~♥ Eternal Love Slouch ♥~
Crochet Along with “e”

Have you been making hats, scarves, and all accessories under the sun as gifts?  You’ve just landed at a free reversible slouch hat pattern that will work up like a breeze and keep you wanting to make more for all the variations and in all colorways.  We’re kicking off the release of this pattern as a Crochet A-Long (CAL) as the Crochet Lounge community.  Join in on the fun and send in your WIP (work in progress) photos by posting on
facebook ( http://facebook.com/TheCrochetLounge ),
g+ community ( https://plus.google.com/communities/105170638473085181440 ) or sending me an e-mail.

Materials

• 7oz Worsted Weight – Medium #4 (UK Aran, AU 10ply)
• H-8 (5mm), I-9 (5.5mm), J-10 (6mm) Hook
• Stitch Marker
• Tapestry Needle
• Scissors
• Pinned Visor Brim Only:
  4 – 7/8” (22mm) buttons
• Thread to secure buttons

Sizing:

Hook & FO Sizing
~16″ circumference child size – I/9 (5.5mm) hook for hat, H/8 (5mm) hook for brim
~18″ circumference child size – I/9 (5.5mm) hook
~21″ circumference adult size – J/10 (6mm) hook

 

Stitches (sts) & Abbreviations

Yarn over (yo) – wrap yarn over hook

Chain (ch) – yo, pull through loop on hook

Foundation single crochet (fsc) – ch2, insert hook into 2nd chain from hook, yo draw up a loop, yo draw through 1 (this creates the next foundation chain), yo draw through 2 (this completes the single crochet)
*insert hook into the foundation chain just created, yo draw up a loop, yo draw through 1, yo draw through 2
Repeat from * until total fsc completed

Slip Stitch (slst) - insert hook in indicated stitch, yo draw through stitch and loop on hook

Single crochet (sc) - insert hook in indicated stitch, yo draw up a loop, yo draw through 2

Half double crochet (hdc) – yo, insert hook in indicated stitch, yo draw up a loop, yo draw through all 3 loops on hook

Back Post hdc (BPhdc) – yo, insert hook from back to front to back from the right side around to the left side of the indicated post (Lefties do the opposite from left to right), yo draw up a loop, yo draw through all 3 loops on hook

BPhdc 2 together (BPhdc2tog) - yo insert hook from behind the work around the post from right to left, yo draw up a loop, yo insert hook from behind the work around the next post from right to left, yo draw up a loop, yo draw through all 5 loops

Puff stitch - (yo, insert hook in indicated stitch, yo draw up a loop) 4 times, yo draw through all loops on hook

Modified puff stitch - (yo, insert hook in indicated stitch, yo draw up a loop) 4 times, yo draw through 8 loops on hook [leaving 2 on hook], yo draw through 2 loops

Puff shell –(puff stitch, ch1, puff stitch) in the indicated stitch

Modified puff shell – (puff stitch, ch1, modified puff stitch) in the indicated stitch

Invisible sc Join The Crochet Lounge Way – in the last stitch of the round, insert hook into the last stitch, draw up a loop, insert hook into the back loop only (blo) of the first stitch in the round, yo, draw up and through the loops on hook, leave a 6” tail, cut the yarn.  Insert hook through both loops of the second stitch of the round, yo with tail draw yarn through.  Insert hook into the front loop only (flo) of the last stitch of the round, draw tail through.  From wrong side of piece, insert hook through the same last stitch in the round under both loops, draw tail to the inside and fasten off.

Invisible hdc Join The Crochet Lounge Way – in the last stitch of the round, yo, insert hook into the last stitch, draw up a loop (without finishing the hdc), insert hook into the back loop only (blo) of the first stitch in the round, yo, draw up and through the loops on hook (finishing the hdc), leave a 6” tail, cut the yarn.  Insert hook through both loops of the second stitch of the round, yo with tail draw yarn through.  Insert hook into the front loop only (flo) of the last stitch of the round, draw tail through.  From wrong side of piece, insert hook through the same last stitch in the round under both loops, draw tail to the inside and fasten off.

 

Gauge:

Stitch pattern ch17, sc second st from hook, sc in each st across [16sc ] Ch1, turn, sc in each st across, repeat

J-10 (6mm) hook — 8sc or 15 rows = 3” (7.62cm)

I-9 (5.5mm) hook — 10sc or 18 rows = 3” (7.62cm)

 

Pattern:

Child Size 18”– use I-9 (5.5mm)
Adult Size 21”– use J-10 (6mm)

<Note:  Please remember that the brim will be worked last, so if your starting band does not match the sizing, or you need the brim sizing to be larger or smaller, you can make the adjustments when we are done with the hat body & crown and move onto the brim.>

Day 1

With a 6” tail (15cm)

