Toddler Earflap Hat

A fellow mom friend of mine emailed me asking if I could make her adorable little lady a new hat for this winter.  Her current hat no longer fits so she needs a new one.  So I looked to find the perfect pattern.  Well, I found one I like but it wasn't large enough so I ended up improvising my hat.

Below is the pattern I created to make this adorable earflap hat (this fits my 3.5 year old who's head circumference is about 20"). Yarn is worsted weight and crochet hook J:

1 - Magic Loop 11 dc, join with a slip stitch
2 - ch2, make 2 dc in each st, slip stitch to join (22 st)
3 - ch2, *2 dc, dc in next st* repeat around, slip stitch to join (33 st)
4 - ch2, *2 dc, dc in next 2 st* repeat around, slip stitch to join (44 st)
5 - ch2, *2 dc, dc in next 3 st* repeat around, slip stitch to join (55 st)
6 - ch2, *2 dc, dc in next 4 st* repeat around, slip stitch to join (66 st)
7 - ch2, *dc in each st around, slip stitch to join
8-17 - repeat row 7, (don't fasten off since you'll want to join the very last edging yarn here)

Earflaps:

Skip 10 stitches from back. Join same color yarn with slip stitch:
1 - ch1, hdc in same st, hdc in next 11 stitches, turn
2 - hdc in each, ch1, turn (12 st)
3 - hdc dec, hdc in next 8 st, hdc dec, ch1, turn (10 st)
4 - hdc in each, ch1 turn (10 st)
5 - hdc decrease, hdc in next 6 st, hdc dec, ch1, turn (8 st)
6 - hdc in each, ch1, turn (8 st)
7 - hdc dec, hdc in next 4 st, hdc dec, ch1, turn (6 st)
8 - hdc dec, hdc in next 2 st, hdc dec, ch1, turn (4 st)
9 - hdc dec, ch1, hdc dec, fasten off (2 st and 1 ch) (if you don't plan on making the braids, then leave out the ch1)

skip next 22 stitches.  Then repeat rows for second earflap.

Finishing:
Join second color in back and sc around the entire hat.  Next add braids.

Braids:

cut 8 - 15" pink and 5 - 15" white pieces of yarn.  Fold in half and attach to earflap ch stitch hole like a tassel.  Separate yarn pieces into 3 strands and braid.  Tie off with your choice yarn.  Cut leftover yarn to preference.

My little 'Nut modeling the newest hat

Measurements:
From top to forehead - 8"
From top to base of earflap - 11"

New Year's Resolutions

It's that wonderful time of year again.  It's that time that we want to better ourselves because it's a new year, a new beginning if you will.  My resolutions in terms of Brotz Creations as a business are as follows:

1.) Get my Etsy shop back up to running and keep it up-to-date.  That also means doing a lot of marketing to get the etsy shop running.  If I find I cannot get too much business on etsy, I may look into getting my own website.  But that truly depends on how sales go!

2.) Make more hats than just the custom orders so that I'll be able to get more out in a more timely fashion.  I think I can manage about 3 a week.  I'd love to have a wide variety of hats for any vending times over the summer!

3.) Use primarily local yarns/stores.  I typically use The Knitter's Edge for all my yarn pleasure!  I believe it's the largest in the state as far as a local yarn store (LYS) is concerned.  Seriously, the first time I went there (on opening weekend) it took me over 2 hours to go up and down the aisles because of how much beautiful yarn they have!  Peanut and Bean now love to run around that store so much and constantly ask when we're going to the yarn store.  

I also love the other local textile company, Kraemer Yarns over in Nazareth, who makes their own yarn in shop.  When I first started really becoming a yarn snob back in 2006/2007, we didn't have a lot of big craft stores around (or at least I didn't know the area well enough) and I avoided Walmart like the plague.  This is located in my hubby's hometown, so when I'd go visit him, I'd stop in and pick up a skein or two! 

4.) Attempt to do at least 4 craft shows this year.  It's tricky because of the little kiddos but I think it may be doable.  Just need to have the right connections (thank you hubby)!

5.) Miscellaneous items, like getting an official logo, updating the blog more often, making a few patterns here and there.

I think these are all manageable goals for 2013.  I would love to be able to have Brotz Creations as a full time job!  For right now, it's more a hobby.  Maybe in a year or two!