Free Pattern: Long Tail Stocking Cap
My husband loves the show A Christmas Story, and he asked me to make a long tail stocking cap for our youngest son a few years ago. Hayden wore it constantly for two winters in a row and even had me make a matching one for his grandpa to wear while shoveling snow.
This hat is fun for all ages and is especially cute in Christmas photos. Change the colors and it can take on a completely different look too. Make traditional holiday stripes, use someone’s favorite colors, or turn it into a fun team hat.
This is also one of those patterns that has been part of Snappy Tots for a very long time. It originally dates back to 2012, so I decided it was time to dust it off, give it some new photos and bring this old favorite onto the blog for everyone to enjoy.
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Free on the Blog or Printable PDF
This crochet pattern is available to view for free right here on the Snappy Tots blog. Prefer a clean, printer-friendly copy? An ad-free downloadable PDF with the complete pattern is also available for a small fee through Ravelry.
Materials & Details
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver Cherry Red, Hunter Green and White. Substitute colors as desired.
Hooks: H hook (5mm), I hook (5.5mm)
Miscellaneous: Yarn needle
Gauge: I hook and 4” = 12.5 hdc sts and 12 rounds
Sizes: Small Newborn, Newborn, 6–9 Months, Toddler, Child 2–4 Years, Preteen, Teen/Adult
💡 Pattern Tips
- All sizes start the same. Continue with increase rounds until instructed to “skip to finish all sizes” for your desired size.
- Stitch count remains the same unless noted at the end of the row.
- Questions? Email [email protected] .
Directions for All Sizes
Note: Green rows are hdc.
1. With red yarn and size H hook, start with a magic circle of 6 sc sts (or preferred method for starting a circle of 6 sc sts), pull closed and sl st to join. (6sts)
2. Ch 1, sc in same st and in each st to end of round, sl st to join.
3. Change to white yarn. Ch 2, hdc in same st and in each st to end of round, sl st to join. (6 sts)
4. Ch 2, dc in same st and in each st to end of round, sl st to join.
From this point on use an I hook.
5. Change to green yarn. Ch 2, 2hdc in same st, hdc 2, hdc in next, hdc 2, sl st to join. (8 sts)
6. Change to red yarn. Ch 2, 2dc in same st, dc 3, 2dc in next, dc 3, sl st to join. (10 sts)
7. Ch 2, dc in same st and in each st to end of round, sl st to join.
8. Change to white yarn. Ch 2, 2dc in same st, dc 4, 2dc in next st, dc 4, sl st to join. (12 sts)
9. Ch 2, 2dc in same st, dc 5, 2dc in next st, dc 5, sl st to join. (14 sts)
10. Change to green yarn. Ch 2, hdc in same st and in each st to end of round, sl st to join.
11. Change to red yarn. Ch 2, 2dc in same st, dc 6, 2dc in next st, dc 6, sl st to join. (16 sts)
12. Ch 2, 2dc in same st, dc 7, 2dc in next st, dc 7, sl st to join. (18 sts)
13. Change to white yarn. Ch 2, 2dc in same st, dc 8, 2dc in next st, dc 8, sl st to join. (20 sts)
14. Ch 2, *2 dc in next, dc 9*, repeat, join. (22 sts)
15. Change to green. Ch 2, *2 hdc in next, hdc 10*, repeat, join. (24 sts)
16. Change to red. Ch 2, *2 dc in next, dc 11*, repeat, join. (26 sts)
17. Ch 2, *2 dc in next, dc 12*, repeat, join. (28 sts)
18. Change to white. Ch 2, *2 dc in next, dc 13*, repeat, join. (30 sts)
19. Ch 2, *2 dc in next, dc 14*, repeat, join. (32 sts)
20. Change to green. Ch 2, *2 hdc in next, hdc 15*, repeat, join. (34 sts)
21. Change to red. Ch 2, *2 dc in next, dc 16*, repeat, join. (36 sts).
22. Ch 2, *2 dc in next, dc 17*, repeat, join. (38 sts)
23. Change to white. Ch 2, *2 dc in next, dc 18*, repeat, join. (40 sts)
24. Ch 2, *2 dc in next, dc 19*, repeat, join. (42 sts). Small newborn, skip to “finish all sizes”.
25. Change to green. Ch 2, *2 hdc in next, hdc 20*, repeat, join. (44 sts). Newborn, skip to “finish all sizes”.
26. Change to red. Ch 2, *2 dc in next, dc 21*, repeat, join. (46 sts). 6-9 mths, skip to “finish all sizes”.
27. Ch 2, *2 dc in next, dc 22*, repeat, join. (48 sts)
28. Change to white. Ch 2, *2 dc in next, dc 23*, repeat, join. (50 sts). Toddler, skip to “finish all sizes”.
29. Ch 2, *2 dc in next, dc 24*, repeat, join. (52 sts)
30. Change to green. Ch 2, hdc to end of round, join. (52 sts)
31. Change to red. Ch 2, *2 dc in next, dc 25*, repeat, join. (54 sts). Child 2-4 years, skip to “finish all sizes”.
32. Ch 2, *2 dc in next, dc 26*, repeat, join. (56 sts).
33. Change to white. Ch 2, dc to end of round, join (56 sts)
34. Ch 2, *2 dc in next, dc 27*, repeat, join. (58 sts) Preteen, skip to end.
35. Change to green. Ch 2, *2 hdc in next, hdc 28*, repeat, join. (60 sts) Teen/Adult, continue below.
Finish All Sizes
Continue the color pattern, adding the following amount of rows per size (remember to hdc on the green rows). Then, skip to “band”.
Small Newborn, newborn, 6-9 mths sizes: Dc 3 more rounds.
12 mths – Child sizes: Dc 4 more rounds.
Preteen: Dc 5 more rounds.
Teen/Adult: Dc 6-8 more rounds, depending on size of head.
Ribbed Band
With color of choice: Ch 2, *FPDC (front post double crochet) around next post, BPDC (back post double crochet) around next post*, repeat to end of round.
Repeat previous round for a total of 2-3 rounds for smaller sizes and 4-5 rounds for larger sizes. Add additional rounds if needed.
Fasten off and weave in all ends.
PomPoms
Hold one strand of each color, and wrap 20-30 times around the palm of your hand (wrap more times for a thicker pom). Carefully slide the yarn off your hand and wrap an 8” length of yarn around the center, pulling tight and knotting to hold in place. Do NOT cut this piece of yarn.
Cut loops of pompom. Sometimes I leave a few or all loops uncut for a whimsical pompom. Thread end of the yarn you tied around the pom through a yarn needle. Pull through end of hat.
Firmly tie a knot next to the hat. Trim pompom as desired. A piece of cardboard or pompom maker may also be used.
💡 Pompom Note: The pompom in the picture is loosely attached and looks messier than normal.
For a whimsy pom: Include a novelty yarn, such as fun fur, in your beginning wrap. When trimming pom, only cut some loops (see pink pom).
By changing colors and stripe patterns, this hat takes on a fun new look. Great for Christmas hats or for sports fans in their team colors too!
🎉 Your Long Tail Stocking Cap Is Finished!
Have fun changing the colors and stripes to make a Christmas cap, a team hat or your own wonderfully whimsical version.
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