Crochet Elmo Hat -- (19" - 21" head circumference)

My daughter-in-law asked me to crochet an Elmo Hat for my grandson, Luke, for Halloween.  I think he's going to look super cute wearing it.  Working with eyelash yarn isn't the most enjoyable, but as long as you use a stitch marker and make sure your stitch count is correct in each round, then you should be fine.

Materials:

-- 5.5 mm hook

-- #4 worsted weight yarn in red ( I used Red Heart Super Saver)

-- #5 bulky yarn in red ( I used Gilt Eyelash in Star Ruby)

-- small amount of #4 worsted weight yarn in orange, black and white (I used Red Heart Super Saver)

-- tapestry needle

Abbrev.

MR = magic ring

HDC= half double crochet

SC = single crochet

Inc = increase

Dec = decrease

FO = fasten off

Sl St = slip stitch

Instructions:

Hat 

1.  Holding the red yarn and gilt eyelash yarn together make a MR and ch 1.  8 HDC into MR.  Sl st to 1st HDC.  Ch 1.  (8)

2.  2 HDC into each st around.  Sl st to join.  Ch 1.  (16)

3.  2 HDC into first st, 1 HDC in next st.  Repeat around.  Sl st to join.  Ch 1.  (24)

4.  2 HDC into first st, HDC into the next 2 st.  Repeat around.  Sl st to join.  Ch 1.  (32)

5.  2 HDC into first st, HDC into the next 3 st.  Repeat around.  Sl st to join.  Ch 1.  (40)

6.  SC into the first 9 st, then 2 SC in the next st.  Repeat around.  Sl st to join.  Ch 1.  (44)

7-14.  1 HDC into each st around.  Sl st to join and ch 1.  At the end of row 14, sl st to join and ch 1.  Don't FO.  

First Earflap:

1.  HDC in the same st as the ch 1 and into the next 9 st.  Turn.  (10)

2.  HDC dec in first 2 st, 1 HDC into the next 6 st, then HDC dec in last 2 st.  Ch 1.  Turn. (8)

3.  1 HDC into each st across. Turn.  (8)

4.  HDC dec in first 2 st, 1 HDC into the next 4 st, then HDC dec in last 2 st.  Ch 1.  Turn. (6)

5.  1 HDC into each st across.  Turn.  (6)

6.  HDC dec in first 2 st, 1 HDC into the next 2 st, then HDC dec in last 2 st.  Ch 1.  Turn. (4)

7.  1 HDC into each st across.  Turn. (4)

8.  HDC dec 2 times. Turn. (2)

9.  HDC dec.  FO.

Second Earflap:

I laid my hat down and joined yarn directly across from the first earflap and then repeat as for the first earflap.  

Eyes (make 2):

1.  With black yarn, make a MR and ch 1.  8 HDC into MR.  Sl st to first HDC to join.  Ch 1.  (On last st, join with white yarn)

2.  2 HDC into each st around.  Sl st to join.  Ch 1.  (16)

3.  1 HDC into each st around.  Sl st to join.  Ch 1.  (16)

4.  1 SC into each st around.  Sl st to join.  Leave a long tail for attaching to Hat.  FO.  (16)

5.  Lightly stuff. 

Nose:

For the nose, I wound the orange yarn around my 4 fingers 60 times, slipped off my hand gently and tied in the center.  Be sure to leave a long tail for attaching to the hat.  I then cut all the loops, trimmed to even out and rubbed together to make the ball more uniform.  

Assembly:

Use tapestry needle to weave any stray strands and to attach eyes and nose.