Heeler Hat 3: DC Triangle / Puppy Snout & Nose
OK, you’ve got your base hat and eyes made for the Heeler Hat, now you’re ready to make the snout and nose!
HOOK
As with the eyes, if you’re making the Heeler Hat, I recommend going down 1 hook size from the hat to make these eyes. I used my favorite Tulip Etimo 4.0mm crochet hook.
YARN
For the big sister:
The snout is Red Heart Super Saver in Buff
The nose is the same in Black
The smile is the same in Black
For the little sister:
The snout is Red Heart Super Saver in Aran
The nose is the same in Coffee
The smile is the same in Coffee or Cafe Latte
As usual, whatever worsted weight yarn you’re using in colors that look right to you should be fine.
OTHER TOOLS
You’ll also need scissors or snips and yarn needle to weave in ends and sew pieces together and on to the hat.
STITCHES & SKILLS REQUIRED (US terms)
Magic ring
Ch: Chain stitch
SC: Single crochet
HDC: Half-double crochet
DC: Double crochet
Recommended but not required: Invisible join
PATTERN for the snout
Round 1: In a magic ring, chain 2 and make 12 DC. Join with slip stitch in the top of the first DC. Pull the tail tight to close the circle.
Round 2: Chain 2. (DC, Ch 1, DC) all in same stitch, 2 DC in each of the next 3 stitches, (DC, Ch 1, DC) all in next stitch, 2 DC in each of the next 3 stitches, (DC, Ch 1, DC) all in next stitch, 2 DC in each of the rest of the stitches to the end of the round. Join with slip stitch in the top of the first DC.
Round 3: Chain 2. DC in same stitch. (2 DC, Ch 1, 2 DC) in the chain space from the previous round, DC in each stitch until the next chain space, (2 DC, Ch 1, 2 DC) in the chain space, DC in each stitch until the next chain space, (2 DC, Ch 1, 2 DC) in the chain space, DC in each stitch to the end of round. Cut yarn leaving a long tail to sew this piece on to the hat later. Pull through on the last DC of the round and join to first DC with an invisible join.
I recommend pulling the tail from the magic ring as tight as you can and knotting it and then weaving it in as much as you can on the back of the piece. That will help keep the ring closed tightly after you sew it on the hat.
PATTERN for the nose
Row 1: Chain 3. In first chain (second chain from hook), 5 DC. Chain 1 and turn.
Row 2: HDC x 5. Chain 1 and turn.
Row 3: 2 HDC in first stitch, HDC, HDC, HDC, 2 HDC in last stitch. Chain 1 and turn.
Row 4: SC in every stitch across (7 stitches). Cut yarn leaving a long tail to sew this piece on to the snout described above. Pull through the last stitch of the row.
INSTRUCTIONS for positioning the nose and snout
Both the snout and the nose should end up in sort of a rounded triangle shape.
Position the snout so that the triangle is pointing up and flat on the bottom . The nose should be positioned the opposite way - pointing down and flat on the top, but sitting at the top point of the snout. I recommend that you sew the nose onto the snout first (with the top edge of the black nose hanging off the stop of the snout) and then snow the whole piece on to the hat later.
Before you sew the snout on to the hat, though, you should stitch a mouth on it. I use an embroidery stitch called whipped back stitch to make it appear like a solid line and I follow the subtle curve where the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the snout meet. For the big sister, I use Red Heart super saver in Black and for the little sister, I’m undecided which I like best - Coffee or Cafe Latte.
All done? Move on to the ears!