Pig pattern

I'm still working on my pattern writing skills. I must admit, they're pretty lacking, but that's partly because (I have two kids under the age of 6, and) I haven't figured out the best way to keep track of my scribbles, aka chicken scratch, when I'm coming up with new ideas.

I'm usually jotting down notes on a folded piece of paper from my son's schoolwork. I hate throwing away or recycling paper that's only been used on one side, so I always fold them to use for grocery lists...or my crochet patterns! Maybe I need a proper notebook, but my scrappy papers will have to do until I can get my act together.

Then there's the task of trying to decipher what I wrote and put it into a form that makes sense to others! Anyway, with all of that said...

My instructions are for the pieces and parts of the pig - a standard dc beanie can be found on many sites. Personally, I most often start with a ch 4 ring and work 10 dc into it, then 2dc into each dc and continue the following rounds increasing in different increments for different sizes (and depending upon what weight yarn I'm using). Oodles4Noodles has a great sizing chart here. It's a nice guide to crown sizing to obtain a certain hat size.

Little Miss Piggy

I used worsted weight yarn and a size I hook. (You can see the pig in pieces here.)

Snout

ch 5, slip to join

round 1: ch1, 3 sc, 3dc, 3 sc, 3 dc, slip into top of 1st sc

round 2: ch2, dc into same st, 2 dc, 2 dc into next 3 sts, 3 dc, 2 dc into next 3 sts, slip to top of first dc

round 3: ch2, (working in back loops only) hdc into each back loop of round 2, slip into top of first hdc (leave 12"-14" tail to sew onto hat) Note: There is no need to stuff snout, round 3 is meant to add a slight depth.

Eyes (2x)

ch4, slip to join
round 1: 10 sc into ring, slip into top of first sc (leave long tail to sew onto hat)

Outer ears (2x)

ch 11

row 1: 1 sc into 2nd ch from hook and each remaining ch

row 2 & 3: ch 1, 1 sc in each sc

row 4: ch 1, sc2tog, 1 sc in next 6 sc, sc2tog

row 5: ch1, sc across

row 6: ch 1, sc2tog, 1 sc in next 4 sc, sc2tog

row 7: ch1, sc across

row 8: ch 1, sc2tog, 1 sc in next 2 sc, sc2tog

row 9: ch 1, (sc2tog) twice

row 10: ch 1, sc2tog and fasten off (leave 8"-10" tail to sew onto hat)

Inner ears (2x) Note: I used a size H hook for these.

ch 7

row 1: 1 sc into 2nd ch from hook and each remaining ch

row 2 & 3: ch 1, 1 sc in each sc; turn

row 4: ch 1, sc2tog, 1 sc in next 2 sc, sc2tog

row 5: ch1, sc across

row 6: ch 1, (sc2tog) twice

row 7: ch 1, sc2tog and fasten off (leave 8"-10" tail to sew onto outer ear)

Bow

ch 15

row 1: 1 sc into 2nd ch from hook and each remaining ch

row 2-5: ch 1, 1 hdc in each st

row 6: (do not turn) *ch 1, sc across to corner*, repeat from * 2 more times, ch 1, slip into top of first st (leave 8"-10" tail to sew onto hat)

Bow "knot"

ch 10

row 1: 1 hdc into 2nd ch from hook and each remaining ch

row 2: ch 1, 1 hdc into each ch, fasten off (leave 8"-10" tail to sew onto bow)

Finishing

-Add snout holes (optional) using a contrasting yarn and sew snout with tail to lower center of hat.

-Sew eyes above snout.

-Sew inner ears to outer ears; then sew ears onto hat.

-Wrap bow "knot" around bow (scrunching bow a bit) and sew together at back.

-Sew bow to hat.

Note: If you would like to sell items you have made with my patterns, please do give credit to Tillie Tulip. Thank you.