Free newborn crochet Santa Long Tail hat pattern with Supersize Pompom

Free newborn crochet Santa Long Tail hat pattern with Supersize Pompom

 Please do not copy, sell or offer these patterns as your own. Please share a link to my blog here for other's to find my free patterns, in doing so, I am able to offer more free patterns to everyone.

I recommend using Caron's Simply Soft yarn (sold at Joann Fabric & Craft stores or Micheal's Crafts) or yarn Bee Soft Secret yarn (sold at Hobby Lobby) because of the soft feel and beautiful sheen they have.They have a nice drape to them when your hat is complete and feel soft instead of scratchy like most standard inexpensive yarns. If you use another cheaper yarn unlike the ones I mentioned above, the hat may not come out the correct size or look & wear as nice. I also recommend gentle hand washing and air dry (no electric dryer).

Newborn Crochet Santa Long Tail hat pattern with Supersize pompom

You will need:

Size J crochet hook

Yarn needle

Scissors

Stiff board or cardboard or something similar about 5 inches by 9 inches to make your pompom

Abbreviations:

DC.....double crochet

SC.....single crochet

SS.....slip stitch

CT.....count (stitch count)

Begin with magic circle (aka: magic loop) and CH3 (counts as first DC), DC 5 into center of magic circle for a total of 6 DC.  Need help with the magic circle/magic loop? Check out my video tutorial here: http://youtu.be/WTh2Eoww5Y0

SS into top of first CH of first DC to close circle. I recommend tightening and securing magic loop with method in video at this point to avoid it loosening and opening while completing your hat.

Row 2-4: CH3 and DC in same, DC1 in each around to end, SS (from this point forward, I will just state SS) (CT: 6)

Row 5: CH3 and DC in same, DC1 in each of next 2 CH, DC2 in next CH, DC1 in each of last 2 CH, SS (CT: 7)

Row 6: CH3 and DC in same, DC1 in each around to end, SS (CT: 7)

Row 7: CH3 and DC in same, DC in in next CH, * DC2 in next CH, DC1 in each of next 2 CH * repeat from * to * around to end, SS (CT: 9)

Row 8-10: CH3 and DC in same, DC1 in each around to end, SS (CT: 9)

Row 11: CH3 and DC in same, DC1 in next CH, * DC2 in next CH, DC1 in each of next 2 CH * repeat from * to * around to end, SS (CT: 12)

Row 12-13: CH3 and DC in same, DC1 in each CH around to end, SS (CT: 12)

Row 14: CH3 and DC in same, * DC1 in each of next 2 CH, DC2 in next CH * repeat from * to * around to end, SS (CT: 15)

Row 15-16: CH3 and DC in same, DC1 in each CH around to end, SS (CT: 15)

Row 17: CH3 and DC in same, * DC1 in each of next 2 CH, DC2 in next CH * repeat from * to * around to end, SS (CT: 19)

Row 18: CH3 and DC in same, DC in each CH around to end, SS (CT: 19)

Row 19: CH3 and DC in same, * DC1 in each of next 2 CH, DC2 next CH * repeat from * to * around to end, SS (CT: 24)

Row 20-22: CH3 and DC in same, DC in each CH around to end, SS (CT: 24)

Row 23: CH3 and DC in same, * DC1 in each of nexgt 2 CH, DC2 in next CH * repeat from * to * around to end, SS (CT: 31)

Row 24-27: CH3 and DC in same, DC in each CH around to end, SS (CT: 31)

Row 28: CH3 and DC in same, * DC1 in each of next CH, DC2 in next CH * repeat from * to * around to end, SS (CT: 38)

Row 29-32: CH3 and DC in same, DC in each CH around to end, SS (CT: 38)

Row 33: CH3 and DC in same, DC1 in each of next 3 CH, DC2 in next ST * repeat from * to * around to end, SS (CT: 48)

Row 34-38: CH3 and DC in same, DC in each CH around to end, SS (CT: 48)

Change to white yarn (or other chosen color for border):

Row 39-42: CH3 and DC in same, DC in each CH around to end, SS (CT: 48)

At end of Row 42, securely fasten off your yarn and weave in tail.

Create and attach pompom:

Using your 5 X 9 inch piece of cardboard, use your border color and wrap around the board (on the smaller 5 in. side) 150 times. Yes, 150 times :0) I know this seems like a lot, but, believe me, it really isn’t. And, it will give you a nice fluffy tail, (see the following photo.) Also, cut a piece of yarn about 40 inches long to use for wrapping around your pompom and securing it to your hat.

Next, you will very carefully slide the wrapped yarn off of the board, keeping it’s shape. Fold the long 40 in. piece of yarn in half and place under the “ball” of yarn, making sure to center it as shown below. 

  

Pull the open end of the long yarn through the folded end as show and pull to tighten it around the ball, making sure to keep it centered so the pompom will come out even (below) Pull very tightly, however, be careful not to pull so tight that you break the yarn (I have had this happen to me :0) Pull tight so that once the pompom is complete, you lose very few strands from your pompom or none.

Take one tail in right hand and one in left and pull apart tightly and wrap around ball to the back. Pull tightly taking care not to break the yarn and tie in a couple 

knots. Repeat around the back again for added security.

Once, tied and tight, hold the long string in your hand, and you will cut the loops in small sections until they are all cut (below)

Your pompom will be quite shaggy, so you will now groom it. Hold it as shown below, and trim around little by little in a rounded fashion, and shaking out often to see how it is looking, continue to trim as shown until you get a nice round fluffy pompom as shown below.

Let’s now attach it to your hat. Using the long string you tied it together with, attach it to the end of your hat. I normally attach it as close to the end as possible while making sure it is secure. I pull one end through one side of the hat and the other string through the other, and go back through again in the next hole and tie off very tight, that way it sort of pulls right back into the hat when you cut off the excess tail from the 40 inches you started with. (see next photo)

Congratulations! Your long tail pompom elf hat is now complete and ready to wear!