I made this bear had the other day by merging ideas from several different patterns. Here's how I did it:
{repeat directions in these brackets}
I used a size 5 crochet hook and Bernat Satin yarn. It took less than half of a ball of the main colour (beige) and probably only a few meters of the contrasting colour (off white).
*Chain (CH) 4, then double crochet (DC) 6 into the first chain (farthest from the hook). Join with a slip stitch (SS).
*CH 3, DC in the same joining stitch, 2DC in each stitch around, join with SS.
*CH 3, DC in the same joining stitch, {DC in the next stitch, 2DC in the next stitch}, join with SS.
*CH 3, DC in the same joining stitch, {DC in each of the next 2 stitches, 2DC in the next stitch}, join with SS.
*CH 3, DC in the same joining stitich, {DC in each of the next 3 stitches, 2DC in the next stitch}, join with SS.
*CH 3, DC in the same joining stitich, {DC in each of the next 5 stitches, 2DC in the next stitch}, join with SS.
*CH 3, DC in the same joining stitich, {DC in each of the next 7 stitches, 2DC in the next stitch}, join with SS.
*CH 3, DC in the same joining stitich, {DC in each of the next 10 stitches, 2DC in the next stitch}, join with SS.
*CH 3, DC in each stitch around. Do this for the next 7 rows. Then finish off.
For a 0-3 month old baby the hat should be about 6" or 7" wide when laying flat.
Ear flaps:
*Use slip stitch to join into stitch 9 to the left of where you finished off the hat. CH 3, DC in each of the next 6 stitches.
*CH 3, turn, decrease double crochet over the next 2 stitches, DC in each of the next 3 stitches, decrease double crochet over the next 2 stitches.
*CH 3, turn, DC, decrease double crochet, DC. Finish off.
*Repeat for the other ear flap, starting in the 15th stitch to the right of where you finished off the hat.
Ears:
Make 2 of main colour (beige for mine). These will be the backs of the ears.
*CH 2, 6 single crochet stitches in the first chain, join with SS.
*CH1, SC in same joining stitch, 2SC in each stitch around, join with SS.
*CH1, SC in same joining stitch, {SC in next stitch, 2SC in next stitch}, join with SS.
*CH1, SC in each stitch around. Finish off. Leave long tail to stitch ear pieces together.
Make 2 using both main colour and contrasting colour (off white for mine). These will be the front of the ears.
*Starting with contrasting colour CH 2, 6SC into first stitch, join with SS.
*CH1, SC in same joining stitch, 2SC in each stitch around, join with SS, changing to main colour.
*Now using main colour CH1, SC in same joining stitch, {SC in next stitch, 2SC in next stitch}, join with SS.
*CH1, SC in each stitch around. Finish off. Leave long tail to stitch ear pieces together.
You should now have 4 ear peices. Use the long tail to stitch the fronts and backs of the ears together. Tuck the bottom of each ear in like this:
Arrange the ears on the sides of the hat and stitch in place.
Cut 8-10 long pieces of both colours of yarn for each of the braided strings. Make them a little longer than double the finished length you want. Fold in half, use crochet hook to pull the folded yarn through the bottom of the ear flaps (you can include the tail from where you finished off the ear flaps too) and then pull the loose ends through to make a knot like this:
Braid and knot. Cut the ends so they are even. Weave in any remaining tails and you are done!
