Want to sport a conversation piece that is as appropriate on the convention circuit as it is for a day of snowboarding? Well then, this hat’s for you! Inspired by my favorite LOTR villain, this big-eared chapeau is worked up in warm wool Koigu and created entirely single crochet. Short rows are used to create a wrinkled brow, and easy construction techniques allow even the novice crocheter to tackle this wacky headgear with little problem. It’s a satisfying project that is sure to turn heads.

• MC: Koigu Premium Merino KPM (100% Merino wool, 175 yds/ 50 g), color – 1111, 2 hanks required
• CC1: Koigu Premium Merino KPM (100% Merino wool, 175 yds/ 50 g), color – 2420, 1 hank required
• CC2: Koigu Premium Merino KPM (100% Merino wool, 175 yds/ 50 g), color – 2300, 1 hank required
• CC3: Koigu Premium Merino KPM (100% Merino wool, 175 yds/ 50 g), color – 00, 1 hank required
• US C / 2.75 mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge
• Yarn needle
• Fiberfill
• Pins

One size

27 sc / 32 rows = 4 inches

Pattern

Hat Body

Hat Body pattern is worked in the round using MC.  Each round begins with a ch 1 and ends with a sl st in beginning sc to join round.

Rnd 1: ch 2, 8 sc in second ch from hook, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd

Rnd 2: ch 1, 2 sc in every st, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd (16 sts total)

Rnd 3: ch 1, (1 sc, 2 sc next st) 8 times, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd (24 sts total)

Rnd 4: ch 1, (2 sc, 2 sc next st) 8 times, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd (32 sts total)

Rnd 5: ch 1, (3 sc, 2 sc next st) 8 times, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd (40 sts total)

Rnd 6: ch 1, (4 sc, 2 sc next st) 8 times, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd (48 sts total)

Rnd 7: ch 1, 48 sc, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd

Rnd 8: ch 1, (5 sc, 2 sc next st) 8 times, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd (56 sts total)

Rnd 9: ch 1, (6 sc, 2 sc next st) 8 times, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd (64 sts total)

Rnd 10: ch 1, (7 sc, 2 sc next st) 8 times, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd (72 sts total)

Rnd 11: ch 1, 72 sc, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd

Rnd 12: ch 1, (8 sc, 2 sc next st) 8 times, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd (80 sts total)

Rnd 13: ch 1, (9 sc, 2 sc next st) 8 times, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd (88 sts total)

Rnd 14: ch 1, (10 sc, 2 sc next st) 8 times, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd (96 sts total)

Rnd 15: ch 1, 96 sc, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd

Rnd 16: ch 1, (11 sc, 2 sc next st) 8 times, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd (104 sts total)

Rnds 17-18: ch 1, 104 sc, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd

Rnd 19: ch 1, (12 sc, 2 sc next st) 8 times, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd (112 sts total)

Rnds 20-21: ch 1, 112 sc, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd

Rnd 22: ch 1, (13 sc, 2 sc next st) 8 times, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd (120 sts total)

Rnd 23: ch 1, 120 sc, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd

Begin short rows.

Row 24: ch 1, 70 sc, turn

Row 25: ch 1, 15 sc, turn

Row 26: ch 1, 10 sc, turn

Row 27: ch 1, 15 sc, turn

Row 28: ch 1, 25 sc, turn

Row 29: ch 1, 30 sc, turn

End short rows and begin working in the round again.

Rnd 30: ch 1, 75 sc, sl st in beginning sc of row 24 to join rnd

Rnd 31: ch 1, (14 sc, 2 sc next st) 8 times, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd (128 sts total)

Rnds 32-33: ch 1, 128 sc, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd

Rnd 34: ch 1, (15 sc, 2 sc next st) 8 times, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd (136 sts total)

Begin short rows.

Row 35: ch 1, 73 sc, turn

Row 36: ch 1, 10 sc, turn

Row 37: ch 1, 15 sc, turn

Row 38: ch 1, 20 sc, turn

End short rows and begin working in the round again.

Rnd 39: ch 1, 78 sc, sl st in beginning sc of row 35 to join rnd

Rnd 40: ch 1, 136 sc, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd

Rnd 41: ch 1, (16 sc, 2 sc next st) 8 times, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd (144 sts total)

Rnds 42-43: ch 1, 144 sc, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd

Begin short rows.

