Tip: Crocheting with fur yarns

There are many wonderful novelty yarns available and furs are some of my favorites. Many people hesitate trying these whimsical yarns, but the finished product is worth the adventure.

I have tried many different brands of fur, creating over 100 hats, bags and stuffies that I have loved. No need to be intimidated if you follow a few helpful tips.

Tips for working with fur

• When working with furry yarns, hold a strand of ww yarn with the fur to make it easier to see the stitches. Regular worsted weight yarn is ok. When possible, I use Caron Simply Soft yarn with furs because it is a lighter weight worsted yarn.
• With darker furs it is harder to see the stitches. Make sure you have lots of light. If necessary it is helpful to divide the round into ¼, place markers and work ¼ of stitch count per round in between each marker.
• It is difficult to frog (pull out) projects made with some fur yarns because the little furry pieces intertwine.

Brands of fur/novelty yarns I like

Lion Brand Fun Fur: lots of colors to choose from, one of the easier novelty yarns to work with, reasonably priced and easy to find in most yarn stores.

Dept 71 Furrish Yarn: more difficult to see stitches, but the finished product is worth the patience. Skeins are more expensive then Fun Fur, but much larger too. Each includes enough yarn to easily complete a hat. I usually have some left over.

Ice Yarns: LOTS of wonderful yarns to choose from.

Bernat Boa: creates a different look from previous mentioned yarns. Reasonably priced and easy to find in most yarn stores and some Walmarts. Skeins are a good size, including enough yarn to complete a hat.

Ready to try crocheting with fur yarns? Here is a basic pattern that fits great and is fun for all ages to wear.

Fuzz Top Boarder Hat

A basic earflap beanie, written for fur top and worsted weight bottom.

Want to print a copy or save the file? Click the “print friendly” button at the bottom of this post.

Materials:

Yarn: One skein Lion Brand Fun Fur yarn in Terra Cotta, matching ww yarn in orange (suggestions: Red Heart Carrot, Loops & Threads Burnt Orange), green ww yarn

Hooks: I, J

Gauge: 4″ = 13hdc and 9 rounds (taken from a similar project because it is impossible to count stitches with this yarn.

Sizes: newborn to adult

Directions for all sizes:

• Follow increases until desired size, as listed at the end of the row, then skip to “for all sizes” and continue.
• Do not join at the end of each round, unless stated.
• A magic circle is hard to pull closed when working with fur. This project is started with a ch, joined in a loop.

With J hook and holding both strands, fur and ww yarn, ch 5, sl st in last ch to join in a loop.
1.  Work 8 hdc in beginning circle. (8sts)
2.  2hdc in each st to end of round. (16sts)
3.  *hdc, 2 hdc in next st*, repeat to end of round. (24sts)
4.  *hdc 3, 2 hdc in next st*, repeat to end of round. (30sts)
5.  *hdc 4, 2 hdc in next st*, repeat to end of round. (36sts)
6.  *hdc 5, 2 hdc in next st*, repeat to end of round. (42sts) baby
7.  *hdc 6, 2 hdc in next st*, repeat to end of round. (48sts) toddler
8.  *hdc 7, 2 hdc in next st*, repeat to end of round. (54sts) Child/preteen
9.  *hdc 8, 2 hdc in next st*, repeat to end of round. (60sts) Teen/Adult

Remove marker and hdc in each stitch for an additional 2-5 rounds (or until hat is 2″ shorter than desired length).
Sc in next st, sl st. Cut fur strand only.
Depending on how the hat was made, the majority of the fur may be on the inside of the hat. If so, turn inside out before next step.
Ch 1, sc in each st to end of round, sl st to join.

Band:

1. Change to green yarn and I HOOK. Ch 2, hdc in each st to end of round, sl st to join.

2-3. Ch 2, *fphdc, bphdc*, repeat to end of round, sl st to join.

4. For teen and adult sizes only: repeat previous round.

Earflaps: Continue from current position.
Start with the appropriate size:
•    3-24mths: Ch 2, hdc 10
•    Child: Ch 2, hdc 12
•    Preteen/teen: Ch 2, hdc 14
•    Large adult: Ch 2, hdc 16

After first row of hdc as listed above, follow these instructions for all sizes:
Ch 2, turn, *hdc2tog, hdc in each st across until 2sts remain, hdc2tog, ch 2, turn*.
Repeat until 2 sts remain. Finish off.

Fold hat in half to find placement for 2nd earflap. It should start exactly across from the first flap. Starting on the RS of the hat, attach yarn and follow directions for earflap.

Attach yarn to center back of hat. Ch 1, sc around bottom edge of hat, working 2sc in each earflap tip, sl st to join. Finish off and weave in ends.

Braids: Cut 12 strands of green yarn, 20” or desired length. Pull ends through a stich near bottom of earflap. Pull through until even with other end and braid. Tie a knot approximately 2” from end or tie a piece of matching yarn around braid and tie a knot. Repeat for other side.

Common Crochet Abbreviations

• Ch – chain
• Sl st – slip stitch
• St – stitch
• Hdc – half double crochet
• Sp – space; sps – spaces
• Dc – double crochet
• Sc – single crochet
• FPHDC – front post half double crochet
• BPHDC – back post half double crochet
• ** – repeat instructions between, as many times as indicated

This pattern is copyrighted to snappytots and may not be copied for resale in part or whole. It is illegal to post this pattern online or share with others without written consent from Heidi Yates.  Items created from this pattern MAY be sold. Please include a link to snappy-tots.com if selling online.

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Are you on Ravelry? Please add the “Fuzz Top Boarder Hat” pattern to your library and click the heart on the listing if you  enjoyed the pattern.

Ready to try more fun creations with fur? These patterns can be made furry or with regular yarn.