Trick or Treat? (free crochet pattern)

I've been thrilled that Halloween fell on a Monday this year. That gave me one extra day to get this pattern to you. I needed it. As it is, I believe this one's going to need a revision. It has not been tested unless you count my prototype. I'd normally go for a beanie style, but this one decided not to work up that way. I kinda' like the bucket shape, so I plan to rework it as a beanie and post that later in the season (which means maybe January). So tell me... How are you all spending your Halloween?

Big Girl Hat #1

Supplies needed:

about 4 oz. (180-190 yds.) worsted weight yarn

size I-9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook for main body

size G-6 (4.0 mm) crochet hook for band

yarn needle or smaller size hook for weaving in ends

All instructions use American terminology and standard abbreviations.

Special Stitches:

front post double crochet (fpdc)--yo, insert hook behind post of stitch (from front to back to front), yo, pull up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops, (2 loops on hook), yo, pull through remaining 2 loops

back post double crochet (bpdc)--yo, insert hook around post of stitch (from back to front to back), yo, pull up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops, (2 loops on hook), yo, pull through remaining 2 loops

Construction note:

The term join, as used in this pattern means join with slip stitch in first stitch of round.

You will notice that I don't not instruct you to join at the end of every round. I found it easier to work the body of the pattern in continuous rounds. This prevents having a visible seam up the back of your hat. If you choose to join at each round, begin the next round with a ch1, even when that round begins with a dc, until you're instructed to ch3 when working the band.

Round 1:  using magic ring method, 12 sc in ring, pull ring tight to close gap (12 sc)

Round 2:  2sc in each st around (24 sc)

Round 3:  sc in each st around (24 sc)

Round 4:  [2sc in next st, sc in next st] around (36 sc)

Round 5:  sc in each sc around (36 sc)

Round 6:  [2sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts] around (48 sc)

Round 7:  sc in each sc around (48 sc)

Round 8:  [2sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts] around (60 sc)

Round 9:  sc in each sc around (60 sc)

Round 10:  [2sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts] around (72 sc)

Round 11:  sc in each sc around (72 sc)

Round 12:  [2sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts] around (84 sc)

Round 13:  sc in each sc around (84 sc)

Round 14:  in back loop only, sc in each sc around (84 sc)

Round 15:  repeat Round 14

Round 16:  in back loop only [sc in next st, dc in next st] (84 sts)

Round 17:  in back loop only [dc in next st, sc in next st] (84 sts)

Round 18:  repeat Round 16

Round 19:  repeat Round 17

Round 20:  repeat Round 16

Round 21:  in back loop only sc in each st around (84 sts)

Round 22-23:  repeat Round 21

Round 24:  sc in each sc around (84 sts)

Rounds 25-29:  repeat Round 24, join at end of Round 29 (84 sts)

switch to smaller hook

Round 30:  ch3, dc in each st around, join (84 sts)

Round 31:  ch2, [fpdc in next st, bpdc in next st], join (84 sts)

Rounds 32-33:  rep Round 31

finish off, weave in ends

I still hope to find time enough to post the matching mittens in time for Christmas gift-giving, but the way my schedule looks right now, that is pretty unlikely. I hope you all enjoy the scarf and hat as much as I enjoyed making them. As always, if you run into any mistakes in the pattern, please email me or leave a comment and I will fix them. And please, don't share the pattern. I prefer you share the link. For further information on that, see the bottom of the page where I've posted "Da Roolz."

Happy Halloween!

[Added 10/27/12]: If you would like to receive a pdf of this, or any of my other hat patterns at no charge, go here.