Round 1:
Fsc 64, make sure your work is not twisted, join with slst
or
Ch65, join, ch1, sc in each ch across, make sure your work is not twisted, join with slst [64sc]

<Note: with Fsc, you will also need to join the starting tail to the bottom of the last fsc in the round>

Rounds 2 & 3:

Ch1, sc in each sc around, join with slst [64sc]

Round 4:
Ch1, BPhdc in next 2 sts, puff shell in next sc of Round 2, (BPhdc in next 3 sts, puff shell in next sc of Round 2) 15 times, BPhdc in next stitch, slst join to first BPhdc
[ch1, 16 puff shells, 48 BPhdcs]

<Hint:  There are 3 skipped scs between the bottom of the puff shells>

Day 2

Round 5:
Ch1, BPhdc in next 2 BPhdc, puff shell in center of next puff shell, (BPhdc in next 3 sts, puff shell in next puff shell) 15 times, BPhdc in next stitch, slst join to first BPhdc
[ch1, 16 puff shells, 48 BPhdcs]

Rounds 6-13:
Repeat Round 5

By now, if you are starting to see your piece curl up around itself like it is forming a cover around a 3d Styrofoam ring (yes, for those of you who are thinking of yarn bombing – fabulous idea), IT’S OKAY!  You are absolutely on track as strange as it looks

Here’s a fabulous example from CAL friend Cynthia Chiu in Malaysia

Yarn Bombers, and Wreathe Makers, YES, this is a great idea for a 3D wrap on a styrofoam ring!

Day 3

Start of Decrease Rounds

Round 14:
Ch1, BPhdc in next 2 BPhdc, puff shell in center of next puff shell, BPhdc in next BPhdc, BPhdc2tog, puff shell in center of next puff shell, (BPhdc in next 3 BPhdc, puff shell in center of next puff shell, BPhdc in next BPhdc, BPhdc2tog, puff shell in center of next puff shell) 7 times, BPhdc in next st, slst join to first BPhdc
[ch1, 32BPhdc, 8 BPhdc2tog, 16puff shells]

<Hint:  Visual pattern is a repeat of 3 BPhdc, Puff Shell, 2 BPhdc, Puff Shell in this round>

Round 15:
Ch1, BPhdc2tog, puff shell in center of next puff shell, BPhdc in next 2 BPhdc, puff shell in center of next puff shell, (BPhdc in next BPhdc, BPhdc2tog, puff shell in center of next puff shell, BPhdc in next 2 BPhdc, puff shell in next puff shell) 7 times, BPhdc in next st, slst join to first BPhdc2tog
[ch1, 24BPhdc, 8BPhdc2tog, 16 puff shells]

<Hint:  Visual pattern is a repeat of 2 BPhdc, Puff Shell, 2 BPhdc, Puff Shell in this round>

Round 16:
Ch1, BPhdc, puff shell in center of next puff shell, BPhdc2tog, puff shell in center of next puff shell, (BPhdc in next 2 sts, puff shell in center of next puff shell, BPhdc2tog, puff shell in center of next puff shell) 7 times, BPhdc in next st, slst join to first BPhdc
[ch1, 16 BPhdc, 8BPhdc2tog, 16 puff shells]

<Hint:  Visual pattern is a repeat of 2 BPhdc, Puff Shell, BPhdc, Puff Shell in this round>

Round 17:
Slst to the center of the first puff shell, ch1, puff shell in center of the same puff shell, BPhdc in next BPhdc, puff shell in center of next puff shell, BPhdc2tog, (puff shell in center of next puff shell, BPhdc in next BPhdc, puff shell in center of next puff shell, BPhdc2tog) 7 times, slst join to first puff shell
[ch1, 8 BPhdc, 8BPhdc2tog, 16 puff shells]

<Hint:  Visual pattern is a repeat of BPhdc, Puff Shell, BPhdc, Puff Shell in this round>

Day 4 

Continuation of Decrease Rounds with Modified Puff Shells

Round 18:
(Working in puff shells only) Slst to the center of the first puff shell, ch1, modified puff shell in center of same puff shell, (modified puff shell in center of next puff shell) 15 times, slst join to first modified puff shell
[ch1, 16 modified puff shells]

There are two (2) versions of Rounds 19 & 20.  Please look at the photos for Round 19-1 finish and read through 19-2 to determine how you would like to continue with the crown of your hat.  Depending on the yarn you may have chosen, there could be more or less of a gap between the decrease shells and the filler stitch could change how the hat looks.