Row 44: ch 1, 62 sc, turn

Row 45: ch 1, 10 sc, turn

Row 46: ch 1, 15 sc, turn

Row 47: ch 1, 20 sc, turn

Row 48: ch 1, 40 sc, turn

Row 49: ch 1, 10 sc, turn

Row 50: ch 1, 15 sc, turn

Row 51: ch 1, 20 sc, turn

End short rows and begin working in the round again.

Rnd 52: ch 1, 72 sc, sl st in beginning sc of row 44 to join rnd

Rnds 53-67: ch 1, 144 sc, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd

Create edging.

Rnd 68 (back loops): ch 1, working in back loops only 144 sc, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd

Fasten off and attach in front loop of beginning sc in rnd 67.

Rnd 68 (front loops): ch 1, working in front loops only 144 sc, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd

Fasten off and set aside.

Ear (Make 2)

Ears are constructed in rows using MC.

Row 1: ch 30, beginning in second ch from hook 29 sc, turn

Row 2: ch 1, 2 sc in first st, 27 sc, 2 sc in last st, turn (31 sts total)

Row 3: ch 1, 31 sc, turn

Row 4: ch 1, 2 sc in first st, 29 sc, 2 sc in last st, turn (33 sts total)

Row 5: ch 1, 33 sc, turn

Row 6: ch 1, 32 sc, 2 sc in last st, turn (34 sts total)

Rows 7-9: ch 1, 34 sc, turn

Row 10: ch 1, 2 sc in first st, 32 sc, 2 sc in last st, turn (36 sts total)

Rows 11-15: ch 1, 36 sc, turn

Row 16: ch 1, sc first 2 sts tog, 32 sc, sc last 2 sts tog, turn (34 sts total)

Row 17: ch 1, 34 sc, turn

Row 18: ch 1, 33 sc, 2 sc in last st, turn (35 sts total)

Row 19: ch 1, 35 sc, turn

Row 20: ch 1, sc first 2 sts tog, 32 sc, 2 sc in last st, turn (35 sts total)

Rows 21-22: ch 1, 35 sc, turn

Begin short rows.

Rows 23-24: ch 1, 12 sc, turn

End short rows.

Row 25: ch 1, sc first 2 sts tog, 31 sc, sc last 2 sts tog, turn (33 sts total)

Begin short row.

Row 26: ch 1, sc first 2 sts tog, 10 sc, fasten off

Ear Pleat

Each ear will be pleated along straight edges for a more “realistic” look as follows.

Step 1: Place ears opposite one another, straight edges facing toward one another.

 

Step 2: Take one ear and fold in half to find center, marking center with pin on straight edge.

 

Step 3: Along straight edge and using center pin as your guide, accordion fold both sides of ear creating two pleats. Pin into place.

 

Repeat steps 2 and 3 on remaining ear.

 

Step 4: Secure pleats on each ear by crocheting them down as follows:

Rnd 1: attach with MC at right corner of pleated edge of one of the ears, sc through all layers of both pleats to secure folds, without fastening off continue around entire ear until you reach beginning sc, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd.

 

Create edging.

Rnd 2 (back loops): ch 1, in back loops only, 1 sc in every st, sl st to beginning sc to join, fasten off

Rnd 2 (front loops): ch 1, in front loops only 1 sc in every st, sl st to beginning sc to join, fasten off

Repeat rnds 1-3 on remaining ear.

Eyeballs

Eyeballs are worked in the round using CC1, CC2 and CC3. Each round begins with a ch 1 and ends with a sl st in beginning sc to join round.

Rnd 1 (CC1): ch 2, 8 sc in second ch from hook, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd

Break off CC1 and attach CC2.

Rnd 2 (CC2): ch 1, 2 sc in every st, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd (16 sts total)

Rnd 3: ch 1, (1 sc, 2 sc next st) 8 times, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd (24 sts total)

Break off CC2 and attach CC3.

Rnd 4: ch 1, 24 sc, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd

Rnd 5: ch 1, (2 sc, 2 sc next st), sl st in beginning sc to join rnd (32 sts total)

Rnd 6: ch 1, 32 sc, sl st in beginning sc to join rnd, fasten off with enough yarn to sew to hat body

Finishing Instructions

Step 1: Put hat body on your head with wrinkles placed in front.  Find best placement for ears and pin in place.  Then place eyes and pin in place, beneath wrinkled brow.

Step 2: Sew ears to hat along pleated edge using MC.

Step 3: Holding one eye in place, put a glob of fiberfill beneath eye cup and replace pins.  Repeat with remaining eye.  

Step 4: Sew each of the eyes to front of hat using remaining lengths of yarn hanging from each individual eyeball.

Step 5: Weave in any remaining ends and enjoy!