Tank Engine Crochet Hat

My little nephew is crazy about trains and I really wanted to make him a train hat, but I couldn't find a pattern I liked, so I decided to make one of my own.

I'm not very experienced when it comes to stitching and crochet, but I'll try my best to explain how I made it.

For the hat you will need:

• blue, grey, red, yellow, black and white wool
• crochet hooks 3mm, 4mm and 5mm
• sewing needle
• washable fabric marker
• pillow filling

I tried to write the pattern in US terms, for the UK conversion you can click here or here ;)

The ch 2 in the beginning of each round counts as 1 hdc, repeat from * to * around

Hat:

hook size: 5.0mm, starting with blue

Rnd 1: 8 hdc in magic ring, sl st into the first hdc (8)

Rnd 2: ch 2, hdc in sl st, *2 hdc in next hdc*, sl st (16)

Rnd 3: ch 2, hdc in sl st, hdc in next st, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next st*, sl st (24)

Rnd 4: ch 2, hdc in sl st, hdc in next 2 sts, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts, sl st (32)

Rnd 5: ch 2, hdc in sl st, hdc in next 3 sts, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 3 sts*, sl st (40)

Rnd 6: ch 2, hdc in sl st, hdc in next 4 sts, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 4 sts, sl st (48)

Rnd 7: ch 2, hdc in sl st, hdc in next 5 sts, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 5 sts*, sl st (56)

Rnd 8: ch 2, hdc in sl st, hdc in next 6 sts, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 6 sts*, sl st (64)

Rnd 9: ch 2, hdc in sl st, hdc in next 15 sts, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 15 sts*, sl st (68)

Rnd 10-15: ch 2, hdc in each st around, sl st on top of ch 2 (68) in the last hdc change to gray

Rnd 16: ch 2, hdc in each st around, sl st on top of ch 2 (68) in the last hdc change to red

Rnd 17-19: ch 2, hdc in each st around, sl st on top of ch 2 (68)

Don’t F/O. Continue making the first earflap.

1st Earflap with red

Row 1: ch 1, sc in next 12 sts, ch 1, turn (12)

Row 2-3: sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn (12)

Row 4: dec over next 2 sc, sc in next 8 sts, dec over next 2 sc, ch 1, turn (10)

Row 5: sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn (10)

Row 6: dec over next 2 sc, sc in next 6 sts, dec over next 2 sc, ch 1, turn (8)

Row 7: sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn (8)

Row 8: dec over next 2 sc, sc in next 4 sts, dec over next 2 sc, ch 1, turn (6)

Row 9: dec over next 2 sc, sc in next 2 sts, dec over next 2 sc, ch 1, turn (4)

Row 10: dec over the next 2 sc, twice (2) F/O and weave in ends.

2nd Earflap with red

Count to the right 23 sts. Attach yarn on 24th st, ch 1, sc in next 12 sts, ch 1, turn.

Continue with rows 2-10 just like in the 1st earflap. F/O and weave in ends.

EDGING with yellow

Attach yarn in any st and ch 1, sl st in each st around; working evenly around each earflap

F/O and weave in all ends

Face:

hook size: 3.0mm, starting with gray

Rnd 1: 8 sc in magic ring, sl st into the first sc (8)

Rnd 2: ch 2, sc in sl st, *2 sc in next sc *, sl st (16)

Rnd 3: ch 2, sc in sl st, sc in next st, *2 sc in next st, sc in next st*, sl st (24)

Rnd 4: ch 2, sc in sl st, sc in next 2 sts, *2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts, sl st (32)

Rnd 5: ch 2, sc in sl st, sc in next 3 sts, *2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts*, sl st (40)

Rnd 6: ch 2, sc in sl st, sc in next 4 sts, *2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts, sl st (48)

Rnd 7: ch 2, sc in sl st, sc in next 5 sts, *2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts*, sl st (56)

Rnd 8: ch 2, sc in sl st, sc in next 6 sts, *2 sc in next st, sc in next 6 sts*, sl st (64)

Rnd 9: ch 2, sc in sl st, sc in next 7 sts, *2 sc in next st, sc in next 7 sts*, sl st,

Print and cut out the face to match the size of crochet circle and trace the lines on it, including the facial expressions.

Or you could just draw the face free hand.

I found this step very helpful, the first time I tried it without pre-drawing the face ended up quite deformed.

Leave the ends at least 30 cm long, you can use them later for stitching.

