Saturday, October 22, 2011

Unicorn Hat


Inspiration: Hot Topic's Unicorn Knit Hat (which is crochet, and not knit)
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver (Acryllic Worsed Weight Yarn)
Approximately 150 yards of white, 50 yards of Lavender, scraps of Pink, Black, Green & Blue
Hook: 5.0mm
Gauge: Fit hat portion to head, gauge itself is unimportant
Additional Items: several handfuls of stuffing, 4-6 safety pins, yarn needle

HAT
Start with a magic loop or ch3 and sl st to form a ring
RND 1: ch 3 and 11 dc into ring. Sl st into top of ch 3 to join.
RND 2: ch 3, 2 dc into each dc of previous round. Sl st into top of ch 3 to join.
RND 3: Ch 3, *1dc in next st, 2 dc in following st* repeat from * to * around. Sl st into top of ch 3 to join.
RND 4: Ch 3, *1dc in each of next 2 sts, 2 dc in following st* Repeat from * to * around. Sl st into top of ch 3 to join.
RNDS 5- 13: Ch 3, 1dc in each st around, Sl st into top of ch 3 to join.
Fasten off at the end of RND 13. Using safety pins, mark where you would like the earflaps to be, as each will be 12 sts wide.

EARFLAPS
Row 1: Join yarn in st marked with a pin and ch 3 (counts as first dc). Dc in each st across to next pin. Ch 3 and turn (12 sts)
Row 2: skip 1st st, dc next 2 sts tog, dc in each st to last 2 sts. Dc2tog, then dc into the top of the ch 3 made to begin the row. Ch 3 and Turn (10 sts)
Row 3: Dc2tog, dc in each st to last 2 sts. Dc2tog, then dc into the top of the ch 3 made to begin the row. Ch 3 and Turn (9 sts)
Row 4: Dc2tog, dc in each st to last 2 sts. Dc2tog, then dc into the top of the ch 3 made to begin the row. Ch 3 and Turn (8 sts)
Row 5: Dc2tog, dc in each st to last 2 sts. Dc2tog, then dc into the top of the ch 3 made to begin the row. Ch 3 and Turn (7 sts)
Row 6: Dc2tog 3 times, dc into the top of the ch 3 made to begin the row. ch 1 and turn (5 sts)
Row 7: sc2tog, sc into next st, sc2 tog using last st and top of ch 3 (this helps make the edge smooth.  (3 sts)
Repeat for the other ear flap.
When adding straps: decided on what length you want (approx.  12” – 20”) and cut 12 lengths of yarn that are DOUBLE the desired length. (in whatever colors you prefer) Fold the lengths of yarn in half, and slip-knot 4 strands through each of the 3 sts at the bottom of the ear flap. Braid them and tie off.
(I know plenty of patterns that would tell you 6 strands is the ideal amount to use, and that’s fine, but I like a hearty braid with a thicker tassel at the end)

NOSE:
RND 1: ch 4 and sc in 2nd ch from hook. Sc in next st, and 2 sc in the last st.
DO NOT TURN. Begin working in the round. Sc in the back of the st that you just put 2sc into. 1 sc into the back of the next st.  2sc into the back of the next st, which should bring you back  to the first sc you made. Sl st in this st to join the round.
RND 2: Ch 1, sc into next 3 sts, 2sc in each of next 2 sts, sc in each of next 2 sts, 2sc in each of next 2 sts, sl st to to join.
RND 3: ch 1, sc into next 3 sts, *2sc in next st, sc in following st* twice. Sc in next 3 sts. Repeat from * to * twice. Sl st to join.
RND 4: ch 1, sc in next 4 sts.* 2sc in following st,  1sc in each of next 2 sts, and 2 sc in following st* sc in each of next 5 sts. Repeat from * to * then sc in each remaining st of the rnd. Sl st to join.
RND 5: ch 1, sc in each of next 5 sts, 2sc in next st, sc in each of next 11 sts, 2sc in next st, sc in each remaining st of the rnd. Sl st to join.
RND 6: ch 1, sc in each of next 7 sts, 2sc in next st, sc in each of next 11 sts, 2sc in next st, sc in each remaining st of the rnd. Sl st to join.
RND 7: ch 1, sc in each st around. Sl st to join. Fasten off.
Nostrils: Using black yarn and yarn needle, add some nostrils on your unicorn’s nose.
To attach: Safety Pin in place, and use yarn needle w/ scraps of white yarn to stitch it about 80% of the way around. Add light stuffing, then finish stitching around.

