Crochet "Love Stripes Ponytail/Messy Bun Hat"...Free pattern

With Valentine's Day approaching, I wanted to make a hat that's pretty and girly. And, with my hair long at the moment, I had to make another ponytail hat...lol. 

So, I aptly named this crochet project: "Love Stripes Ponytail/Messy Bun Hat" with Brim and interchangeable clips...Brim and clips are optional.

Love Stripes Ponytail/Messy Bun Hat

  

Love Stripes Ponytail/Messy Bun Hat Pattern

Materials:  

--5.5mm hook

--Red Heart Super Saver in Cherry Red & Pretty 'N Pink

--Tapestry needle for weaving

Size:  Fits average-sized head of 20"-22" circumference

Optional:  clips for the hearts; however, you could simply attach the hearts to the hat itself or not make it/them ...your choice!!!

Abbreviations:

--ch= chain

--st= stitch(es) 

--sl st= slip stitch

--dc= double crochet

--FPDC= front post double crochet

--BPDC= back post double crochet

--sc= single crochet

--sc2tog= single crochet 2 together 

NOTE:  On Rounds 1-9, I did not cut off the yarn at the start of each row, I just kept alternating between the 2 colors.  For Rounds 10-12, I carried over the non-working color, to make the alternating of the colors easier.

Directions:  

With pink yarn, chain 24.  Sl st to 1st ch and ch 1.  

1.  Pink:  30 Dc evenly spaced into the ring.  Sl st to first stitch.  Join red yarn.  Chain 1.  (30)

2.  Red:  2 Dc into the same st as the ch 1, then 1 Dc into the next 2 stitches.  *2 Dc into next st, then 1 Dc into next 2 st...repeat around.* Sl st to first stitch.  Join pink yarn.  Ch 1.  (40)

3.  Pink:  2 Dc into the same st as the ch 1, then 1 Dc into the next 3 stitches.  *2 Dc into next st, then 1 Dc into next 3 st...repeat around.* Sl st to first stitch.  Join red yarn.  Ch 1.  (50)

4.  Red:  2 Dc into the same st as the ch 1, then 1 Dc into the next 4 stitches.  *2 Dc into next st, then 1 Dc into next 4 st...repeat around.* Sl st to first stitch.  Join pink yarn.  Ch 1.  (60)

5.  Pink:  *1 Dc into the first 14 st, then 2 Dc into the next st* repeat 3 more times around.  Sl st to first stitch.  Join red yarn.  Ch 1. (64) 

6.  Red:  1 Dc in each st around.  Sl st to first stitch.  Join pink yarn.  Ch 1.  (64)

7.  Pink:  1 Dc in each st around.  Sl st to first stitch.  Join red yarn.  Ch 1.  (64)

8.  Red:  1 Dc in each st around.  Sl st to first stitch.  Join red yarn.  Ch 1.  (64)

9.  Pink:  1 Dc in each st around.  Sl st to first stitch.  Join red yarn.  Ch 1.  (64)

10-12.  * With red yarn on the hook and carrying over the pink yarn, work 1 FPDC into each of the first 4 posts, on the last post stitch before the stitch is complete, switch to pink yarn to complete the stitch. Now, with the pink yarn, work 1 BPDC into each of the next 4 posts, on the last stitch before the stitch is complete, switch back to red yarn to complete the stitch.* Repeat around.  At the end of Round 12, you can fasten off the red yarn.  Sl stitch pink yarn to first stitch and ch 1.  (16 groups of 4 FPDC in red & 16 groups of 4 BPDC in pink for a total of 64 stitches) 

13.  Pink:  *2sc in first st, 1sc in the next...* repeat aroun.  Sl st to first stitch and ch 1.  (96)

14.  Pink: sc around. Sl st to first stitch and ch 1.  (96)  

--if you don't want a brim, then on Round 14, loosely slip stitch around instead of sc-- 

Optional brim:  

1.  Sc into first 24 stitches.  Ch 1.  Turn.  (24) 

2.  Sc2tog, sc into next 20 stitches, then Sc2tog last 2 stitches.  Ch 1.  Turn.  (22)

3.  Sc2tog, sc into next 18 stitches, then Sc2tog last 2 stitches.  Ch 1.  Turn.  (20)

4.  Sc2tog, sc into next 16 stitches, then Sc2tog last 2 stitches.  Ch 1.  Turn.  (18)

5.  Loosely sl st around.  Fasten off.  Weave ends.  

Optional hearts bow:   

I found 2 great patterns for hearts at the following link.  I made and attached the hearts to clips to make them removable.  If you prefer, the hearts can be made and simply attached to the hat.  

Link:  http://coolcreativity.com/celebration/valentines-day/8-valentines-day-heart-free-crochet-patterns-youll-love/