Girly Safari Animal Baby Hats: #1 Zebra (3-6mo)

This pattern was a ton of fun to write and I was so giddy with how it came out. I took it to show my older brother who happened to be in the middle of playing video games. Note that for most guys pink is pink, purple is purple and blue is blue etc... there is no light pink or dark pink, only PINK. So when he saw it I asked what he thought it was. Bad idea. Because it was all pink he instantly claimed it was a pig. That kind of burst my bubble of joy, so I went to see if he was the only one who didn't know what it was. (Because what's the point of a cute hat if no one can tell what it is) Since I have no sisters I went to see what my other brothers thought and questioned them. To my disheartening they all told me it was a pig... ugh! They didn't know how much I had already changed in the pattern to make sure it did not look like a pig. So as a last resort I asked my dad... please let there be someone in the house who does not say it is a pig. Alas my hopes were crushed and my adorable zebra hat was proclaimed a pig. When I informed him that it was indeed a zebra, he told me that it might be more recognizable if I had done it in the traditional black and white colors of a Zebra. Can’t a girl not have a fun, pink, whimsical zebra to wear on her head?

With uncertainty I wrapped it up with two other pink safari animal hats I had done (a monkey and a giraffe which I will post soon) and took it to a baby shower. The mother's face lit up as she saw the "zebra" hat. Finally someone recognized a zebra when they saw one. At least the person who it was for knew what it was and so did everyone else at the shower. The lesson I learned: don't ask my brothers to guess what I made... especially since now they joke about all the hats I make looking like pigs.

Please tell me this does not look like a pig.

Size: 3-6 months

Tools:

·         Crochet hook­ size I/9 (5.5mm) or size need to obtain gauge

·         Scissors

·         Yarn needle/darning needle

Supplies:

• Hot pink  worsted weight yarn (CA)
• Light pink worsted weight yarn (CB)
• 2 matching Black/Dark Brown Buttons for eyes (optional… you can also crochet the eyes)
• A small amount of black worsted weight yarn  (CC)

Gauge:

Rnds 1-4 of Base Hat = approx. 4.5inches in diameter

Instructions:

Base Hat

With CA

Make magic loop, ch 3

Rnd 1: dc 12 in loop, sl st in 1^st dc

Rnd 2: ch 3, (dc in same st) twice, dc 2 in ea st around, sl st in 1^st dc

With CB

Rnd 3: ch 3, dc in same st, dc 2 in nxt st, (dc 1, dc 2 in nxt st) repeat around, sl st in 1^st dc

Rnd 4: ch 3, dc in same st, dc 1, dc 2 in nxt st, (dc 2, dc 2 in nxt st) repeat around, sl st in 1^st dc

With CA

Rnd 5-6: ch 3, dc in same st, dc around, sl st in 1^st dc,

With CB:

Rnd 7-8: ch 3, dc in same st, dc around, sl st in 1^st dc,

With CA

Rnd 9-10: ch 3, dc in same st, dc around, sl st in 1^st dc,

With CB:

Rnd 11-12: ch 3, dc in same st, dc around, sl st in 1^st dc,

With CA

Rnd 13: ch 1, sc in same st, sc around, sl st in 1^st sc, fasten off and weave in ends

With CA

Make a 2” pom-pom and sew to top of the hat, weave in ends

Ear (make 2)

With CB

Ch 7, turn

Rnd 1: dc in 3^rd ch from hook, dc 2, sc 1, sc 3 in nxt st, turn so you are working on the bottom of the chs, sc 1, dc 2, dc 2 in nxt st, sl st in 1^st dc

Rnd 2:  ch 2, dc 2 in same st, hdc 2, sc 2 in nxt st, sc 3 in nxt st, sc 2, hdc 2, dc 2 in nxt st, dc 3in nxt st, sl st in 1^st dc,

With CA

Rnd 3: ch 1, sc in same st, sc around, sl st in 1^st sc, fasten off and weave in tails

Sew on at the top of the hat tucking the point under the base of the pom-pom

Muzzle

With CA

Ch 10,

Rnd 1: dc in 3^rd ch from hook, dc 6, dc 3 in nxt st, turn so that you are working on the bottom of the chs, dc 6, dc 2 in nxt st, sl st in 1^st dc,

Rnd 2: ch 3, dc 2 in same st, dc 6, dc 2 in nxt st, dc 3 in nxt st, dc 2 in nxt st, dc 6, dc 2 in nxt st, dc 3 in nxt st, sl st in 1^st dc,

Rnd 3: ch 1, sc 2 in same st, sc 2 in nxt st, sc 6, (sc 2 in nxt st) twice, sc 1, sc 2 in nxt st, sc 1, (sc 2 in nxt st) twice, sc 1, sc 2 in nxt st, sl st in 1^st sc, fasten off leaving a tail for sewing, sew on

With CB embroider two “x” to represent nostrils

Eyes (make 2)

With CC

Make magic loop, ch

Rnd 1: sc 6 in loop, sl st in 1^st sc, fasten off leaving a tail for sewing, sew on, weave in ends

OR

With CC to sew on buttons for eyes

If you would like instructions for making a pom-pom or more detailed directions for the rest of the patterns, please feel free to comment and please tell me the finished product does not look like a pig. Also please let me if you find any errors as this pattern has not officially been tested.