Olympic Snowboarding Hat

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Chloe Kim's Team USA Olympic Snowboarding Hat Free Crochet Pattern

Who has Olympic fever? This girl. We have been watching the games non-stop since the opening ceremony. I was watching when the first broadcast of the women's snowboarding competition was aired during the day. I was so amazed when I saw little Chloe Kim (who is a mere two inches taller than myself) win gold on the halfpipe. I was captured by her spirit and joy and couldn't stop watching. We stayed tuned in until they rolled out the winners' platforms and brought out those adorable medal avatars- the Korean stuffed tigers.

I knew that when I saw Chloe wearing that adorable chunky knit hat that it would instantly become a sensation! I admit that I really wanted to buy one. I wondered who made them, and I wanted to know more about the snowboarding team's uniform design, which cleverly mocked US space suits. 

After scouring the interwebs I realized that the hat would be impossible to purchase. I did discover that it was created by the snowboarding brand Burton, which designs and sells snowboards, apparel, accessories and gear. Burton designed the entire snowboarding uniform line for Team USA. 

image via gearjunkie.com

I was sure that many fiber artists would be creating copy-cat designs to please droves of customers clamoring for the iconic hat. Clearly the hat is knit. Experienced crocheters and knitters can tell the difference. The challenge for me was how to recreate the knit-look ribbing with crochet techniques. 

I've decided that for my design, half double crochet in the third loop would be perfect to replicate the ribbing of Chloe's knitted hat. I'm sure there are lots of talented knitters out there who can duplicate it exactly. I've also enjoyed the hats and winter wear of other teams as well. For example, Ragnhild Mowinckel of Norway has been sporting this wide headband at nearly every event. From this picture it's not so plain but from what I've seen on TV this item is definitely crocheted! It would also be a fun one to recreate!

image via UPI.com

I have actually made this hat twice. When I went to the store I bought two kinds of super bulky, wool and acrylic. The acrylic hat pictured below took two full skeins and felt so darn heavy on my head, I doubt it would be very nice to wear for too long. But the shine and visual effect this yarn gives the ribbing are unmatched. The pom pom is also much flouncier- like the Burton hat.

Worked using Lion Brand's Hometown USA (6- Super Bulky) 100% acrylic in "Los Angeles Tan"

I also made this first prototype 6 stitches longer than the finished product (featured in this pattern), and it requires the brim to be folded up much wider to achieve the same look as Chloe. The pattern hat, pictured below is made with wool. When the pattern was shortened 6 stitches it gives the hat just the right overall length. The pom pom came out a little stiffer, but I think it's very cute. If you try a different yarn be sure to show me how it turns out by using #hautekippy on social media!

Worked in Lion Brand's Wool-Ease Thick & Quick (6-Super Bulky) 80/20 in "Fisherman" 

Which one do you like best? Comment below!

So let's go for the gold!

Chloe's Team USA Olympic Snowboarding Chunky Knit-look Hat FREE crochet pattern!

If you would like to own a printable PDF download of this pattern, it can be purchased from my Etsy shop, or from my Ravelry shop by clicking the "buy now" button. Thank you for your support!

Hook: N/10mm

Yarn: 6-Super Bulky, Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in Fisherman

Gauge: 5 rows, 9 sts =4” HDC in 3rd loop

Difficulty: Easy

Materials: Tapestry Needle, Large 4” pom pom

Finished Size: Adult, apx. 20”

Special Stitches: HDC in 3rd Loop- Half double crochet in the third loop, on the WRONG side of the stitch, make a hdc in the long horizontal bar located directly under the “v” on top of the stitch indicated. This pushes the “v” out sideways, making a knit look ribbed pattern on the textile.

Notes: It is possible to hdc in the 3rd loop of both the RIGHT and WRONG sides of an hdc stitch, however, in this pattern you are to turn the work at the end of the row and make the next row of hdc stitches in the wrong side (facing you) of the previous row. If you need help in determining the right and wrong sides of crochet work, many helpful videos and tutorials are available on the internet to explain this. 

Hat:

Chain 27

Row 1: hdc in each ch across, ch 1, turn. (26 sts)

Row 2: hdc in 3rd loop of each st across, ch 1 turn. (26 sts)

Rows 3-24: repeat row 2.

Row 25: hdc in 3rd loop of each st across, do not break yarn, fold work in half, matching up stitches of first and last rows, ch 1, sl st through back loop only and front loop only of both layers across to form a tube. Fasten off.

Pom Pom:

Cut cardboard strip 2” wide and lay a piece of yarn apx. 6” horizontally along strip. Wrap leftover yarn many, many times around cardboard and yarn. Wrap more than you think you need in order to make a plump and fluffy pom pom. Tie ends of yarn together very TIGHTLY around wrapped yarn. Cut wrapped yarn on opposite side of tie. Trim pom pom into symmetrical sphere. 

Finishing:

Thread a yarn needle with a length of yarn and weave yarn around top of hat, cinch and tie off to draw top of hat into a point. Sew pom pom on top of hat. Weave in ends. Fold up brim as desired.

Enjoy this pattern, and if you are looking for more super bulky crochet patterns, check out my friends at allfreecrochet.com. They have thousands of FREE crochet patterns and you can modify any search by yarn weight in order to see the results you want! 

Enjoy this pattern! 

xo- Bethany

© Haute Kippy 2018

You may sell items made from this pattern, but please be courteous, always credit Haute Kippy with the original design and link to my blog when possible. Do not use my photographs to sell items. Do not copy, repost or distribute this pattern in part or in whole. Sharing paid patterns is a form of copyright infringement. Original pattern “Olympic Snowboarding Hat” copyright Haute Kippy by Bethany Sypolt Crochet Designs 2018