Baby Bear Hat

I have two new grandsons this month and one foster granddaughter, so of course they needed a new hat.  This hat I first made in Martha Stewart extra soft wool blend, and loved how it was so soft and warm, then I made it in Lion Brand Heartland yarn, and loved that as well.  Pictured will be the Heartland yarn hat.

For this you will need the following:

Lion Brand Heartland Yarn in:

126 Sequoia

169 Shenandoah

Size I or 5.5 mm hook

yarn needle

2 black buttons

Starting with the Sequoia make a magic loop or a ch 4 loop and ch 1.

Round 1:  do 10 HDC in the loop and pull tight, sl st to the top of the first st and ch 1.
Round 2:  do 2 HDC in each st around, sl st to the top of the first st and ch 1. (20 HDC)
Round 3:  do 2 HDC in the first st, 1 HDC in the next st, repeat around, sl st to the top of the first st and ch 1.  (30 HDC)
Round 4:  do 2 HDC in the first st, 1 HDC in the next 2 sts, repeat around, sl st to the top of the first st and ch 1.  (40 HDC)
Round 5:  do 2 HDC in the first st, 1 HDC in the next 4 sts, repeat around, sl st to the top of the first st and ch 1.  (48 HDC)
Rounds 6- 12:  1 HDC in each st around, sl st to the top of the first st and ch 1.  (48 HDC)
At the end of round 12 begin the first ear flap.


Ear Flap:
Row 1:  1 SC in the next 8 sts, ch 1 and turn.
Row 2:  SCD in the first 2 sts, 1 SC in the next 4 sts, SCD in the last 2 sts, ch 1 turn.
Row 3:  1 SC in the next 6 sts, ch 1 turn.
Row 4:  SCD in the first 2 sts, 1 SC in the next 2 sts, SCD in th last 2 sts, ch 1 turn.
Row 5:  1 SC in the next 4 sts, ch 1 turn.
Row 6:  SCD in the first 2 sts, SCD in the next 2 sts, ch 1 turn.
Row 7:  SCD in the last 2 sts, tie off.
Count 18 sts across the front of the hat and start ear flap 2.

After you finish the second ear flap starting at the tip of either ear flap with Shenandoah SC evenly around the base of the hat.

Ears are made in 4 parts, 1 inside ear and 1 outside ear stitched together, this makes the ear a little more sturdy.  I crocheted the front to the back to save time just matching sts from the front to the back and HDC the two together.

Inside Ear, make 2
Round 1:  starting with a magic loop, ch 1 and make 12 HDC in magic loop, sl st to the top of the first st, ch 1
Round 2:  2 HDC in the next 10 sts. (20 HDC) tie off.

Repeat instructions above for the outside ear but do not tie off after round two, ch 1 then start
Round 3:  with the inside ear on top, do 1 HDC in each st, through both sts on the inside and outside ear around, tie off leaving a long tail to sew on the ear.

Nose:  starting with Sequoia and a magic ring, ch 1.
Round 1:  make 10 SC in the ring, sl st to the top of the first st and tie off leaving enough tail to make a mouth with your yarn needle and a double thread.
Round 2:  switch to Shenandoah, ch 1 and do 2 HDC in the first st, 1 HDC in the next st, repeat around and sl st to the top of the first st and ch 1. (15 HDC)
Round 3:  Do 2 HDC in the first st, 1 HDC in the next 2 sts, repeat around, tie off leaving a long tail to sew on the nose.  I used a little bit of polyfill stuffing to make the nose stick out just a little.

Braids:
For each braid cut 6 strands of Sequoia and 6 strands of Shenandoah.  Make each strand about 30 inches long.