Jump the Shark Hat Tutorial (Winter Hats 2012)

Yes, I realize that it’s 2013. However, this hat was made for my boy in September, I was just busy with the blog redesign and didn’t have time to post about it. I was sure I would be finished by November, but, well, that didn’t happen. So even though it’s 2013 now it wasn’t back then, and 2013 will have it’s own winter hats post (or, more likely, posts).

My little girl is still young enough that I get to decide which hat to make (it was the rainbow hat this year), but my son decides for himself what he wants, and it’s up to me to make it happen.

So, shark it is. I call it “Jump the Shark” because my geeky side thinks it’s funny. But I think it’s cute even if you don’t get the reference. What do you think?

I used a mix of techniques I used in previous tutorials, but for your ease I’m copy-pasting all the instructions.

Materials

• 1 ball worsted weight grey yarn (MC).
• Small amount of white and black yarn for eyes and teeth.
• 4-4.5mm crochet hook

Notes

• This pattern was written for and tested on a 5 year old. However, you can make the hat to fit your child (or other recipient) by increasing for more or less rounds.
• Ch 2 in the beginning of the row counts as one hdc.

Abbreviations

• ch – chain
• sc – single crochet
• hdc – half double crochet
• st – stitch
• sl st – slip stitch.
• sc2tog – single crochet 2 stitches together: Insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up loop (2 loops on hook), insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook – 1 stitch decreased.
• [ … ] – repeat instructions in [ ] as many times as specified.

Instructions

Hat

1: With MC, ch 2. 10 hdc in second st from the hook, or use the magic loop method. Join with sl st.

2: ch2. Work 2 hdc in each st around – 20 hdc at the end of this round. Join with sl st. (20)

3: ch2, hdc in same st (counts as one increase), hdc in next st. [2 hdc in next st, hdc in next st] 9 times. Join with sl st. (30)

4: ch2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 2 st. [2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 2 st] 9 times. Join with sl st. (40)

5: ch2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 3 st. [2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 3 st] 9 times. Join with sl st. (50)

6: ch2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 4 st. [2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 4 st] 9 times. Join with sl st. (60)

7: ch2, hdc in same st, hdc in next 5 st. [2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 5 st] 9 times. Join with sl st. (70)  

8 – 14: ch 2, hdc around, join with sl st. (70)

Ear Flaps (make 2)

To make the hat “sharky” I decided the ear flaps should resemble fins, so I made them wide and pointy.

Fold your hat in half along the join line. In 13th stitch to the left from center back (with hat top facing you), join and sc 14.

If you’re making a different sized hat, estimate the join st as 1/6th of your total stitch count (that leaves 1/3 of the hat in the back, and 2/3 for the sides and front, which is a good proportion), and sc the closest even number as your base row.

1: sc2tog, sc to last 2 st, sc2tog, ch 1, turn.

2: sc 14. ch 1, turn.

Repeat row 1 & 2 until you are left with 2 st. Bind off (first ear flap only).

For the second ear flap – fold in half as before, and join at the edge of the first ear flap (on the other side of the hat, of course…).

Instead of binding off, sc evenly around the entire hat, then bind off.

Weave in loose ends.

Teeth

You may want to count the stitches to make sure you have a multiple of 4, or space your teeth accordingly from the edge of the flap, you don’t want to be left with a silly gap on one side…

Join the white yarn at the front edge of the right ear flap.

1: Sc 3, turn (without ch 1!)

2: sc2tog, sc 1, turn (without ch 1!)

3: sc2tog

4: sl st down the left edge of the tooth. This will give it a nice pointy finish.

5: sl st in next stitch.

Repeat rows 1-5 until you reach the second flap.

Shark Fin

1: With MC, ch 2. 4 sc in second st from the hook, or use the magic loop method.

2: sc in each sc (4)

3: 2 sc in each sc (8)

4: sc in each sc (8)

5: sc in next 3 sc, [2 sc in next sc] twice, sc in next 3 sc (10)

6: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc] twice (14)

7: sc in next 6 sc, [2 sc in next sc] twice, sc in next 6 sc (16)

8: sc in next 7 sc, [2 sc in next sc] twice, sc in next 7 sc (18)

9: sc in next 7 sc, [2 sc in next 4 sc] twice, sc in next 7 sc (22)

Bind off leaving a long tail. Use tail to attach fin to the top of the hat.

Eyes (make 2)

With black yarn ch 2. 6 sc in second st from the hook, or use the magic loop method. Join with sl st. Bind off leaving long tail. Use long tail to attach eye to head and embroider “angry” eyebrow, using picture as guide. Repeat with the other eye.

Doesn’t it look happy swimming in the ocean?

Enjoy!

[This pattern is for personal use only. Items made with this pattern may not be sold without my explicit permission. Please read the Terms & Conditions for further details.]