Round 19-1 (hdc version):

Slst to the center of the first modified puff shell, ch1, modified puff shell in center of same modified puff shell, hdc in center of next modified puff shell, (modified puff shell in center of next modified puff shell, hdc in center of next modified puff shell)7 times, slst join to first modified puff shell
[8 modified puff shells, 8 hdcs]

Round 19-2 (Puff Stitch version):

Slst to the center of the first modified puff shell, ch1, modified puff shell in center of same modified puff shell, modified puff stitch in center of next modified puff shell, (modified puff shell in center of next modified puff shell, modified puff stitch in center of next modified puff shell)7 times, slst join to first modified puff shell
[8 modified puff shells, 8 puff stitches]

Round 20-1:
(Working in modified puff shells only) Slst to the center of the first modified puff shell, ch1, modified puff shell in center of same modified puff shell, (modified puff shell in center of next modified puff shell) 7 times
[8 modified puff shells]

Round 20-2:
Slst to the center of the first modified puff shell, ch1, modified puff shell in center of same modified puff shell, hdc in center of next modified puff shell, (modified puff shell in center of next modified puff shell, hdc in center of next modified puff shell)7 times, slst join to first modified puff shell
[8 modified puff shells, 8 hdcs]

Round 21:
Slst to the center of the first modified puff shell, ch1, modified puff shell in center of same modified puff shell, hdc in center of next modified puff shell, (modified puff shell in center of next modified puff shell, hdc in center of next modified puff shell)3 times
[4 modified puff shells, 4 hdcs]

Day 5

Customizable Round 22:

There are 2 options depending on the type of yarn you are using to end the decreasing crown.  If you are using yarn with less give, such as Bernat Mosaic shown in the blue-green tones, try Round 22-1 option first.  This ends the top round with 4 modified puff shells and closes a bigger gap.  When using yarns that have a bit of stretch, such as Stitch Nation Washable Ewe, shown in pink and lavender, you can end with a smooth finish from option Round 22-2, which uses just 4 modified puff stitches.  Ultimately, this is a personal taste selection, so try them out ♥

Round 22-1:
(Working in modified puff shells only), Slst to the center of the first modified puff shell, modified puff shell in center of same modified puff shell, (modified puff shell in center of next modified puff shell) 3 times
[4 modified puff shells]

Round 22-2:
(Working only in modified puff shells with modified puff stitch), Slst to the center of the first modified puff shell, modified puff stitch in center of same modified puff shell, (modified puff stitch in center of next modified puff shell) 3 times
[4 modified puff stitches]

Round 23:
Cut yarn leaving a 12 inch tail

Weave around the center of each of the 4 modified puff shells (or 4 puff stitches from Round 22 depending on your yarn selection)

Fasten Off

 

Brim Options

The brim can be worked as a simple slouchy beanie sc brim or a pinned visor brim.

Simple Slouchy Beanie sc Brim:
For child, determine if 18” circumference on the brim is okay for your child.  If yes, continue using I-9 (5.5mm) hook — double check your current brim measurement.  If you need a smaller brim, switch to an H-8 (5mm) hook on the brim.  Don’t forget that the hat will stretch a bit once finished.

Worked in continuous rounds

Round 1:
Slst join to any stitch on fsc round, place stitch marker in the first stitch, crocheting over the tail, ch1, sc in each stitch around [64sc]

Round 2-5:
Repeat Round 1 [64sc]

<Tip:  In the event of a color change, invisible join at the end of the round, add new color and repeat Round 1 followed by Round 2 until desired brim length has been reached>

Fasten Off with Invisible Sc Join

 

Pinned Visor Brim:

Worked in rows across the span of 10 puff shell sections in the photos.  If you would like the brim to be further to the sides above the ear area, you would want to allow 12 puff shell section span from edge to edge of the brim.

Row 1:
With brim pointing up, start 1 stitch to the right of the bottom tip of a puff shell.  Slst join, place stitch marker in the first stitch, crocheting over the tail, ch1, sc in same stitch, sc in next 39 sts. [40 scs]

Row 2-10:
Ch1, turn, sc in each st across [40scs]

Righty:  Rotate work 90 degrees clockwise
<Lefty:  Rotate work 90 degrees counter-clockwise>

Sc in same corner stitch, sc down the side of visor brim ending in fsc row of body of hat

Row 11:
Rsc around to the other side of the visor brim ending last stitch in fsc row of body of hat

Fasten Off

 

Button Attachments:

Cut 12in (30cm) of sewing thread

Thread through tapestry needle, tie ends together forming a knot, sew one button to one corner of visor brim, wind thread around button twice, push needle through to other side of visor brim, attach second button in the opposing side, secure by sewing through both buttons one more time

Fasten Off

Repeat for other corner of visor brim.

Use buttons by pushing through the middle of your selected set of puff stitches!

Depending on the yarn choice, the crown area could be fuller using the optional decrease single puff stitches.  If it is too lacy for you, try the other option

It’s been fun playing along with this CAL.  Please post/submit your finished object photos ♥ to ELS_CAL@TheCrochetLounge.com,  visit The Crochet Lounge Fan Page on facebook or The Crochet Lounge G+