Project: Crochet Earflap Aviator Hat

This was a design I had come up with a while ago, and took many pictures documenting how I did it for you!

The bad news is, that since I did this so long ago, I cannot find my notes with how much yarn I used of each color.  I did not use a full skein of either the main color or the goggle color, but you should be safer rather than sorry.

Here goes!  Hat was made to fit my 12 month old.  This is Worsted Weight Yarn (Caron One Pound and Red Heart Super Saver) and an I Hook.

With Main Color
Magic Loop.
Round 1: Ch 2, 10 DC into ML.  Join with Sl St. Pull ML closed.
Round 2: Ch 2.  2 DC in same DC as Ch2. 2 DC in each DC around. Join wiht Sl St. (20 DC)
Round 3: Ch 2. DC in same DC as Ch2. *2 DC in next DC. DC in next DC**.  Repeat from * to ** around. Join with Sl St. (30 DC)
Round 4: Ch 2. DC in same DC as Ch2. *2 DC in next DC. 1 DC in each of next 2 DC's**.  Repeat from * to ** around. Join with Sl St. (40 DC)

Round 5: Ch 2. DC in same DC as Ch2. *2 DC in next DC. 1 DC in each of next 3 DC's**.  Repeat from * to ** around. Join with Sl St. (50 DC)

Round 6 - 10: Ch 2. DC in same DC as Ch2 and in each DC around. Join with Sl St. (50 DC)
Round 11 (Hat): Ch 2. In back loops only DC in same DC as Ch2 and in each DC around.  Join with Sl St (50 DC)

Round 12 (Hat): Ch 2. DC in same DC as Ch2 and in each DC around. Join with Sl St. (50 DC)
Switch to Secondary Color
Round 11A (Goggle Band):  Join Secondary color in Front Loop of Round 11.

 Ch 2.

DC in same st as Ch2 and in next 14 front loops.

Skip 20 Front Loop stitches and insert stitch marker in front loops of 21st stitch.

NOTE:  This is where Foundation Double Crochet (FDC) will begin.
To begin FDC stitches, yarn over, insert hook into same front loop as last DC, yarn over, and draw up loop.  There are three loops on hook.

Yarn over, draw through loop (chain made), yarn over, draw through two loops, yarn over draw through two loops.  First FDC completed.  Complete 29 additional FDC's for a total of 30 FDC stitches.
NOTE:  You will now connect the FDC stitches to the hat at the stitch marker.  To do this, yarn over.

Insert hook in front loop of stitch where the marker,

insert hook in bottom chain loops of last FDC,

yarn over

and draw through loops of FDC

and Front Loop on hat. You now have three loops on hook.

Complete DC in front loop as you normally would.

*DC in next Front Loop**

Repeat * to ** until end. Join with Sl St to top of beginning stitch of Round 11A

Round 12A (Goggle Band): Ch 2. Working only in Round 11A, DC in same St as Ch2 and in next 22 sts.

FDC 8 sts. Skip 6 sts, DC in next two sts. FDC 8 sts. Skip 6 sts,

DC in remaining 23 sts.  Join with sl st.

Fasten off, weave in all ends of secondary color.
Switch to Main Color
Round 13: Ch 2.

 DC in next 15 DC by working through all loops of both Main Color Stitches and Secondary Color stitches.

DC in next 20 DC of Main Color only.

DC in next 15 DC by working through all loops of both Main Color Stitches and Secondary Color stitches. (50 DC)
Round 14:  Ch 2. DC in same DC as Ch2 and in each DC around. Join with Sl St or invisible join. Fasten off, weave in ends. (50 DC)

Counting from the back seam, place a stitch marker in the 7th stitch, the 13th stitch, the 38th stitch and the 44th stitch.  These will mark the beginning and end points for the earflaps.

Earflap
Row 1: Insert hook into first stitch marker, draw up a loop and chain 2.  DC in same stitch as Ch 2. DC in next 6 stitches (last DC will be where second stitch marker is) (7 DC)

Row 2: Ch 2, turn. DC in same stitch as Ch2 and in each of next 6 DC. (7 DC)
Row 3: Turn.

Sl St in next 2 DC's.

Skip next DC.  5 DC in next DC. Skip next DC. Sl St in last DC.

Row 4: Turn. Skip Sl St. 2 DC in each of the next 5 DC's.  Sl St in Sl St from Row 3.

Fasten off, weave in ends.  Remove stitch markers.

Repeat Earflap instructions with third and fourth stitch marker.

Finishing:
SC all around bottom edge of hat and earflaps using Main Color.

For the embroidery around the eyes, I cut a length of Main Color yarn about 36" and split the 4 ply into 2 ply.  I used a G hook and chain stitched around the eye hole.  I did this for both eyes.