The Big Knit - Pikachu Crochet Pattern

Hi!

Every year I take part in Innocent Smoothies The Big Knit.  I make and send in miniature hats to go on top of smoothie bottles.  For each hat Innocent give Age concern a donation.  How cool is that?

It's a fun way to fund raise and each year I like to do something a little bit special.  This year the world has gone Pokemon mad so I thought I'd make some Pokemon themed hats.

The first one I made was Pikachu, my favourite Pokemon.  Isn't he cute?   I've also made a Pokeball hat and now I'm musing over what character to make next.

Anyway, I've written up the pattern if you want to make one too.  It's not too difficult and you only need oddments of yarn so go dive in your stash and make your own Pikachu for The Big Knit.

You will need:

Oddments of DK yarn in yellow, black and red
3.5mm crochet hook
2 x 8mm sequins or buttons for eyes (optional)

Please note - Instructions are written using British crochet terms.

 

Abbreviations:

ch            chain
dc            double crochet
inc           increase by working 2dc into the same stitch
join         join to first stitch of round with a slip stitch

To make the hat:

Using yellow yarn make a magic ring.
Round 1: 6 dc into the ring.  Join and pull the ring tight.
Round 2: 1ch, inc into each stitch to end.  Join. (12)
Round 3: 1 ch, *(1 dc, inc), repeat from * to end.  Join. (18)
Round 4: 1 ch, *(2 dc, inc), repeat from * to end.  Join. (24)
Rounds 5 - 10: 1 ch, dc into each stitch to end.  Join. (24)
After round 10 fasten off and weave in ends.

To make the ears:

Using black yarn make a magic ring.
Round 1: 5dc into magic ring.  Join and pull the ring tight.
Round 2: 1 ch, dc into each stitch to end.  Join and change to yellow yarn.
Rounds 3 - 6: 1 ch, dc into each stitch.  Join.
After round 6 fasten off leaving a long tail to sew the ear onto the hat.
Make the second ear in the same way.

To make the cheeks:

Using red yarn make a magic ring.
Round 1: 5dc into magic ring.  Join with a slip stitch and pull the ring tight.  Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing the cheeks onto the hat.
Make a second cheek in the same way.

To make up the hat:

Using the long tail stitch the ears onto the hat approximately between rounds 3 and 5.

Sew on 8mm black sequins or buttons for the eyes.  Alternatively you can embroider the eyes or stitch on small circles of felt.

Using the long tail stitch the red cheeks onto the hat.  They will be almost at the bottom edge and space slightly wider than the eyes.

Send your finished hat to the address on the Innocent Smoothies The Big Knit website.

The Big Knit - Pikachu Hat Pattern (PDF) 

Happy crocheting!