Free Pattern – Crocodile Stitch Pixie Hat

This free pixie hat pattern uses fingering weight yarn and is available in 3 sizes ranging from 0-24 months. It was inspired by and designed to match the Crocodile Booties pattern by Bonita Patterns. To add to the set, check out these free crocodile stitch scratch mittens from Layla’s Crochet too!

NOTE: Your feedback matters! Feedback from several users has indicated that the sizing on this pattern was coming out too small. The pattern has now been updated (11/6/15) to increase the sizing for all three sizes, and also to increase the difference in sizing between the 3 sizes. If you purchased a pdf download of this pattern, you should soon receive an updated version.

The pattern contains a short photo tutorial for the crocodile stitch, or you can click here for a more detailed crocodile stitch photo tutorial.

I had originally posted this just over a year ago, but it was buried in another post celebrating my 100th post. This has since become one of my more popular patterns, and I thought it deserved it’s own post. I hope you enjoy it!

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Crocodile Pixie Hat

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Materials:

• Fingering weight yarn – 250 – 300 yards
• Size C / 2 (2.75 mm) hook
• Yarn needle

Difficulty:

Intermediate – crocodile stitches, and front/back post double crochet stitches.

Size:

0-6mo, [6-12mo,12-24mo]. Pattern is written for smallest size with changes for larger sizes in parentheses.

Gauge Swatch:

4″ square = 30 sts x 16 rows in pattern as follows:

Row 1: Ch 32, hdc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across. (31 hdc).

Rows 2-16: Ch 2 (counts as bphdc), turn, (fphdc around next st, bphdc around next st) across.

When measuring, ignore one of the edge stitches (30 stitches should measure 4″, but ribbing pattern requires odd # of stitches)

Abbreviations used:

• RS = right side
• ch = chain
• sc = single crochet
• hdc = half double crochet
• sl st = slip stitch
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• sk = skip
• sc2tog = single crochet 2 stitches together
• fphdc = front post half double crochet
  bphdc = back post half double crochet
  V = V stitch – see special stitches

Special Stitches:

• V stitch (V): (hdc, ch1, hdc) in next st.
• Scale: Work 4 hdc around first post of V stitch, ch 1, turn work 90 degrees counterclockwise, work 4 hdc around 2nd post of V stitch. (See Fig 1 below or view Crocodile Stitch Tutorial)

Notes:

• The hat pictured was made with Patons Kroy Socks 4 Ply in the Green Striped Ragg colorway.
• Ch 2 at beginning of ribbing rows counts as bphdc throughout.
• When working in ch space of skipped V stitches (odd rows from 3-9 of crocodile stitch, row 4 of edging), insert hook through both the ch space of the V and the space between the scales in front of the V. (See Crocodile Stitch Tutorial)
• Based on pattern feedback, some crocheters are having a hard time achieving the row gauge and are ending up with a hat that is too shallow. If your row gauge isn’t coming out right, feel free to add or remove rows in the ribbing section as needed, being sure to end with a wrong side row.

Recommended Resources:

• Crocodile Stitch Tutorial on Stitches ‘N’ Scraps
• Front and Back Post Half Double Crochet tutorial by Repeat Crafter Me
• Foundation Single Crochet tutorial by Moogly

Ribbing:

Ch 93 [105, 117].

Row 1 (WS, RS, WS): Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (92 [104, 116] hdc).

Row 2-19 [22, 25]: Ch 2 (counts as bphdc), turn, fphdc around 2nd st, (bphdc around next st, fphdc around next st) across.

Work should now measure 4.75 [5.5, 6.25] inches tall. If you need to, you can add more repeats, being sure to end with a wrong side row.