EARS: (make 2)
With Pink, make a magic ring.
RND 1: 8 sc into ring. Tighten magic ring, and sl st to join.
RND 2: ch 1, 2sc into each st, sl st to join.
RND 3: ch 1, *sc in next st, 2 sc into following st*  repeat from * to * 3 more times. Sl st into following st. Leave remaining sts unworked
ROW 4:
Turn, do not ch. Sl st into the last sc of the previous row and in the following sc. Sc in each of the next 2 sts. Hdc in each of the next 4 sts, sc in each of the next 2 sts, sl st in next st. Turn.
Row 5:
Do not ch. Sl st into the last sc of the previous row and in the following sc. Sc in next st. hdc in next st. 2 hdc in next st. hdc in next st. sc in next st. sl st into next 2 sts. Fasten off.
Select  1 st that is the bottom center (these are the sts that were left unworked after RND 3). Mark the sts on either side of your center st. these 3 sts will serve as your open area to stuff the ear (if you so desire) and should remain unworked. With the RS facing, and pins at the top of your work, join white to the left of the left pin.
Row 6: ch 1 and sc in each of the next 7 sts. 2hdc in next st, 1hdc in following st, and 2 hdc in next st. sc in each remaining st around to the other pin (leaving the st with the pin unworked). Ch 1 and turn
Row 7: (work in back Loop ONLY this whole row). sc in each of the first 7 sts. 2 sc in next st. sc in each of the following 2 sts. 2sc in next st. sc in each st around to end of row. ch 1 and turn.
Row 8: (Resume working through both loops of sts). Sc in each of the next 6 sts. *Sc2tog over next 2 sts. Sc in next st* Repeat from * to * 3 times. Sc around to end of row. ch 1 and turn.
Row 9: Sc in each of the next 4 sts. Sc2tog 5 times. Sc in final 4 sts. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 10: Sc in each of the first 4 sts. Sc2tog over next 2 sts. Sc in next st. Sc2tog over next 2 sts. Sc in final 4 sts. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 11: Sc in each of the first 3 sts. Sc2tog over next 2 sts. Sc in next st. Sc2tog over next 2 sts. Sc in final 3 sts. Fasten off.
Seam up the back using white yarn and yarn needle. Stuff ears lightly and attach.

HORN:
With Lavender, ch 12 and sl st to form a ring.
RND 1: ch 1, 14 sc into ring. Sl St to join. (14 sts)
RND 2: Ch 1, sc  into each st around. Sl St to join.
RND 3: Ch 1, sc  into each st around. Sl St to join.
RND 4: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st around. Sl St to join.
RNDS 5-10: Repeat Rnds 3-4 a total of 6 additional times, until only 6 sts remain
RND 11: Ch 1, sc2tog 3 times. Loosten the loop on the hook and sl st to ch1 st to join. This should pull the top shut. Fasten off.
Overstuff the horn to make it more solid. Attach to the hat using scraps of the lavender yarn.

EYES:
Using black yarn, make a magic ring, or ch 2 and work in the second ch from hook.
RND 1: Sc 8 sts into ring, sl st to join.
RND 2: Ch 1, 2sc into each st around, sl st to join. Fasten Off.
You may also choose to use buttons , or glue on rhinestones for the eyes.

MANE:
Using all the colors of yarn, cut a ton of pieces that are 10-12” in length. Taking 2 pieces at a time, slip knot them around the dc sts that make up the hat. You can make the mane as full or as long as you like. I kept mine short, so that it wouldn’t go on the nape of the neck when worn.






Modifications to make a child sized version (untested):
Use a  4.0mm hook

HAT:
Skip RND 4 of hat pattern. Fasten off after RND 10.
On Earflaps, begin with 10 sts instead of 12. Follow Row 2 as written, ending with 8 sts. Then follow pattern from Row 5 onward.

NOSE:
follow RNDs 1-3 as written.
RND 4: ch 1, sc into each st around. Sl st to join
Rnd 5: ch 1, sc into each of next 4 sts. 2 sc into following st.  sc in each of the next 8 sts, 2 sc in following st. sc in each sts to finish the round, sl st to join
Rnd 6: ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join. Fasten off.
Add nostrils, stuff, and attach.

HORN:
Begin with Ch 8 and sl st to form ring.
RND 1: Ch 1, 10 sc into ring. Sl St to join.
RND 2: Ch 1, sc  into each st around. Sl St to join.
RND 3: Ch 1, sc  into each st around. Sl St to join.
RND 4: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each st around. Sl St to join.
RNDS 5-7: Repeat Rnds 3-4 a total of 3 additional times, until only 6 sts remain
RND 8: Ch 1, sc2tog 3 times. Loosten the loop on the hook and sl st to ch1 st to join. This should pull the top shut. Fasten off.
Overstuff the horn to make it more solid. Attach to the hat using scraps of the lavender yarn.

EARS:
So, I think the larger ears would look cute on a smaller hat. However, you could try skipping Row 4 and just reducing the sts of each rnd accordingly. If I ever get around to testing the child version of this pattern, I will make sure to post ammedments.




6 comments:

  1. pattern for the eyes?

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  2. Can't believe I missed that! Eye pattern is now included in the body of the pattern.

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  3. in round 4 of the nose it says "2sc in each of next sts" how many stitches its a bit confusing. also in which round does the white come in for the ears?

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  4. RND 4 of nose pattern has been corrected.

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  5. I've spent this evening making that hat part of the adult pattern but its way too small fits my one year old, so anyone making it i'd advise adding more increase rounds, i've looked at similar patterns on ravelry and they all seem to start with the same amount of stitches but increase until there are 60 :)

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    Replies
    1. This often depends on everyone's different tension, creating a tighter or looser gauge. Every time I make a hat, I size it by trying it on as I work.

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