem sts, pull up and fasten off securely.
Edging Weave in all ends. With 4,5mm crochet hook and B, work 2 rows of double crochet around the edge of the hat and earflaps.
To finish Position the ears on the sides of the hat, 5cm from the centre-top, using the picture to guide you, and attach them to the hat using an overstitch. Stuff the muzzle with toy filling. Position it or the front of the hat using the picture to guide you, and attach it using an overstitch. With Black yarn, embroider the nose and mouth using satin stitch and backstitch and the eyes using satin stitch.
Cords (make 2) With two 5mm dpns, cast on 5 sts, and k 1 row. Slide these 5 sts to the opposite end of the same needle, place needle in left hand and bringing yarn firmly from last st to first st, k5. Rep this row until cord measures 25cm. Next row K2tog, k3tog, pass first st over second st and fasten off. With B, make two 8cm diameter pompoms and attach one to the end of each cord. Sew cords to inside edge of earflaps.
Taken from Animal Hats by Rachel Henderson