I wanted something different for my great niece to wear in December. I knew I wanted a Christmas Tree and I knew I wanted it to have real “lighted” mini-lights on it. What you see is what I ended up with.

My only regret is that I didn’t use Vanna’s Choice “toffee” for the trunk. I wasn’t even thinking about trees having brown trunks until I was done with the base of the hat :(

The branches are done in what I call a “modified crocodile stitch.” It isn’t a true crocodile, but I explain how I did it so you should be fine. If not, my email is on the footer of each page so you can contact me if needed.

At the end of the pattern I have a generic size chart, in case you are making the hat for an “absent head.” The chart includes: preemie, newborn, baby (I would not add the lights to these sizes), toddler, child, teen and adult.

Myself, I have a big head and very thick hair. When I make myself a hat, I use the adult male size and it fits perfectly.

As I said at the beginning, I knew I wanted real battery operated, mini Christmas Tree lights on my hat. I figured I could find some if I looked in craft stores where they have the mini-trees and mini-ornaments displayed, and I was right. I found mine at AC Moore in their Seasonal Section. The ones I used are called “Rice Lights” because they are very small, like a grain of rice.

I have found battery operated mini-Christmas Tree lights at WalMart too. I used 20 lights for my hat. With the lights I used, I needed to buy 2 different strands.

I had tried to crochet snowflakes for the hat (all my relatives know I LOVE snowflakes) but I could not make them small enough to look right on the tree, so I bought the ones I used in the same area where I found the lights. The same with the garland.

Another option for a garland is to string seed beads and wrap them around the tree. However, you must remember that all ornaments, lights and garlands MUST be removable so the hat can be washed.

I used 2 skeins of Vanna’s Choice “Olive” for the 18 mo hat I made. If you have done the crocodile stitch, you know it “eats up “ (pun intended) yarn. Make sure you buy enough to finish your hat. I would suggest 3 skeins for a child/adolescent and at least 4 skeins for an adult.