Hello Kitty Look Alike Hat with braids

Newborn to 3 months -14 to 15 1/2" head-
Sport weight yarn with E hook.

3 months to 1 year -16 to 19" head-
3 ply yarn with F hook.
6 months to 3 years -18 to 21" head-
Worsted weight yarn with H hook.
(This hat was done with H hook and Red Heart Worsted weight yarn)

Hat:
Chain 4, join.
Row 1: Ch 3, 11 dc in ring. Join with sl st. (12)
Row 2: Ch 3, dc in same space, 2 dc in each dc around. Join with sl st. (24)
Row 3: Ch 3, 2 dc in next st, 1dc, 2 dc next stitch, around. Join with sl st. (36)
Row 4: Ch 3, dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, 1 dc, 1 dc, 2 dc in next stitch. Join with sl st. (48)
Row 5: Ch 3, dc in next st, dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, 1 dc in 3, 2 dc next stitch, around. Join with sl st. (60)

Rows 6-10: Dc in each dc, slip stitch , join, Ch 3…
Attach trim color, sc around hat. Join, Fasten off
With white, ear flaps
1^st ear flap, At end of row 5:
Row 1: Ch 1, sc in same space and next 8 stitches, Ch 1, Turn
Row 2: Sc, 2tog, sc, sc, sc, 2tog, sc, Ch 1, turn
Row 3: Sc around. ch 1, turn
Row 4: Sc, 2tog, sc, 2tog, sc, Ch 1, turn
Row 5 : Sc around. Ch 1, turn
Row 6: Sc, Sc3tog, sc, Ch 1, turn
Row 7: Sc3tog, slip stitch in next stitch, Fasten off.
2nd ear flap, join yarn in 22^nd stitch after end of row 1 of first ear flap. Follow instructions as above.
Ears

(G hook) and holding 2 strands of yarn together
With White Ch 3
Row 1: 7 Hdc in 3rd ch from hook. Ch 1, turn (7 hdc)

Row 2: 2 sc in first st. sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, 2 dc in next st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next st, 2 sc in last st. (12 sts) Finish off.
Sew ears over rows 4 & 5, see picture.

Bow

With trim color, Ch 11
Row 1: Hdc in 3rd ch from hook. Hdc in each st across. Ch 2, turn. (10 hdc)
Rows 2- 10: Hdc in each st. slip stitch around. Finish off

Take a long strand of trim color and wrap around the middle of the bow and pull tight to shape bow. Wrap several times. Tie the ends in the back of the bow. Using the yarn needle weave the ends into the bow to hide them. sew onto the hat. Sew the bow to the hat under the ear, see picture.

Whiskers
Use a yarn needle to embroider the whiskers. See picture.

Braids
Cut three equal-length strands of yarn, each twice as long as you want the finished braid to be, plus a few extra inches.

Thread each strand of yarn into the front edge of the flap, running each strand through one or two stitches to help fix it in place. Then run the end of the yarn back out of the hat, near the entry point. Tug on the ends of the strand until they're even.

Bring all six strands together. Treat both ends of each long, doubled strand as a single unit as you make a three-strand braid. You will make each "leg" of the braid with two strands of yarn instead of just one. Once you're done, secure the end of the braid with a small, tidy overhand knot and trim the remaining yarn even. This technique is ideal for adding yarn braids to ear flaps on a hat. See picture.



Eyes, make 2 with black

Make a magic circle. 6 Hdc in ring, join. End off leaving a long tail for sewing on.

Sew on the 7^th row with 10 stitches in between each eye.

Nose with yellow

Make a magic circle, 6 sc in circle, join, fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing onto face. Attach in center of face on row 9. See picture.