Scrap Buster Hats

MATERIALS:

• 1-2 ounces of worsted weight yarn for the band
• Scrap worsted weight yarn for the rest
• Crochet Hook: H/8 (5 mm)
• Measuring Tape
• Tapestry Needle
• Scissors

SIZE:
All Sizes
Common head circumferences by age inches/centimeters:
Newborn: 13.5/34
3 months: 16/41
6 months: 17/43
12 months: 18/46
2 years: 19/48
3-5 years: 20/51
6-10 years: 21/53
Adult Small: 22/56
Adult Medium: 23/58
Adult Large: 24/61

GAUGE:
Do not use a gauge- instead, measure your head for the best fitting hat.
NOTES:
Instructions are written for baby/child with changes for (adult) in parentheses.

HAT
Band:
Chain 11(13).
Row 1- sc in 2nd chain from hook and in each chain across. Ch1, turn [10(12)sc]
Row 2- sc in BLO each sc across. Ch1, turn.
Repeat row 2 until your hat band measures to 1/2inch(1 inch) less than fit chosen head.
Tip: End with tails on the same side so you can hide them easier!
Match ends and sl st across to seam. FO.

Body:
Round 1- Join scrap color with a sl st at the seam. Ch2. HDC in the end of each band row around, hiding those ends as you go. Join with a sl st to the beginning ch2. FO.
Round 2- Join next scrap color with a sl st. Ch2. Hdc in each hdc, (hiding ends- not gonna keep repeating this- you get the idea) around. Join with a sl st to beginning ch2. FO.
Round 3-6- Repeat Round 2 (4) more times.

Adult sizes only- Repeat Round 2 (twice) more (for a total of 8 even hdc rounds)


Decreasing: 
What does it mean to decrease? Decrease means to turn two stitches into one. It's two stitches at the bottom and 1 stitch at the top. In this hat pattern, we are turning 2hdc into 1hdc. To hdc2tog (half double crochet two together) aka DECREASE, you will yarn over, insert hook in the first stitch, yarn over and pull through 2. Yarn over and insert hook into the next stitch, Yarn over and pull through all loops on hook. 

Round 7(9)- Join next scrap color with a sl st. Ch2. Hdc around, decreasing every 7(9) stitches. Join with a sl st to beginning ch2. FO.
Note: It doesn't matter if it's not exact and there are stitches left over. The effect will be the same by the time you braid the end closed. 
Round 8(10)- Join next scrap color with a sl st. Ch2. Hdc around. Join with a sl st to beginning ch2. FO.
Round 9(11)- Join next scrap color with a sl st. Ch2. Hdc around, decreasing every 6(8) stitches. Join with a sl st to beginning ch2. FO.
Round 10(12)- Repeat round 8(10)
Round 11(13)- Join next scrap color with a sl st. Ch2. Hdc around, decreasing every 5(7) stitches. Join with a sl st to beginning ch2. FO.
Round 12(14)- Repeat round 8(10)
Round 13(15)- Join next scrap color with a sl st. Ch2. Hdc around, decreasing every 4(6) stitches. Join with a sl st to beginning ch2. FO.
Round 14(16)- Repeat round 8(10)
Round 15(17)- Join next scrap color with a sl st. Ch2. Hdc around, decreasing every 3(5) stitches. Join with a sl st to beginning ch2. FO.
Round 16(18)- Repeat round 8(10)
Round 17(19)- Join next scrap color with a sl st. Ch2. Hdc around, decreasing every 2(4) stitches. Join with a sl st to beginning ch2. FO.
Round 18(20)- Repeat round 8(10)

For Baby/Child Sizes Only:
Round 19- Join next scrap color with a sl st. Ch2. Decrease around. Join with a sl st to beginning ch2. FO.
Round 20- Repeat round 8, leaving end tail 1.25feet long.

For Adult Sizes Only:
Round 21- Join next scrap color with a sl st. Ch2. Hdc around, decreasing every 3 stitches. Join with a sl st to beginning ch2. FO.
Round 22- Repeat round 10.
Round 23- Join next scrap color with a sl st. Ch2. Hdc around, decreasing every 2 stitches. Join with a sl st to beginning ch2. FO.
Round 24- Repeat round 10.
Round 25- Join next scrap color with a sl st. Ch2. Decrease around. Join with a sl st to beginning ch2. FO.
Round 26- Repeat round 10, leaving end tail 1.5 feet long.


The Braid:
The braid is attached just as you would add fringe to a scarf or blanket. If you don't want to stitch the ends in, you can sew them on after the braid is complete.
Cut 24(30) pieces of various yarns 2.5(3)feet long. Using your hook to pull through the last stitches you made, distribute pieces as evenly as possible around top opening of hat, (some may have more than others) pulling to match ends as you go. (Try to make these as even as possible.)
Divide evenly into 3 groups (there will be an extra one because of the long tail you left, so 16, 17, 16 -or- 20, 21, 20... or, you know, whatever...). I try to mix them up here- not get all the blue, for example, into one braid. Braid to near the ends and knot tightly. Trim the fringe evenly.
Alternatively, you could make a solid braid to match (or not match) the hat band.

How to attach the strands for the braid?
Any way you want, really. Tie them on, pull them through like fringe. As long as they are even, it doesn’t really matter how you attach them.