Eyes:

hook size: 4.0mm, starting with white x2

Rnd 1: 8 sc in magic ring, sl st into the first sc (8)

Rnd 2: ch 2, sc in sl st, *2 sc in next sc *, sl st (16)

Pupil:

starting with black x2

Rnd 1: 8 sc in magic ring, sl st into the first sc (8)

Mouth:

hook size: 4.0mm, starting with white

Rnd 1: 9 ch cut off

Rnd 2: sl st in 3rd sc, sc in 4th sc, dc in 5th sc, sc in 6th sc, sl st in 7th sc

Saw the white of an eye on the grey circle with the leftover end. Try to keep within the drawn shape, you might have to push or pull a little bit. Saw the pupil on a little bit lower than the middle and make a little white dot in the middle of the eye. Using split stitch outline the eyebrow and then fill, you can use the black leftover yarn. Saw the mouth on, then turn around, tie knots on all of the leftover yarn and cut off.

With the split stitch outline around the eyes, mouth and cheek.

Cheeks:
starting with grey x 2

Rnd 1: 8 sc in magic ring, sl st into the first sc (8)

Saw the cheeks on and cut off leftover ends.

With black yarn crochet around the face:

Rnd 1: ch2, sc in every sc around, back loop only

Rnd 2: ch2, sc in every sc around

Cut 4 pieces of yarn and pull them through the black part of face (top, bottom, left, right). Find the best position on the hat for the face, pull the yarn through the hat and tie the knots (this will keep the face in place). Saw about three quarters of the face onto the hat, leaving an opening. Stuff a little bit of pillow filling in the pocket you just created (not too much, just enough so it doesn't collapse). Stitch the opening and weave in ends.

Windows:

hook size: 4.0mm, starting with yellow x2

Rnd 1: 8 sc in magic ring, sl st into the first sc (8)

Rnd 2: ch 2, sc in sl st, *2 sc in next sc *, sl st (16)

starting with black x2

Rnd 1: 8 sc in magic ring, sl st into the first sc (8)

Stitch the black circles to the middle of the yellow ones.

Bumpers:

hook size: 4.0mm, starting with black x2

Rnd 1: 8 sc in magic ring, sl st into the first sc (8)

Wheels:

hook size: 5.0mm, starting with blue x2

Rnd 1: 8 hdc in magic ring, sl st into the first hdc (8)

Rnd 2: ch 2, hdc in sl st, *2 hdc in next hdc*, sl st (16)

Rnd 3: ch 2, hdc in sl st, hdc in next st, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next st*, sl st (24)

Rnd 4: ch 2, hdc in sl st, hdc in next 2 sts, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts, sl st (32)

Rnd 5: ch 2, hdc in sl st, hdc in next 3 sts, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 3 sts*, sl st (40)

Rnd 6: ch 2, hdc in sl st, hdc in next 4 sts, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 4 sts, sl st (48)

Rnd 7: ch 2, hdc in sl st, hdc in next 5 sts, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 5 sts*, sl st (56)

Rnd 8: ch 2, hdc in sl st, hdc in next 6 sts, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 6 sts*, sl st (64)

Starting with grey:

2x Ch 60

8x Ch 17

Stitch the grey chains to the wheels to create the pattern on them and then saw the wheels, windows and bumpers on the hat.

Chimney:

hook size: 3.0mm, starting with black

Rnd 1: 8 sc in magic ring, sl st into the first sc (8)

Rnd 2: ch 2, sc in sl st, *2 sc in next sc *, sl st (16)

Rnd 3-4: ch 2, sc in sl st, *2 sc in next sc *, sl st (16)

Rnd 5: ch 2, *dec 2*, sl st (8)

Rnd 6-12: ch 2, sc in every sc (8)

Crochet the chimney and stuff the pillow filling inside, you want this to be quite firm so that it stand on it's own. Stitch it to the top side of the face and hat and weave in ends.

Braids:

Cut 60 pieces of yarn (30 for each earflap, 10 yellow, 10 red, 10 blue) about 60 cm long. Fold each bunch in half and push the folded end through an opening in the bottom of each earflap. Pull the unfolded ends through the loop and pull tight. Braid the strands and tie a knot to secure the braid. Complete the second braid the same way.

Wind the yarn around a box or your hand. The more you wrap, the fuller the pom pom will be. When you’ve wound your desired “poof”, tie a piece of yarn around the centre in a knot. Take a pair of scissors and cut through the loops of the pom pom. Saw it on the hat.

My nephew is 3 years old and the hat was a little big for him, so it would definitely fit an older child.

I do apologise for any mistakes I might have made, this was the first time I attempted to write a pattern, also sorry about the photo quality, I made it a while ago.

I hope you've enjoyed my instructable and please don't hesitate to share your photos, I would really like to see your creations ;)

Thank you for looking and have a beautiful day :D