Skip the basic winter hat and try something funny.
Getting kids to wear a hat in the winter is not always easy. However, if the hat makes the child laugh and looks funny, he might be more inclined to put it on and keep it on. A child may delight in a hat that looks like a lion's mane or one with giant elephant ears. Consider making or purchasing a custom-made winter hat that resembles a child's favorite animal, storybook character, food or toy.
Sock Monkey Hat
Sock monkey dolls have been dear to children for decades. Parents might consider making a sock monkey hat so their child can look like his favorite soft toy. Courtney Arbez, proprietor of Courtnee's Creations, creates customized hats, including sock monkey hats, by felting old wool sweaters. To make your own, choose a 100 percent wool sweater and felt it in the washing machine. Measure the diameter of the child's head to get a good fit, lay the sweater flat, and cut a hat shape that is ½ inch larger than the diameter of the child's head, making sure the bottom of the cut hat shape pieces line up with the bottom of the sweater. The bottom of the sweater forms the band of the hat. Sew on button eyes and a felt or fleece mouth and ears to complete the monkey's face.
Dr. Seuss Hat
Generations of children have enjoyed Dr. Seuss's stories about the Cat in the Hat. Consider crocheting or knitting one to wear this winter. Purchase one 3 oz or larger skein of red acrylic yarn and one of white. Using a crochet hook or knitting needles, make a foundation row that snugly fits around the child's head. Continue crocheting or knitting at least 20 rows alternating red with white every 4 rows. Decrease 1 stitch per row, continuing to alternate colors every 4 rows, until the hat tapers closed.
Fruit Hats
Children who enjoy fruit might like a wearable version of their favorite kind. Bev's Country Cottage website suggests crocheting or knitting a basic cap in a solid color, such as yellow for a lemon hat, orange for a pumpkin or red for an apple or strawberry. At the top of the hat, knit or crochet a brown stem and add green knitted or crocheted leaves to the stem. Embroider details such as seeds onto the body of the hat with embroidery floss.
Mohawk Hat
Keep little boys warm with a mohawk hat to suit their adventurous sides. Use a solid colored stocking cap purchased from a store, or knit, crochet or sew a basic stocking cap. With a pom-pom maker, create yarn pom-poms with various colored yarns as desired. Sew them onto the center of the hat in a straight line to resemble a mohawk. Alternatively, create a fringe of fleece fabric or yarn to sew down the center of the hat.