Next Row: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 9 [7, 9] sts, (sc2tog, sc in next 7 [9, 10] sts) 8 times, sc2tog, sc in last 9 [8, 9] st. Do NOT fasten off. (83 [95, 107] sts)

Crocodile Stitch:

Row 1: Ch 1, turn, hdc in first st, sk next st, (V, sk next 2 sts) repeat across to last 3 sts, V in next st, sk next st, hdc in last st. (27 [31, 35] V stitches, 2 hdc)

Row 2: Turn, sl st in first hdc, (work scale around next V, skip next V) 13 [15, 17] times, work scale around last V, sl st in last st. (14 [16, 18] scales)

Row 3: Ch 1, turn, hdc in first st, (V in center of next scale, V in skipped V) 13 [15, 17] times, V in center of last scale, hdc in last st. (27 [31, 35] V stitches, 2 hdc)

Row 4: Turn, sl st in first 2 hdc and in ch space of first V, (work scale around next V, skip next V) 12 [14, 15] times, work scale in next V, sl st in ch space of last V and in last 2 hdc. (13 [15, 17] scales)

Row 5: Ch 2, turn, (V in skipped V, V in center of next scale) 13 [15, 17] times, V in last skipped V, hdc in last st. (27 [31, 35] V stitches, 2 hdc)

Row 6-10: Repeat Rows 2 – 5, then repeat row 2 once more.

Do NOT fasten off – secure loop with stitch marker or safety pin as you will need to pick it up again for the next section.

Fold work in half, with right sides together, so that Row 10 forms the front of the hat. Sew back seam. Turn hat right-side-out again.

Bottom Edging:

Pick up loop from last stitch of previous section, and turn work so you are now working in the sides of the rows along the bottom:

Row 1 (WS): Ch 1, work 83 [95, 107] sc evenly spaced along sides of rows.

Row 2: Ch 1, turn,  hdc in each st across.

Row 3: Ch1, turn, sc in each st across. Do NOT finish off.

Front Edging:

Turn work so you are now working in the sides of the rows of bottom edging, and across row 10 of the Crocodile stitch section.

Row 4: Ch 1, 2 sc in side of row 3, sc in side of row 2, sc in side of row 1, sc in next st, (3 sc in center of next scale, 3 sc in next skipped V stitch) 13 [15, 17] times, 3 sc in center of last scale, sc in next st, sc in side of row 1, sc in side of row 2, 2 sc side of row 3, join with sl st to 1st st of row 3, turn, do NOT fasten off. (91 [103, 115] sc).

Ties:

This is for basic ties, see notes below for variations. The hat pictured is made with option 3.

First tie: Sl st in next 2 st, ch 45, sc in each ch, sl st in same st last sl st, fasten off.

Second tie: Join with sl st in 3rd st of row 4, ch 45, sc in each ch, sl st in same st as last sl st, fasten off.

Variations for Ties:

Option 1: basic tie with tassel

First tie: Sl st in next 2 st, ch 50, sc in 6th ch from hook and in each ch across, sl st in same st last sl st, finish off.

Second tie: Join with sl st in 3rd st of row 4, ch 50, sc in 6th ch from hook and in each ch across, sl st in same st as last sl st, fasten off.

Tassels: Cut 10, 4 inch pieces of yarn. Using 5 pieces for each tassel make a tassel in the chain loop at the end of each tie. [Fig 2]

Note: the following options require knowledge of foundation sc. If you are not familiar with this technique, check out the tutorial in the Recommended Resources section above.

Option 2: Foundation sc [fsc]

First tie: Sl st in next 2 st, work 45 fsc, fasten off.

Second tie: Join with sl st in 3rd st of row 4, work 45 fsc, fasten off.

Option 3: Foundation sc [fsc] with tassels

First tie: Sl st in next 2 st, work 45 fsc, ch5, sl st in base of last fsc, fasten off.

Second tie: Join with sl st in 3rd st of row 4, work 45 fsc, ch5, sl st in base of last fsc, fasten off.

Tassels: Cut 10, 4 inch long pieces of yarn. Using 5 pieces each, attach a tassel to the chain loop at the end of each tie. [Fig 2]

I hope you enjoy the pattern!

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